ALL REPRO R.A.F. Irvin type jackets

[John Lever]

It will see you and your A-1 for a pint when it arrives !

 

[Dr H]

It will see you and your A-1 for a pint when it arrives !

Good call, I'll bring the Perrys along as well to show you side by side. About to take some photos for a comparison thread on VLJF.

 

[H.Johnson]

John,

I have one of the Cockpit Clothing Company's (of Southampton, of course) Battle of Britain Limited Edition jackets. It has the same front and back panels as early WW2 jackets but with panelled sleeves such as your example above. The fleeces and 'strips' were supposed to be specially selected to resemble an original example they had.

As I am sure you know they were produced in Summer 1990 to commemorate the BoB. It is the only flying jacket I have ever seen with an engraved brass plaque! My example has never been worn in 21 years and I still have the paperwork somewhere.

 

[John Lever]

Shame they went bust as it's a very nice jacket. I just can't justify four repro Irvin's though. It's a stitch for stitch copy of an Eastman.

 

[H.Johnson]

John,

I think the BoB Ltd Edn. was different from the other Cockpit CC jackets. It isn't like yours (or an Eastman) at all. Do we have an accurate time-line for the production of Irvin jacket reproductions? I think that The Cockpit (and others) were making repros. before Irvin did. I remember visiting ELC and Gary showing me the prototype. I can't remember exactly what year that was, but I recall my children being small and restive. I also have an undated 'flyer' announcing its itroduction. Do you know when ELC introduced their repro.?

As an aside, can you remembr what make of zips your CCC had?

 

[John Lever]

Just plain zips. Gary started making A-2 in 1985, not sure about Irvins

 

[H.Johnson]

John,

Thanks. My CCC BoB has named Zip zips (!) It is such a good repro that on at least one occasion I thought about swapping the zips (Zips?) for some NOS WW2 Dot zips I had. It would have made an excellent repro for the time (1990) and I probably would have worn it instead of leaving it in the closet! I think that ELC began making Irvin repros. sometime in the early 90s. I know, why don't we ask them?

I also think that ALC, Cirrus, CCC and some others were there before them, although I never trust my memory without direct evidence. I had a Cirrus jacket in the late 1980s (don't ask!).

 

[aswatland]

I understand ALC started making Irvins in the mid 70s. Like Eastman their early ones were far superior in terms of authenticity to their current ones.

 

[Spitfire]

If he hasn't given it away, my father might still have one of the early ALC Irvins from the seventies - I bought it for myself, and passed it on to him later on.
I will check it out next time we are together. And maybe post some pics.

 

[H.Johnson]

Andrew,

Yes, this date concurs with what I was told in the early 1980s by the then proprietor of ALC. The company was a spin-off of Mota-Lita, which used to be one of the foremost makers of leather-covered aluminium steering wheels as fitted to sports cars of the time. As he told it, the jacket business grew from the connection of open cars and sheepskin flying jackets.

Spitfire's father's jacket will be an interesting early example - although (as has been pointed out in the FL) the seventies repros could be seen as a revival of the fifties, when repro 'Irvins' were common.

 

[hamburg]

Hi

I really like what BaggyPants has done with his ELC '42 (page 40). It looks much nicer. I would like to do the same with mine and would like to know which of the Pecard product to use, and approximately how much do I need?

Thank you

BTW It is nice Irvin weather here. Cold but dry.

 

[John Lever]

I understand ALC started making Irvins in the mid 70s. Like Eastman their early ones were far superior in terms of authenticity to their current ones.

ALC was stated by Simon Green, Surbiton in the 1970's. I still the receipt for mine from 1976, it cost me £120.
A VLJ member has a mint version for sale with the Simon Green label.
Re my Merino, bad news, I have just learned that my friend sent it by SURFACE....it can take 3 months...oh well that's life I suppose.

 

[aswatland]

This is a shame John. But the good news is it will arrive in time for next winter!

 

[John Lever]

In the meantime I have this to console me -

 

[767fo]

Nice jacket John!!

 

[FRASER_NASH]

The 'sickness' continues! I think a *few* of us need to book into the Bentley *PRIORY* rehab center..!!

 

[John Lever]

It will be for sale when my merino arrives [ if it doesn't hit an iceberg]

 

[Andyboy]

Is the merino the one you once posted in this threat on page 41? This is a super fine jacket!

 

[aswatland]

Which is the most original, true to history IRVIN jacket of all the repros?
And why?

Eastman Leathercraft
Aero in Scotland
Aviation Leathercraft
What Price Glory
Other?

I know this has been discussed here and there on the pretty large Irvinthread, and if you've got time to spare, you might find something usefull.
But in order to give interested buyers a good overview, I figured this would be a good way to do it.

None of them Soren as no repro maker has successfully replicated the fleece or the zips. The closet in terms of fleece would be some of the early Eastman jackets, but the Riri zips are not close enough!

 

[John Lever]

Is the merino the one you once posted in this threat on page 41? This is a super fine jacket!

Andreas, no it's not that one . . The colour is darker brown and it's a different pattern. It's a 44 but a different shape somehow. The fleece is quite pale and soft.
This is the keeper -