A2 Jacket: Rough Wear 1401P

[A2_Junkie]

Jimmy Stewart's 1401P

I guess you have to decide whether you want your leather color to look like Jimmy's when it was new (and then let it age and fade) or go with a lighter color now. It's a matter of taste, of course.

It appears to me that the shade of Stewart's jacket under the collar and the epaulettes is more consistant with a darker color when new.

-Peter

 

[JRaptor]

Yep, there it is.... looks darker in the photo's, I have seen it a million times in real and it seems to be a caramel colored hide.

BTW: Scotrace, does your jacket have the olive colored thread.... I can't tell from the lighting in the photo's, and in A2_junkies photo's the thread looks to be a khaki color

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

The James Stewart jacket looks as though it has a nice darkened overall patina from age, with lighter shades on the high spots of course.

 

[JRaptor]

I guess you have to decide whether you want your leather color to look like Jimmy's when it was new (and then let it age and fade) or go with a lighter color now. It's a matter of taste, of course.

It appears to me that the shade of Stewart's jacket under the collar and the epaulettes is more consistant with a darker color when new.

-Peter

It is hard to tell what color Stewart's jacket is or was, I believe that the museum has there own little recipe for preserving these leathers and I don't think it is Pecard....then again ya never know!

 

[GOK]

Welllll hellooooooooo!

 

[scotrace]

The thread is indeed olive colored. And I have seen originals of this contract with Talons. Gotta find the pictures...

 

[A2_Junkie]

Olive it is

The thread in my 1401P is olive. This is also true with the ELC RW W535 AC-27752 (MUCH darker leather BTW), which is illustrated in this picture here:

-Peter

 

[JRaptor]

The thread in my 1401P is olive. This is also true with the ELC RW W535 AC-27752 (MUCH darker leather BTW), which is illustrated in this picture here:

-Peter

Yes, I am aware! It's just the lighting in the photo's that made the thread look tan or khaki.... on my screen anyways.[huh]

 

[A2_Junkie]

Yes, I am aware! It's just the lighting in the photo's that made the thread look tan or khaki.... on my screen anyways.

I think it's more likely the photos. I noticed that there was some color loss when I compressed them. Also, I used a halogen lamp to illuminate the jacket, which distorts the subtle olive shade.

I do like the olive thread against both the seal and russet brown - subtle contrast. Does your 1401 with the mustang leather have the olive thread as well?

-Peter

 

[JRaptor]

I think it's more likely the photos. I noticed that there was some color loss when I compressed them. Also, I used a halogen lamp to illuminate the jacket, which distorts the subtle olive shade.

I do like the olive thread against both the seal and russet brown - subtle contrast. Does your 1401 with the mustang leather have the olive thread as well?

-Peter

Yes Sir, I believe all of the ELC RW products utilize the olive colored thread as it is a characteristic trait of original RW's, and Gary Eastman has done an excellent job emulating and capturing that RW house style.... my 17756 Contract Redskin B-3 and matching B-2 cap also have the olive thread!

You can kind of tell the thread color here in this shot.... at least on my screen.

sorry for the blurry shots.... my digi cam is a really cheap one!

 

[TarHeel1911]

That is one gorgeous jacket! Eastmans are out of my price range, but I enjoy the pics.

Thanks for Sharing!!!

 

[Better Duck]

And just for grins, here is are the labels inside the front pockets. scotrace, what numbers are on yours?
-Peter

Mine is number 780 and looks like the twin of yours - exept I have made more work of "wheathering" the jacket, especially the pockets. I keep my wallet in the right, and my keychain in the left all the time, and I have wrung them quite a few times, especially when wet (just from rain though, not dared any hot water treatment yet) If you like I can post a few pictures of mine!

Peter (too)

 

[A2_Junkie]

Originally Posted by Better Duck

If you like I can post a few pictures of mine!

Peter (too)

That would be great, Peter. I'd love to see your 1401. I haven't messed with any hot water treatments either, preferring to just let my jacket age with me. I figure it will get beat up soon enough.

I'm surprised that they actually increment the numbers on the inside tag. That's pretty cool. Perhaps it indicates the number of 1401P's ELC has made
at that point?

I suppose that WWII airmen wore their A-2's constantly. My guess is that, once issued, they were seldom removed, unless a B-3 was required or class-A dress. So, most war-era photos of A-2's showed jackets that had endured all-day abuse for 2-3 years. I suspect that most of us on this list wear ours when weather permits and only when commuting to work and home. Mind you, I'm in no hurry to remove it when I get home. I start wearing mine as soon as I can in the fall and I'm usually the guy who gets comments like "Isn't it a bit warm for a leather jacket?" I used to say things like "Um, it was a bit cold this morning..." Now, I just say, "I like wearing it. It makes me happy."

-Peter

 

[JRaptor]

I'm surprised that they actually increment the numbers on the inside tag. That's pretty cool. Perhaps it indicates the number of 1401P's ELC has made
at that point?
-Peter

Ya think? Of course it doe's.... Mine is #253 and I guess there were only a dozen or so in the caramel mustang hide!

 

[scotrace]

I'll look at my tag numbers when I get home. I missed that part of the post earlier!

Greyhound, that cigar is a Nicuraguan second. I'll be glad when they are gone!

 

[scotrace]

Mine is number 0775.

 

[Jacob Dubow]

Scot,

In regards to the zip in your 1401, it definitely is a WWII era NOS Talon. And they were definitely used in original 1401's----not just Crowns.

As far as color goes, one of my 1401 ELC's is russet brown like yours, but the other is more reddish just like the one reviewed on Acme Depot. And just for any of you doubters-------I have a series of photos of an original 1401 which is that exact reddish brown color.....they did come in that color too.

 

[JRaptor]

Here is what mine looks like under some different lighting!

Could you please put up those photo's.... would love to see them as Rough Wear is my favorite original Type A-2 maker and the 1401-P is my favorite jacket!

 

[scotrace]

Holy smoke! NICE hide. How old is it?

 

[MKL]

The knits at the wrist take a little care. This is one of those areas where dead accuracy is a problem. Never pull off the sleeve by grabbing the knit, always grip the leather behind it before tugging. I've had to pull some stray threads back into place anyway.

How does it fit? Well, it's a 48, which I was a year ago. I'm now a 44 or so.

I'm swimming in it!

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I also have to agree with BellyTank (and other members) that Eastman's tends to be loose anyway. My shoulders are the same width and as you can see there's a ton of droop.

I think it looks great. That tie and light color pants make a good combination with the jacket. The hat ain't bad either!