Irvin Contract Stores numbers

[rick howarth]

Does the contract stores number on an Irvin Label give any clue to the manufacturer. Mine is 1943 with a contract number 4314/C.37.B. Would appreciate any help in identifying the maker. Thanks

 

[aswatland]

Yes the contract number and later the Stores number does link to a manufacturer. I do not know who made this CC jacket though, however photos might give me a clue.

 

[rick howarth]

Thankyou Andrew, I haven't yet tried to load photos but I will try. May I also ask has anyone ever identified what kind of paint it was on the yellow hood. I see that leather paints as opposed to dyes are available and I wouldn't want to overpaint the whole thing but am tempted to do a little careful touch up where that paint has entirely gone. Any views or advice ?
Finally does anyone have any views on restitching. I have noticed at least one seller who uses a machine rather than by hand but surely that is going to seriously weaken the leather.

 

[aswatland]

The re-stitching on Irvins should ideally be done by hand using 1940s thread and the original stitch holes should be adhered to.

 

[rick howarth]

Yet again Andrew thankyou for that advice. The nearest I have been able to get to the original is a linen thread which I purchased on the assumption it was near enough correct.
I had assumed the Coastal Command Irvin was a rare beast but have seen quite a few for sale recently. Like for like they don't seem to achieve the prices of standard Irvins.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

There is (or was) a seller on eBay selling original spools of the correct russet linen thread. The manufacturer was Barbour in NI. I bought a bunch a while ago, and it's just the right shade (compared to existing original stitching) for the inevitable and constant seam mending of an "in use" original Irvin.

You'll need to use a basic back stitch for attaching seam bindings, and a slightly more complex stitch to attach panels to each other, but nothing too tricky.