A test sample cotton twill flight jacket?

[Blackadder]

I bought this awhile ago and since it has no type name nor number (part of the tag has been cut off), I don't know what this is. It says Experimental Test Sample, Clothing Branch. Presumably, it is either a 1) jacket that did not go into production or 2) a pre-production sample. It is cotton twill, has Conmar zipper (50's style), a kind of silky lining. Any ideas please?

 

[John in Covina]

Odd color. Wonder if that points to a specific time / era. I have a cotton A2 type from Sporty's I love to wear in cool weather.

http://www.sportys.com/PilotShop/product/9085

 

[Blackadder]

Indeed odd colour. My fds and I were thinking that it may be for ground crew or domestic stations, coastal patrol.

 

[Fletch]

Yep, red was the old hi-vis orange.

 

[thor]

That label is very similar to the ones sewn into older Avirex test/sample cloth jackets from the 1980's. Avirex had a store in Queens, NY in the 80's that sold one-of-a-kind sample jackets, test patterns, defective "seconds" etc. there were cloth and leather jackets in every size, shape, color and style. Many jackets had that very same "experimental test sample" label sewn in separately from the standard Avirex brand label.

 

[Fletch]

Would some have had old-stock zippers? Probably too early for repros. And if not old-stock, would they have corroded ±30 years later?

 

[thor]

Would some have had old-stock zippers? Probably too early for repros. And if not old-stock, would they have corroded ±30 years later?

Good point. Many of the one-off sample jackets at the Avirex outlet store had brass "paper clip" style zips. Some had cheap faux antiqued "Talon" zips. Over 30 years the new jackets could probably pass as NOS vintage jackets.

 

[Stearmen]

Could be related to this flight suit?

 

[Blackadder]

The zipper looks quite authentic and does not look like repro. Can't say the same with the jacket though.

 

[Ross Kuhn]

I like this Jacket, do you want to sell it? I am interested in buying it. You can reach me by email at rsskhn@gmail.com Thanks for your time.

 

[Stand By]

I wonder if Charles at HPA would know?