ALL ORIGINAL Irvin RAF type Jackets - Loving that Wolf in sheeps' clothing!

[kyboots]

Hey Alfyman! Please tell me about your jacket. I really like it. thanks ( Hope I don't bore anyone ) John

[aswatland]

Spitfire (Soren) and aswatland (Andrew) wearing contrasting Irvins when the weather turned chilly at Duxford on 4th September!

[Spitfire]

Aren't we just looking pretty good?

[kyboots]

Great look guys!

[alfyman]

I just can't get over it, I love these jackets...

[alfyman]

Hi, I purchased this Jacket from Cirrus, in the Uk, I was able to make payments. something they hadn't done before. But I Just love it. this is the Hurricane style,

[Smithy]

Whoops-a-daisy, can't see the pics of your jacket alfyman.

I've never seen a Cirrus jacket in the flesh and although their Irvins are not 100% accurate replicas, I have heard good things about their construction quality. They also make a rather passable attempt at a British WWI era Burberry style flying coat and some nice long length sheepskin coats.

But be warned, the bug might have bit you, and next step you'll want an Eastman or an Aero or even an original.

BTW, great shot of you two Søren and Andrew

[aswatland]

Tim, I think the Cirrus jacket is the one in the avatar pic.

[Smithy]

Ah thanks Andrew.

Alfyman, any chance you take some pictures of the jacket including detail shots and post them in the Irvin reproduction thread? I don't believe any Lounger has posted good images of a Cirrus, and it would be nice for perusal.

Cheers.

[Spitfire]

Just want to share this large image of two very different - original - Irvins.
Not only the ouside colour but also the very different fleece.
Andrews jacket is his beautifull Irvin Air Chute model from 1938/39 and mine is a 1942/43 model from a small London based manufacturer.




It might not be so clear, but the one I am wearing also has several colours inside. Very dark - almost black -wool at the topfront and very "curley" darkbrown for the rest.

[Windsock]

Great shots fellas, Soren I wasn't aware that you'd found an original- you must have reached your Nirvana- well done. What is it a 6 or 7?

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by Windsock

Great shots fellas, Soren I wasn't aware that you'd found an original- you must have reached your Nirvana- well done. What is it a 6 or 7?

It's supposed to be a 7 - but hasn't got it on the lapel. It only says chest: 51

[aswatland]

The jacket is by Robinson and Ensum and although marked a size 7 is in reality a size 6, with a 24" pit measurement! It's a nice jacket and is currently undergoing restoration in the UK.

[Philrs]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

It's supposed to be a 7 - but hasn't got it on the lapel. It only says chest: 51

I knew it was you... I was also "watching" this one and then noticed it was withdrawn... ;-)

[PADDY]

You kept that pretty quiet!!! You really are joining the League of Gentlemen here now aren't you!! Original...it's the ONLY way to go..eventually. And to be honest, these sheepskins will mostly outlast most of 'us!!'

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by aswatland

The jacket is by Robinson and Ensum and although marked a size 7 is in reality a size 6, with a 24" pit measurement! It's a nice jacket and is currently undergoing restoration in the UK.

And - I should add in all fairness - too small for me!
(And we are not talking diet here - we are talking serious bone surgery!!!!)

Somehow I knew it was too good to be true, when Andrew told me about the jacket on ebay. But the seller gave some wrong chest measures, which made me believe that the jacket was even more than my size, so I jumped to it.
The seller would not ship outside UK, so I arranged that the jacket would be send to Andrew, who then would bring it to Duxford, where we allready had planned to meet.
Just imagine getting an original Irvin. On Duxford Airfield. At the 70 years Battle of Britain Airshow. With 16 Spitfires in the air above you! How cool is that?

Rather than having this jacket as a "stone in my shoe", since I could never wear it, I aggreed to Andrews kind offer of buying it from me - and remove it from my sight as painless as possible.
There were several minor restorations which should be done. And Andrew was the right man for that job.

I am still looking for a size 8 - but I am also getting more and more used to the thought, that my Aero pre-war Irvin is the best jacket I can ever get.

A sad story in many ways - but then again. Hey. I was the happy owner of an original Irvin for several days.Untill I tried it on.

[aswatland]

Soren, I do hope a decent size 8 comes up for you. I have nearly completed the restoration work on the Robinson and Ensum jacket, including fitting original eyelets for the elastic strap and fixing those seam tapes that were beginning to come detatched using 1940s cotton. I'll post some pics in due course for you to see.

[Spitfire]

Please post some pictures. I'll love to see how it turned out.
(And it doesn't hurt anymore )

[aswatland]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Please post some pictures. I'll love to see how it turned out.
(And it doesn't hurt anymore )

Of course I will old chap!

[alfyman]

Hi there, Well I must confess i did own a Eastman Leather B3 russet brown sheepskin jacket, I just had to sell because I got it at a perfectly snug fit, after some weight gain I couldn't stretch it out any more, But I really fell for the Cirrus jacket as I am not a big fan of puffy cuffs in the sleeves, and the fit is really comfortable and I can extend my arms without pulling the jacket, I can't post pictures yet as i only have less thank 15 post replies, but soon, I found he link to the website but they don't really show pictures of the jacket, But the Sheepskin on my Jacket is really thick and long which I like.. Thanks,http://www.flyingjacket.com/4cirrusb3gunners.html#