Aging a new ALC Irvin style jacket

[Lord Flashheart]

Hi Smithy. Yep I think your right and it's time to cut my losses. I'm just out side of Ballarat so i thought i might use it but i have had the ALC Irvin for about a year and hardly worn it. It's just to big and bulky plus I am Scottish so have a fairly good tolerance for cold anyway. I don't know if I can stretch for a Eastman or an Aces High so I might have a closer look at the WPG Irvin. Any one want to buy a size 44 Aviation Leathercraft Irvin?

Flashy

 

[Spitfire]

Hi Flashy - I completely agree with Smithy. I've been down the exact same route as you are on now. My first was a ALC. Then I got the WPG - if only for a very short time. Then I went for the AERO (and soaked it) - now I have the best repro, money can buy (IMO): One of Jon's Aces High Irvins. (Pre War type)

 

[Worf]

As the fortunate recipient of Spitty's Aero Pre-War Irvin... I intend to keep her just as she is. His shrinkage treatment did make the arms "tighter" (so tight I sometimes lose feeling in some of my fingers) but the darn thing was my "go to" jacket when the temps dipped into the teens and the snow was howling. I felt impervious in it... like Spartacus!! But it is too bulky to do anything but walk in or sit (outside) in. I think I'll be scoring a B6 or D1 sometime this year for less extreme weather. Most of my leather I buy for style the Irvin is now more for comfort. Thanks again Spitty!

Worf

 

[Smithy]

Don't forget Flash to keep an eye on eBay, Eastmans come up fairly regularly and you could get a nice broken in one for a decent price. One word of advice if you do end up going down the Eastman route, it's worth going up a size from your regular jacket size and possibly getting an extra inch on the sleeves and body if you're tall. Mine is a 42'' extra long (extra inch and a half on the body and sleeves) when I usually wear a 40'' jacket or shirt and am 6' 1'' tall. Means you can wear a jumper under it if needs be - I was living in Norway when I first bought mine so nice to have that option, at the same time I'm still not swamped in it if I only have a shirt underneath.

Haven't seen one of John's yet on eBay but he hasn't been making them for terribly long.

Best,

Tim

 

[Spitfire]

As the fortunate recipient of Spitty's Aero Pre-War Irvin... I intend to keep her just as she is. His shrinkage treatment did make the arms "tighter" (so tight I sometimes lose feeling in some of my fingers) but the darn thing was my "go to" jacket when the temps dipped into the teens and the snow was howling. I felt impervious in it... like Spartacus!! But it is too bulky to do anything but walk in or sit (outside) in. I think I'll be scoring a B6 or D1 sometime this year for less extreme weather. Most of my leather I buy for style the Irvin is now more for comfort. Thanks again Spitty!

Worf

A true pleasure, Worf. Hope it got plenty of use.