Eastman Monarch A-2 I dont get it!

This thread is incredibly timely - I just got a made to order Aero 1756 A-2 this week and was initially surprised at how light it was compared to my Aero "real deal" A-2. The real deal model is VERY thick, VERY heavy horse and in comparison the 1756 seemed light. Though I immediately recognized it as an exceptionally beautiful (and high quality) jacket, I wondered if the weight of it was "correct". Needless to say all the input here has made me feel much more at ease with that, so thanks fellers!!!!
I'll be getting some pics of the new A-2 up later in the week when I get some time...

dmcburn75 said:

I just received my Eastman leather A-2 Monarch today. Call me crazy people, but I just don't get how these cost $1000? It reminds me of a jacket you would find in a bargain rack at the mall with thin construction throughout. It IS well constructed and has no flaws in workmanship..... Perhaps they are identical copies of what was issued, but it just looks plain cheap and thin. I have oxford dress shirts that are nearly the same thickness and weight. If the jacket had a thicker leather it would be very elegant.

My Lost World Jacket is made beautifully, much more elegant and built to last. I fear the Eastman will be ripped within a month of wear. I really wanted to order the luftwaffe jacket as well, but they were out of stock. Had the quality been reflective of the $1000 price tag I would have both the Monarch A-2 and the Luftwaffe. As for now the A2 is getting sent back. [huh]

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Ahoy! First pic--"one of the Asian Manufacturers"--THE FEW based in Japan...
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second pic--John Chapman's A-2 Roughwear, middle A-2...Think about investing in one of JC's A-2, though THE FEW A-2 is constructed very nicely....
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Based on those pictures, I like John's the best. I wonder how long the Asian manufactures will take to realize John's jackets are more accurate than theirs. I know they will not be able to take it and end up doing a major overhaul on their patterns etc. When they have one of their reunions of hundreds of guys and gals standing around and one asks the other "Where did you buy that beauty?" Then the preverbal crap will hit the fan.

Maj.Nick Danger said:

The one in the center is John Chapman's? It's absolutely gorgeous! Love the variegated color it's got.

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Yes, sir--middle one is JC's A-2...I had a Horsehide A-2, also JC's, new, and sold it for dirt cheap here on the lounge...there were no takers, but a great guy from VLJ FORUM bought it right away...

In regards to the ELC Luftwaffe jacket, I will give you an observation that I made about it.

Last September, I was at the Gathering of Mustangs And Legends in Columbus, Ohio. History Preservation Associates (Eastman's representative in the U.S.) had a booth there, and I was able to try on several Eastman jackets.

I own several Eastman jackets myself, and pretty much wear a 42 across the board in their A-2's........BUT a 42 in a Luftwaffe was way too small. I had to go to a 44 to get a reasonable fit and it was none too big. I tried on a Hartmann and it fit similar to the Luftwaffe.

I will say that I really liked the look and construction of both the ELC Luftwaffe and Hartmann. They are damn nice jackets!


J.A. Dubow.......aka Ted

The Lost Worlds guy also spouts that drivel about what "real men" do. To which I reply using Emerson's words-- who would be a man, must be a nonconformist. And if you're a nonconformist, you don't concern yourself with fear-based conformity to what "real men" do.

BellyTank said:

Strange, comparing it to a Lost Worlds A-2.

Lost Worlds guy says that he makes a "better A-2" than those made in WW2...
... (he also suggests guys who talk about leather jackets are queer)

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handworn said:

The Lost Worlds guy also spouts that drivel about what "real men" do. To which I reply using Emerson's words-- who would be a man, must be a nonconformist. And if you're a nonconformist, you don't concern yourself with fear-based conformity to what "real men" do.

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Nice quote.

I've seen the Lost Worlds website, and while by reputation the products sound excellent, to be honest the onstant ranting about "real men" this and "real men" that put me right off dealing with the company.

Jacob Dubow=> I know exactly what you mean re needing to size up in certain trim designs. I've always had to go up to a 44 in a motorcycle leather, whereas my Aero AN6552 has the same grand, neat fit in a 42" chest. I put it down to the US flying jackets being cut to give a bit more room about the body - the Luftwaffe boys liked 'em closer fitting, it seems.

I kind of understand where LW is coming from with their hit on sites like this and the jacket forum. However, it's sort of biting the hand that feeds you too.

They're too spendy for me in any event.

Jacob Dubow said:

In regards to the ELC Luftwaffe jacket, I will give you an observation that I made about it.

Last September, I was at the Gathering of Mustangs And Legends in Columbus, Ohio. History Preservation Associates (Eastman's representative in the U.S.) had a booth there, and I was able to try on several Eastman jackets.

I own several Eastman jackets myself, and pretty much wear a 42 across the board in their A-2's........BUT a 42 in a Luftwaffe was way too small. I had to go to a 44 to get a reasonable fit and it was none too big. I tried on a Hartmann and it fit similar to the Luftwaffe.

I will say that I really liked the look and construction of both the ELC Luftwaffe and Hartmann. They are damn nice jackets!


J.A. Dubow.......aka Ted

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Interesting point. I just got an ELC A-1 and had to get a 44 which is none to big either. I take 42s across the board in all of their A2s. Looked at a Luftwaffe 44 on ebay the other week and based on the measurements it would have fit.

I took delivery of a second hand monarch from Eastman the other day.
i love it. It fits trim and is exceptionally supple. A stiffer Eastman jacket would be a roughwear 27752 contract which is a heavy hide. maybe an exchange could be worked out (I dont care for the feel of the roughwears myself)
I can speak with some authority also on the heavy weight but comfortable feel of the Dubow contract offerd by mccoys of new zealand. It breaks in astonishingly well.
the monarch is a nice jacket and has been well researched. It is the most comfortable Eastman I have owned I think. Every A-2 was made of different hide, the thickness was how it was harvested from the animal so a-2s of the same contact may well have a markedly different feel even if constructed identically (which isnt always the case)

Tim

Congrats on your second h. Monarch...

your qoute, unquote: I can speak with some authority also on the heavy weight but comfortable feel of the Dubow contract offerd by mccoys of new zealand. It breaks in astonishingly well.

I recently purchased a Dubow from RMNZ, and truly the hide is not "heavy" at all (Aero REAL DEALS are more significant in weight). However, I do own a new "THE FEW" brand A-2, which I bought in Japan recently--now, this A-2 is HEAVY, and beautifully constructed...

Galoshes

In response to dmcburn75's original observation:- Having just won an Eastman Monarch A-2 on Ebay (the 352nd ftr grp repro with the pockets) I can confirm it’s a fair bit lighter than my existing Eastman House horse-hide A-2. Even with the extra weight of the canvas inside pockets, its 3lb's lighter.
To me this is not a problem, I always suspected that my house A-2 was much better made, of much better quality/thicker leather than WWII originals were likely to be made of. It took an age to wear the house jacket in, even after treating it with Pecards and folding it up and rolling it up many times, I could barely bend my arms in it for months! It was like armour. The Monarch was comfortable from the first wear (It clearly hadn't been worn before by the guy who sold it, the finish is still totally shiny and unbroken)
I have an Aero FQHH jacket - bomb proof, very warm, thick slightly spongy leather, not as stiff as the Eastman house, but thicker - a great winter jacket. Then the Eastman house - thick leather that has recently lost its stiffness - over 5yrs or wearing! Now the Eastman Monarch gives me a lighter A-2 I can wear when it’s too warm for the others. I think the jacket will still wear well, the finish seems thicker on the Monarch than on the house A-2 and the hide is still thicker and tougher looking than most cow-hide leather jackets you can buy in shops.
If you think the Monarch is not going to be warm enough for you, remember the A-2 was an "intermediate" flying jacket, get a sheepskin or Aero FQHH for winter - a feeble excuse to keep buying jackets : )

If you are set on the Monarch contract, John Chapman now makes one at Good Wear which looks amazing. My only own personal experience with a Monarch contract was owning a mint original with one of the nicest hides from WWII I had ever come across. The jacket was a bit too large for me so I sold it back to the nice collector who had sold it to me.