Aero Bootlegger, with buttons?

[gfirob]

Has anyone ordered up an Aero Bootlegger, with buttons rather than a zipper? Many 30's aviator jackets seem to have had buttons and the Bootlegger seems like a good candidate for it, but I don't know how the proportions would hold up, or how the buttons would space out (5 up the front?).

I was thinking in Brown, heavy horsehide. Thinking quite hard, actually.

Any thoughts or experience? Any photos?

Thanks for your help.
Rob

 

[HoosierDaddy]

My experience is..."Good Luck" unbuttoning and buttoning with Aero's heavy FQHH. Honestly..it would be an almost impossible chore.IMO!
HD

 

[gfirob]

Hmm
That's a good thought. It is hard enough zipping up my Highwayman, now that you mention it...

Though they do make some buttoned coats, the Barnstormer, the Stockman, the Veste de Rallye, the Cheyenne, the Mariner, all offered in FQHH, so they must have addressed this issue.

Anybody have any of these buttoned coats? Anyone able to button them?

Thanks for your help.

 

[GHQ1]

RAF Leather Jerkin

I used one of those wool lined RAF jerkins for a few years . .and pretty much always left it unbuttoned . . .after the one time the center button cracked in half when I tried to tweak it thru the hole . . .

so perhaps have the leather slit lengthened for button ease . .

or switch out the buttons to the more robust Canadian taped/slotted version . .

 

[John Lever]

Forget buttons on FQHH. You will break your thumbs !

 

[feltfan]

How do those Barnstormer coats work?

 

[gfirob]

Anybody have a Barnstormer or other buttoned Aero FQHH jacket or coat?

Any reviews of the button technology?

Thanks for your help

Rob

 

[Creeping Past]

So this is how the panic starts! Calm down, people. :eusa_doh:

Aero sell loads of button-up coats and I've not heard a single story of broken fingers, buttons flying off into eyes, etc.

If you want to know about buttons vs. horsehide, ask Aero. They're very helpful...

 

[Budajoe]

From my experience with an Aero FQHH Mariner, I have no problems with the opening / closing buttons.

Being in So Cal, I don't find myself buttoning it too often as it's just not that cold, but you shouldn't have any problems.

Sure it's stiff for the first few wears, but after I'd say about 10 - 15 open / closures, there's no problem -- I can even do it with one hand. That's the thing with the FQHH, you gotta breakin that hide in...

Unless they make the hole opening too small (which I've seen on various jackets), you should be just fine.

BJ

 

[gfirob]

Extensive testing with the button cuff of my 30's Halfbelt has revealed that Aero has conquered the button-to-button-hole technology...

But what about the style? How do you think it would look?

The Noble House buttoned "FLIEGERJACKE leder jacke PILOTENJACKE" is made as a double breasted buttoned jacket, but I don't think the Booletter would support this because of the slant of the front opening. Early buttoned flight jackets had buttons on one side and looked fine.

What do you think?

Thanks for your help

 

[Creeping Past]

Bellytank and others have posted some great photographs of bike and/or flying jackets with two rows of buttons. Any use?

 

[gfirob]

Oh, fantastic pictures! Thanks very much. Very thought provoking.

Great looking jackets...

 

[Boris K]

.

I have a black barnstormer FQHH. No problems with buttoning. It is my "go-to" coat for 3 months of the year.

The only issue I could see is if the button holes were too small... [huh]

 

[Milu]

My experience with heavy leather and buttons is that it's not an issue as long as the button is not attached to closely to the leather i.e. that the thread is left long enough.

Years ago I saw a double breasted pseudo bike jacket with poppers. Style looked good but ruined by cheap, thin leather.

 

[Graemsay]

I've got an Aero FQHH jacket with buttons, and I've not broken any fingernails or fingers whilst fastening or unfastening it.

A button-up Bootlegger would look good. Go and order it, then post a picture so that we can admire it.

 

[winston]

My experience with heavy leather and buttons is that it's not an issue as long as the button is not attached to closely to the leather i.e. that the thread is left long enough.

Yes. A button shank will ensure that there is enough space between the button and the leather for the button to be manipulated through the button hole (which also must not be tight) rather than sitting firmly against the jacket, hard to lift or manoeuvre.

 

[gfirob]

Good advice, thanks all. I have been looking at older German jackets on German ebay. Nothing as nice as bellytank's collection, but interesting buttoned jackets.