John Lever
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,772
- Location
- Southern England
It will see you and your A-1 for a pint when it arrives !
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ALL REPRO R.A.F. Irvin type jackets
- Thread starter Hawk_Eye
- Start date
Dr H
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,006
- Location
- Somerset, UK
Good call, I'll bring the Perrys along as well to show you side by side. About to take some photos for a comparison thread on VLJF.
H.Johnson
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,562
- Location
- Midlands, UK
John,
I have one of the Cockpit Clothing Company's (of Southampton, of course) Battle of Britain Limited Edition jackets. It has the same front and back panels as early WW2 jackets but with panelled sleeves such as your example above. The fleeces and 'strips' were supposed to be specially selected to resemble an original example they had.
As I am sure you know they were produced in Summer 1990 to commemorate the BoB. It is the only flying jacket I have ever seen with an engraved brass plaque! My example has never been worn in 21 years and I still have the paperwork somewhere.
I have one of the Cockpit Clothing Company's (of Southampton, of course) Battle of Britain Limited Edition jackets. It has the same front and back panels as early WW2 jackets but with panelled sleeves such as your example above. The fleeces and 'strips' were supposed to be specially selected to resemble an original example they had.
As I am sure you know they were produced in Summer 1990 to commemorate the BoB. It is the only flying jacket I have ever seen with an engraved brass plaque! My example has never been worn in 21 years and I still have the paperwork somewhere.
John Lever
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,772
- Location
- Southern England
Shame they went bust as it's a very nice jacket. I just can't justify four repro Irvin's though. It's a stitch for stitch copy of an Eastman.
H.Johnson
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,562
- Location
- Midlands, UK
John,
I think the BoB Ltd Edn. was different from the other Cockpit CC jackets. It isn't like yours (or an Eastman) at all. Do we have an accurate time-line for the production of Irvin jacket reproductions? I think that The Cockpit (and others) were making repros. before Irvin did. I remember visiting ELC and Gary showing me the prototype. I can't remember exactly what year that was, but I recall my children being small and restive. I also have an undated 'flyer' announcing its itroduction. Do you know when ELC introduced their repro.?
As an aside, can you remembr what make of zips your CCC had?
I think the BoB Ltd Edn. was different from the other Cockpit CC jackets. It isn't like yours (or an Eastman) at all. Do we have an accurate time-line for the production of Irvin jacket reproductions? I think that The Cockpit (and others) were making repros. before Irvin did. I remember visiting ELC and Gary showing me the prototype. I can't remember exactly what year that was, but I recall my children being small and restive. I also have an undated 'flyer' announcing its itroduction. Do you know when ELC introduced their repro.?
As an aside, can you remembr what make of zips your CCC had?
John Lever
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,772
- Location
- Southern England
Just plain zips. Gary started making A-2 in 1985, not sure about Irvins
H.Johnson
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,562
- Location
- Midlands, UK
John,
Thanks. My CCC BoB has named Zip zips (!) It is such a good repro that on at least one occasion I thought about swapping the zips (Zips?) for some NOS WW2 Dot zips I had. It would have made an excellent repro for the time (1990) and I probably would have worn it instead of leaving it in the closet! I think that ELC began making Irvin repros. sometime in the early 90s. I know, why don't we ask them?
I also think that ALC, Cirrus, CCC and some others were there before them, although I never trust my memory without direct evidence. I had a Cirrus jacket in the late 1980s (don't ask!).
Thanks. My CCC BoB has named Zip zips (!) It is such a good repro that on at least one occasion I thought about swapping the zips (Zips?) for some NOS WW2 Dot zips I had. It would have made an excellent repro for the time (1990) and I probably would have worn it instead of leaving it in the closet! I think that ELC began making Irvin repros. sometime in the early 90s. I know, why don't we ask them?
I also think that ALC, Cirrus, CCC and some others were there before them, although I never trust my memory without direct evidence. I had a Cirrus jacket in the late 1980s (don't ask!).
aswatland
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,338
- Location
- Kent, England
I understand ALC started making Irvins in the mid 70s. Like Eastman their early ones were far superior in terms of authenticity to their current ones.
Spitfire
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,078
- Location
- Copenhagen, Denmark.
If he hasn't given it away, my father might still have one of the early ALC Irvins from the seventies - I bought it for myself, and passed it on to him later on.
I will check it out next time we are together. And maybe post some pics.
I will check it out next time we are together. And maybe post some pics.
H.Johnson
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,562
- Location
- Midlands, UK
Andrew,
Yes, this date concurs with what I was told in the early 1980s by the then proprietor of ALC. The company was a spin-off of Mota-Lita, which used to be one of the foremost makers of leather-covered aluminium steering wheels as fitted to sports cars of the time. As he told it, the jacket business grew from the connection of open cars and sheepskin flying jackets.
Spitfire's father's jacket will be an interesting early example - although (as has been pointed out in the FL) the seventies repros could be seen as a revival of the fifties, when repro 'Irvins' were common.
Yes, this date concurs with what I was told in the early 1980s by the then proprietor of ALC. The company was a spin-off of Mota-Lita, which used to be one of the foremost makers of leather-covered aluminium steering wheels as fitted to sports cars of the time. As he told it, the jacket business grew from the connection of open cars and sheepskin flying jackets.
Spitfire's father's jacket will be an interesting early example - although (as has been pointed out in the FL) the seventies repros could be seen as a revival of the fifties, when repro 'Irvins' were common.
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Hi
I really like what BaggyPants has done with his ELC '42 (page 40). It looks much nicer. I would like to do the same with mine and would like to know which of the Pecard product to use, and approximately how much do I need?
Thank you
BTW It is nice Irvin weather here. Cold but dry.
I really like what BaggyPants has done with his ELC '42 (page 40). It looks much nicer. I would like to do the same with mine and would like to know which of the Pecard product to use, and approximately how much do I need?
Thank you
BTW It is nice Irvin weather here. Cold but dry.
John Lever
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,772
- Location
- Southern England
ALC was stated by Simon Green, Surbiton in the 1970's. I still the receipt for mine from 1976, it cost me £120.
A VLJ member has a mint version for sale with the Simon Green label.
Re my Merino, bad news, I have just learned that my friend sent it by SURFACE....it can take 3 months...oh well that's life I suppose.
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aswatland
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,338
- Location
- Kent, England
This is a shame John. But the good news is it will arrive in time for next winter!
John Lever
One Too Many
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- 1,772
- Location
- Southern England
In the meantime I have this to console me -
FRASER_NASH
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 123
- Location
- Camelot
The 'sickness' continues! I think a *few* of us need to book into the Bentley *PRIORY* rehab center..!! 
John Lever
One Too Many
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- 1,772
- Location
- Southern England
It will be for sale when my merino arrives [ if it doesn't hit an iceberg]
Andyboy
New in Town
- Messages
- 47
- Location
- Leipzig, Germany
Is the merino the one you once posted in this threat on page 41? This is a super fine jacket!
aswatland
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,338
- Location
- Kent, England
None of them Soren as no repro maker has successfully replicated the fleece or the zips. The closet in terms of fleece would be some of the early Eastman jackets, but the Riri zips are not close enough!
John Lever
One Too Many
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- 1,772
- Location
- Southern England
Andreas, no it's not that one . . The colour is darker brown and it's a different pattern. It's a 44 but a different shape somehow. The fleece is quite pale and soft.
This is the keeper -
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