H.Johnson
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,562
- Location
- Midlands, UK
I'd like to start a discussion of early examples of reproduction A-2 jackets. Often forgotten, unregarded, even despised...and yet, for me at least, historically interesting and fascinating. Lets draw abitrary lines between 1978(the first Avirex production) and (say) 1988.
From today's perspective, it is easy to take a derisory attitude to jackets made in the late 1970s or 1980s. Nowadays, the reproduction industry has moved on in terms of easier sourcing of materials and increased knowledge through research, so we now have reproductions that are difficult to indistinguish from originals. We also have websites and CDs to educate and inform us, a number of relatively well-informed publications (OK, many are in Japanese) and on-line shopping. Now, authentic is easy.
It hasn't always been like this. In the late 1970s the idea of a reproduction A-2 seemed revolutionary and obtaining one (in Britain, anyway) was difficult. I remember these days, and I can remember the excitement I felt when I first saw an Avirex A-2. Yes, I know, people are fall about laughing, but in 1978 Jeff Clyman's products were breathtakingly 'state of the art'. Ken Calder, who used to publish a (hardly impartial) guide to the reproduction A-2 market used to recommend readers to seize a 1978 Avirex 'if you can find one'. Well, I could, I did (in the early 1980s) and I love it still (my son wears it). It has faults in terms of 'authenticity' (whatever that means), but its overall 'look and feel' is more 'soulful' in my opinion than many recent 'dead-nuts' reproductions.
I've owned or own early examples by Eastman (when they operated out of a terraced house in Plymouth), Aero (red lining and Connolly leather), Lost Worlds and others, but my favourite early reproduction jacket without doubt is a Sefton. Ken used to rate Sefton as among the best-made reproductions in his guide and I can see why. If you have ever held and examined one of Steve Silburn's reproduction Wareings Type B helmets you will be amazed. I first availed myself of his services when he made two wrecked Ir__n jackets into one very good one. His workmanship is, in a word, immaculate. In the terms of 'what to look for' in my clothing technology text books - e.g. linearity and regularity of sticthes, tightness and even-ness of seams etc.) his work is the best I have ever seen 'in the flesh'*.
Well, for years I have wanted an early production Sefton A-2 in plain horsehide and couldn't find one. They were produced for a very limited time and a peculiar arrangement with an artist at that time meant that many had 'jacket art' applied to them from new. Most of his later production was cowhide (i admit that it is hard to tell the difference). Now I have one, and one of the very early ones, plain and in horse. It is literally in 'as new condition' and the price was right. For it, I broke a rule that I was not going to acquire another A-2, and it's worth it. Forget about 'authenticity' - this is a beautifully made jacket that stands up in its own right against anything that has been produced since. Just my opnion
If anyone else has an interest in early reproduction A-2s, I would welcome a reasoned and informed discussion - please, no unthinking and offhand 'POS' dismissals.
* I have seen photographs of John Chapman's recent work which may be as good but is, of course, much more recent.
From today's perspective, it is easy to take a derisory attitude to jackets made in the late 1970s or 1980s. Nowadays, the reproduction industry has moved on in terms of easier sourcing of materials and increased knowledge through research, so we now have reproductions that are difficult to indistinguish from originals. We also have websites and CDs to educate and inform us, a number of relatively well-informed publications (OK, many are in Japanese) and on-line shopping. Now, authentic is easy.
It hasn't always been like this. In the late 1970s the idea of a reproduction A-2 seemed revolutionary and obtaining one (in Britain, anyway) was difficult. I remember these days, and I can remember the excitement I felt when I first saw an Avirex A-2. Yes, I know, people are fall about laughing, but in 1978 Jeff Clyman's products were breathtakingly 'state of the art'. Ken Calder, who used to publish a (hardly impartial) guide to the reproduction A-2 market used to recommend readers to seize a 1978 Avirex 'if you can find one'. Well, I could, I did (in the early 1980s) and I love it still (my son wears it). It has faults in terms of 'authenticity' (whatever that means), but its overall 'look and feel' is more 'soulful' in my opinion than many recent 'dead-nuts' reproductions.
I've owned or own early examples by Eastman (when they operated out of a terraced house in Plymouth), Aero (red lining and Connolly leather), Lost Worlds and others, but my favourite early reproduction jacket without doubt is a Sefton. Ken used to rate Sefton as among the best-made reproductions in his guide and I can see why. If you have ever held and examined one of Steve Silburn's reproduction Wareings Type B helmets you will be amazed. I first availed myself of his services when he made two wrecked Ir__n jackets into one very good one. His workmanship is, in a word, immaculate. In the terms of 'what to look for' in my clothing technology text books - e.g. linearity and regularity of sticthes, tightness and even-ness of seams etc.) his work is the best I have ever seen 'in the flesh'*.
Well, for years I have wanted an early production Sefton A-2 in plain horsehide and couldn't find one. They were produced for a very limited time and a peculiar arrangement with an artist at that time meant that many had 'jacket art' applied to them from new. Most of his later production was cowhide (i admit that it is hard to tell the difference). Now I have one, and one of the very early ones, plain and in horse. It is literally in 'as new condition' and the price was right. For it, I broke a rule that I was not going to acquire another A-2, and it's worth it. Forget about 'authenticity' - this is a beautifully made jacket that stands up in its own right against anything that has been produced since. Just my opnion
If anyone else has an interest in early reproduction A-2s, I would welcome a reasoned and informed discussion - please, no unthinking and offhand 'POS' dismissals.
* I have seen photographs of John Chapman's recent work which may be as good but is, of course, much more recent.
