Aero "Jerky" Horsehide vs. "Smooth" FQHH

[Lowflyer]

Seal or Russet, Russet or Seal....

Well chaps I suppose I've made a choice (at least as far as the model goes), Real Deal it is, the sizing question has been nearly solved as well, now the only question that remains is: Russet or Seal..... Burnsie? CBI? Any ideas? I'm asking you guys since Burnsie you have two real deals in both colours (if I'm not mistaken) and CBI I believe the real deal "Rhapsody in Red" was your work of art.

Does russet typically tend to get darker and seal a little lighter with age or do they generally maintain their base colour?

 

[Burnsie]

One of each!

Seriously though...really one of each! I started with the Russet because that was the original AAF spec color and because the less authentic goatskin or lambskin modern A-2's tend to be darker (so the russet kind of sets a jacket apart as being more WWII period)...HOWEVER after getting a seal brown Aero I find I'm wearing that much more often! They both have stayed consistent in color while wearing lighter at the high spots...

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Ha...Burnsie!
...I went the same route as you. Had an Aero russett Real Deal made...then picked up a seal off the sale page as well. I like both...but probably favor the burnished look of the russet as the undercoat shows through with wear. Both are nice,however.
HD

 

[CBI]

Oh, that's just great, my long post just dissapeared! OK, the short version. These guys are telling you to get one of each, really --- one of each. My point entirely ..... sorry .......... if you just get the darn Goodwear, it will cost you less in the long run. In re Seal vs. Russett Aero .............. Seal, period look AND contemporary, I get the most comments/looks with my Seal jackets. The Russett is wonderful as well but not a popular color these days. Some folks might opt for it for just that reason!!! Rhapsody in Red was one of mine - I gave it away to a co-worked who has done a great job at my company. My future purchases via GW will tend to be Seal. GW's new Seal Brown Goatskin is AMAZING. GW's HH Seal and Russett are very authentic. Sometimes, wearing the Russett GW, I do a double take as it looks like it was transported via Star Trek transporter from the 1940's and only after a few wearings and some aging techniques. In re Aero, again Seal is my choice. If you get nudged to buy two then I would REALLY upgrade to GW.

 

[Lowflyer]

Yeah, seal would've been my first choice as well, thanks a lot for your opinion about this guys!

Burnsie (sorry mate, need to bother you again ) what colour knits have you got on this A-2 is it mid-brown or dark brown? Oh and the thread they used on your jacket, I suppose it is non standard, but what colour is it? Straw? Because I think it just looks absolutely amazing with the dark leather!!!

http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk172/Burnsie37/?action=view&current=Oct1756.jpg

I was thinking about possibly going for the rust knits as on this one:

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/images/Jerky Horse(B).JPG

but then again, maybe that's too much of a contrast.......

 

[Burnsie]

Knits and thread!

Lowflyer, the seal A-2 has straw colored thread and dark berry knits - if I got another seal Real Deal I would definitely go for the rust red knits though! My russet Real Deal has rust knits and they look great, I think they're even better contrasted with the darker seal brown. Real Deals come as standard with OD thread but I bet they'd do one with the straw thread, Aero is known for accomodating custom requests. (I've been mulling over the idea of getting another with insignia and rust knits, trying to figure out how to get it past the wife....)

 

[Lowflyer]

Jeez..... I'm really getting confused here, what's the difference between berry, medium Brown and dark brown knits?!?!

Still waiting for the answer from Amanda concerning the straw coloured thread, I just want to be sure I can exchange the jacket even with the non-standard thread if, for some reason, the size shouldn't fit (I prefer assuming worst case scenario although I'd really like to get the size right the first time....) I did talk to William at aeroleather and gave him my sizes, based on that he recommended a size 42 so I'll trust his judgment there.....

I've been mulling over the idea of getting another with insignia and rust knits, trying to figure out how to get it past the wife....

Maybe something along the lines of:"You know hun, with the current economy another jacket should be considered as an investment which increases it's value over time (does it? I don't know ), besides the pound is really low at the moment so what better time to buy another A-2 than now, If I go for one now I can really save money in the long run when the pound's back up again...." or something like that :whistling

 

[feltfan]

Maybe something along the lines of:"You know hun, with the current economy another jacket should be considered as an investment which increases it's value over time (does it? I don't know ), besides the pound is really low at the moment so what better time to buy another A-2 than now, If I go for one now I can really save money in the long run when the pound's back up again...." or something like that :whistling

A leather jacket is a durable good. But I'm afraid you'd
be improving the consumption of durable goods in Scotland,
not here in the US.

So it's much more defensible to buy a Goodwear, Schott,
Johnson, or Langlitz jacket, made in the USA.

Or have a partner who doesn't even notice when you
wear a new leather jacket...

 

[Lowflyer]

Or have a partner who doesn't even notice when you
wear a new leather jacket...

Well the thing is though, most people that consider buying A-2 jackets (and are crazy enough to take a shower wearing nothing but their 800$ jackets in order to "adjust" their size....) are male (no offence here Ladies)..... so most of their partners are female.... and experience shows us that women will notice just about anything...... so I guess your theory, albeit a good one , is probably not gonna work out lol

 

[Burnsie]

Well the thing is though, most people that consider buying A-2 jackets (and are crazy enough to take a shower wearing nothing but their 800$ jackets in order to "adjust" their size....) are male (no offence here Ladies)..... so most of their partners are female.... and experience shows us that women will notice just about anything...... so I guess your theory, albeit a good one , is probably not gonna work out lol

lol lol lol lol My wife notices everything. EVERYTHING. Especially how I throw on an A-2 and run outside everytime it starts to rain...

 

[Lowflyer]

lol lol lol lol My wife notices everything. EVERYTHING. Especially how I throw on an A-2 and run outside everytime it starts to rain...

You do agree though that this can not exactly be considered "normal" behaviour......lol

Jeez I can't decide.... whether to take the straw thread (and run the risk of not being able to exchange it if it doest't fit) or the standard O.D. thread..... (yeaaaaahhh I know I'm really becoming picky here ......)

Burnsie did you get your size recommendation based on your measures, and did they work out the first time around?

Sorry to be a P.I.T.A. ......

 

[Burnsie]

I sent all my measurements, see I got it wrong the first time around so I left it up to them! I ended up with a 42 regular with 1/2" off the sleeves - they were right! First time out, my two cents, go for the standard OD thread. The reason I got straw on the second one was just to have something different from the first (though I do admit it looks smashing!)

 

[Lowflyer]

Ordered!

Well, I just ordered the jacket on their webpage, Real Deal Seal Brown jerky HH (in size 42" as well, we'll see if they were right.....I just hope so) with dark berry knits (yes I admit Burnsie I did get "some" slight inspirations from your jacket ) I did however go for the O.D. thread....

So now the waiting game begins..... apparently delivery time is between 6-8 weeks at the moment, let's hope this reduces a little bit lol

Guys, your help was greatly appreciated, thanks a lot! Especially you Burnsie since I had to annoy you over and over again [huh]

So in about 7 weeks time I'll know more.....

 

[Burnsie]

Guys, your help was greatly appreciated, thanks a lot! Especially you Burnsie since I had to annoy you over and over again [huh] ....

Any time! Excellent choices on the jacket details, can't wait to see the pics I trust you'll post here. Now I'm a little anxious myself, but I'm confident you'll love it!

 

[Lowflyer]

I'll definitely post pics here as soon as I got it (assuming the size is right lol)......I just hope that they prefer to give their customers longer waiting times "just in case" and that it actually won't take that long for this great jacket to arrive

 

[jeepjeep13]

What was the end result with your purchase? Any pics? I'm brand new to The Fedora Lounge (this is my first post actually), but I've always followed links that have helped me with big clothing purchases (bought a beautiful Irvin jacket last year which was the envy of everyone in the Chicagoland area haha). Now, my new obsession is finding an a-2 jacket. I'm having some of the same difficulties that Lowflyer was having and I think I have it narrowed down to Aero in seal brown, but would love to see your seal brown jerky a-2 that you bought to give me a reference on the knits! Did you get an option on the cotton lining color?

 

[Fanch]

Go with a Vicenza/Italian seal horsehide that is well worth the upcharge over seal or russet jerky horsehide.

 

[jeepjeep13]

There's one on ebay right now that is a 42L in that exact combo. I've been eyeing it, but only problem is that I'm normally a pretty perfect 40L and I don't want it to look baggy or unkempt. Do they fit slim enough for me to get away with one size bigger?

 

[Fanch]

I normally wear a 42 long with most Aero jackets, specifically their 1930's halfbelt and Cafe Racer jackets, but need to size up to 44 long for Aero's A-2. If the 42L you are viewing on eBay is the one I think you are viewing, I would recommend you contact Thurston Brothers directly and request a fit jacket rather than going through Ebay.

 

[jeepjeep13]

Haha, I like how you've seen it on there too. I think that it's actually being sold by Thurston Bros, just on ebay. So sounds like they run small since you have to size up with the a-2. Which one do you have? I think this one is the Bronco and I heard it runs big anyhow, so you can see my hesitation. I might give them a call tomorrow directly like you suggested though.