A-2 Makers and Contracts-up-dated information

[aswatland]

The information in the Sticky at the start of the WW11 section of the website has now been superseded. Here is the updated list following my research and that undertaken by Gary Eastman. The contract sizes are in brackets.
Pre-War Order numbers and the Fiscal Year
32-485 Security (Aviation Togs) 1931/2 (probably less than 500)
33-1729 Werber 1932/33 (probably less than 500)
36-1112 P Werber 13 Sept.1935 (550)
37-3061 P Aero 1936/37 (probably less than 500)
37-3891 P H.L.B. Corp. 3 March 1937 (375)
38-1711-P Aero 26 Oct 1937 (1,500)
38-205 Werber (not listed by Gary)
39-2951 P Werber 9 Jan 1939 (1,250)
40-3785-P Aero 18 Dec 1940 (3,500)

Contract Numbers
W535ac16159 Rough Wear 2 Nov 1940 9.700)
W535ac16160 Aero 1 Nov 1940 (4,500)
W535ac18091 Rough Wear 6 March 1941(17,628)
W535ac20960 Dubow 8 August1941(13,000)
W535ac21996 Aero 14 October 1941(25,000)
W535ac23377 Perry 31 Dec 1941(20,000)
W535ac23378 Monarch 26 Dec 1941(15,000)
W535ac23379 Dubow 26 Dec 1941(10,000)
W535ac23380 Rough Wear 26 Dec 1941 (12,000)
W535ac23381 Cooper 5 Jan 1942 (5,000)
W535ac23382 Cable 29 Dec 1941(10,000)
W535ac23383 Fried Ostermann 22 Dec 1941(8,000)
W535ac27752 Rough Wear 27 April 1942 (50,000)
W535ac27753 Cable 29 April 1942 (50,000)
W535ac27798 Dubow 25 April 1942 (50,000)
W535ac28557 Star 18 May 1942 (30,000)
W535ac28560 Poughkeepsie 18 May 1942 (50,000)
W535ac29191 Bronco 18 May 1942 (59,000)
W535ac29971 David D Doniger 9 June 1942 (same contract as 21539)

Order Numbers
42-1401-P Rough Wear 8 August 1941(30,000)
42-1402-P Werber 8 August 1941(7,000)
42-10008-P Cable 19 Jan 1942 (10,000)
42-15142-P Aero 28 March 1942 (50,000)
42-16175-P Perry 23 May 1942 (50,000)
42-18245-P Star Spring 1942 (same contract as 28557)
42-18246-P S.H. Knopf 18 May 1942 (10,000)
42-18775-P Aero 25 May 1942 (50,000)
42-18776-P Spiewak 18 May 1942 (25,0000)
42-18777-P United Sheeplined 18 May 1942 (25,000)
42-21539-P David D. Doniger & Co. 9 June 1942 (5,000)
V505 Made in Australia 1943
W33-038ac1755(11631) Dubow 13 June 1944 (35,000)
1756 Perry 13 June 1944 (25,000)
W33-038ac1761 Bronco June 1944 (25,000)

 

[fishmeok]

Amazing Andrew- it's astonishing how many were made.
Were the majority size 40-44? I know the larger sizes were made in smaller quantities.

BTW which ones are believed to have been made in Steer?

Thank You
Mark Fisher

 

[aswatland]

Gary had many of his jackets scientifically tested for DNA and the results are conclusive. Although cow was used extensively this does not mean all jackets from the same contract were made of cow.

Jackets in Gary's collection positively identified as made from cowhide are:

Werber Sportswear 2951
Aero Leather Clothing 21996
Rough Wear 23380
Star Sportswear 28557
United Sheeplined 18777

In addition Gary has visually compared these jackets with others that were not tested and suggests these contracts also used cowhide:
Aero 16160
Aero 15142
Poughkeepsie 28560
Bronco 29191
Aero 18775
Dubow 1755 (1944 contract, not 1943 as Gary suggests-he did not know about the document dated 13th June 1944)
Perry 1756 (1944 contract)
Bronco 1761(1944 contract)

 

[Dr H]

Those Donigers are really rare Andrew...
And as for that SAT :-O

 

[aswatland]

Those Donigers are really rare Andrew...
And as for that SAT :-O

Indeed they are. I own two so I wonder how many of the remaining 4,998 are still around today?

 

[Foster]

I cannot comment on the sizing of A2's specifically, but I believe the sizes made in WWII were mostly in the 36, 38, and 40 sizes. This is in general, not specific to the A2. I once met a chap who had researched the production of WWI tunics and 36 and 38 were the most manufactured sizes then. Size 42 was big back then! I believe he said size 42 was less than 10% of the production at that time.

 

[jacketquest]

Andrew,

Thanks for posting this information. It's fascinating to see the sizes of the various contracts. The examples I've owned are mostly from the large contracts. It's pretty amazing that you own 2 out of a mere 5,000. What are the chances of acquiring surviving examples after such a long time?

Did your research uncover any information regarding where the contracts were distributed (e.g. a certain theater of operation) or was it random?

 

[Stearmen]

Gary had many of his jackets scientifically tested for DNA and the results are conclusive. Although cow was used extensively this does not mean all jackets from the same contract were made of cow.

Jackets in Gary's collection positively identified as made from cowhide are:

Werber Sportswear 2951
Aero Leather Clothing 21996
Rough Wear 23380
Star Sportswear 28557
United Sheeplined 18777

In addition Gary has visually compared these jackets with others that were not tested and suggests these contracts also used cowhide:
Aero 16160
Aero 15142
Poughkeepsie 28560
Bronco 29191
Aero 18775
Dubow 1755 (1944 contract, not 1943 as Gary suggests-he did not know about the document dated 13th June 1944)
Perry 1756 (1944 contract)
Bronco 1761(1944 contract)

Were any made of Goat Skin? I ask because some one said when I posted photos of my W535AC-23377 Perry, that it was made of Goat skin.

 

[pilot error]

I'm told a small percentage of A-2's were goatskin. Anyone?

 

[aswatland]

Several contracts comprised entirely or largely of goatskin and other contracts used some goatskin.

 

[aswatland]

I'm told a small percentage of A-2's were goatskin. Anyone?

The total number of jackets made from those contracts made almost entirely of goatskin was approximately 90,600.If you add around another 10,000 or so to this figure for goatskin Bronco's and Dubows it equates to about 12% of the three quarters of a million A-2s produced from 1931-1944.

 

[Dr H]

Were any made of Goat Skin? I ask because some one said when I posted photos of my W535AC-23377 Perry, that it was made of Goat skin.

I believe that the Perry 23377 contract was exclusively goatskin.

 

[aswatland]

Yes it was Ian.

The other goatskin contracts were:
RW 18091
Fried Ostermann 23383
Cable 100008-P (a small number were made of horsehide)
Spiewak 18776-P
Doniger 29971 (42-21539-P)

 

[Stearmen]

I believe that the Perry 23377 contract was exclusively goatskin.

That would account for it being so soft and in good shape after 70 years.

 

[nogbat]

just recieved gary eastmans book , very good . cant post on vlj .. think ime banned cheers bill ..

 

[majormajor]

just recieved gary eastmans book , very good . cant post on vlj .. think ime banned cheers bill ..

Got mine today, too. Perusing it right now!