ALL ORIGINAL Irvin RAF type Jackets - Loving that Wolf in sheeps' clothing!

[Chris 55]

Forgot to add contract number.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

That does look like it will be a great jacket again when you have repaired it, good luck with that, let us know how you get on with it.

 

[Dumpster Diver]

Beautiful Jacket!!! Hope the repairs go well.

 

[Doctor Damage]

 

[Doctor Damage]

 

[SpitfireIV]

Experts, I need your help, thoughts and opinions on this purchase....


I've not recieved it yet so have to work off a description and photos. It's a 38" chest apparently and would seem to have had a hard life!


From what I understand it would have been an early war example with double panel front and rear. The zipper I think may be a replacement? I've not seen a zipper simply marked with a broad arrow and on closer inspection the stitching alongside the zipper looks to be redone. What say you? If it is a replacement at least it looks the part! Could have been a generic YKK....


Is there anything on this that might give an idea as to manufacturer/year? It's certainly in need of TLC, a good cleaning and feeding.


Some images....

 

[SpitfireIV]

Never say die!

This old Irvin keeps battling on! But when is enough enough? Triggers broom comes to mind.

Discovered this while doing some research on an Instagram page called 'the_leather_workshop_ma'. He got it in to carry out some repair work on it?! Please note this is how it was received before further restoration work being carried out...

I particularly like the rather crude method of making the jacket 'bigger', someone thinks enough of it to keep it going....

 

[Dumpster Diver]

The Jacket posted by spitfireIV looks fine, doesn't really need a good oiling or anything, I'd leave that one as-is...but again I wouldn't wear these originals..display only.

Lots of great options for a Repro Irvin to enjoy.


I mean you *Could* wear it.....but it will start looking like the Patched up Irvin in the above photos in no time.

 

[SpitfireIV]

Ok, so I recieved the jacket yesterday.

First impressions? It's incredibly light! My only point of reference being an old Cirrus Irvin which would seem to have a heavier gauge leather and thicker fleece. The original is far lighter and has a very short pile fleece although it may not look it in the below photo...

You'll have to forgive the appearance/setting in the next images, I recieved the package when I was in the workshop so it and I were a tad messy.

Anyway, I reckon it's a pretty good fit. Inside label says 38 and I'm wearing three layers under it. Movement is good and it doesn't feel tight or restrictive.

It feels a tad short on the body but I'm ok with that, I prefer a jacket that rides at this height. The fit across the chest feels fine, the sleeves fall to a nice length so I think all's good.

The body is a lot darker than the images would suggest, I'm just wondering is this was how it looked original or if it has been darkened or is just dirty and grubby? I have noticed under the waiste belt the leather color is very much the chestnut brown.

It's had a tough life that's for sure. The fleece around the sleeve openings are bald and running pretty thin too around the waiste. A few patches and Frankenstein style stitch work here and there but otherwise the leather seems very strong and supple. The biggest patch/repair is to the rear of the right shoulder where a large patch has been placed albeit tidily but looks to be a suede?

Overall pretty pleased. I think this might be a wearer, it's no pristine example and has had a tough post war life I reckon.

Now, am I right in assuming this is at the very least an early war example if not pre-war? The reason I ask this is because of the construction and the fact there's a '38' size label on the inside, I understand during the war this was changed to a numbered system, ie size 1-7. Also there is what remains of the last threads of a label, it might be writing on it, or print but is there enough to work with here to identify a maker or could these have been relabeled post war for civilian markets?

Thanks again for any help

 

[Dumpster Diver]

Man, it looks awesome, but the little voice in me says that Jacket should remain in retirement IMHO...They're like 80 year old Jackets now, you know?

Get some MK VIII goggles to display that Jacket in a shadow box, that's what I'd do...then save up and Get a new Eastman Irvin

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I Really do like the look of that jacket.

 

[SpitfireIV]

Well it's not been exactly Irvin weather in this part of the world (Ireland) or probably not in the UK either but I'm surprised there's not been more activity on this thread. Are Irvins falling out of fashion?

I did get to wear mine briefly yesterday on the way to the workshop. It's had a fair bit of work since my earlier posts before Xmas, I'll upload pics and details of what was done. Just some of the fixes include retrimming both sleeves and patch to right hand sleeve, a lot of stitching needed redoing and more yet to do, a lot of it was rotten and coming apart, had to resew the metal hooks back onto the collar, but the biggest job was the cleaning; It was filthy!! Unfortunately I think someone applied either black dubbin or shoe polish to the skin to, I assume, bring it back to an overall similar shade after the chroming had worn off. I was able to get some off but I'll not push my luck any further and just live with it as is. You can see the original color coming through in parts (a very dark chestnut brown).

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

The above all looks great.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Bunch of good quality photos on this website (below) of a vintage Irvin in great condition.

https://www.royal-dragons.fr/fiche-...on-de-vol-fourre-mouton-dore-irvin-14414.html

 

[Doctor Damage]

^ I find it hard to believe (and a bit depressing) that I'm the most recent person to post in this thread two full years ago. Anyway, there's some charming pics of McCartney with child:

 

[Aloysius]

I bought a really beautiful one from a forum member but I’ll probably be moving it on because I can’t justify having two (I had received a repro Irvin just days earlier).