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I've made one of those rare, heart-stopping discoveries, right under my nose!
I posted this for the good fellows at the Vintage Leathers forum, but I think it deserves a good sharing all 'round.
A co-worker saw me in my new Eastman/Roughwear 1401 last week and said "my dad's old jacket is at my house. Looks like that. He was in the war."
Of course I asked her to please bring it in sometime so I could have a look!
Im NO EXPERT by any stretch, but like most of us, there was a great deal of research and obsession that went along with learning what can be found out about these jackets prior to that first purchase. So while I really don't know squat, I figured I could maybe tell what it was, what time frame in the war it was made, and a few other details. Had no idea what to expect.
Amazingly, she brought it today and I followed her out to her car where she had the jacket in the trunk.
She kept saying that it was in really poor condition, but my first impression was "not that bad, really." The knits are all shot, but the leather, though it's got a hole here and there, looked OK, if FILTHY. It had been hanging in an open-window attic for decades so it's like a big potato chip - all dried out. "Nit that bad" may be generous... The dirt is heavy everywhere. But the hooks, snaps, talon zipper (exactly like the one Eastman used on my jacket), are all present and would likely function, if one were foolish enough to try. Only one insignia, of a knight in a leather patch on the left breast, that is natural leather (unpainted). Original owner's name is stenciled under the label, in very small letters, which are obliterated by the dirt. The label is all there. No rank. No Wing & Star decal. Size is 38.
Damn - no litte paper tag under the right pocket flap.
It's a Rough Wear 27752, and it doesn't look like it was ever anything but russet. Under the flaps, everywhere you can see color under the gunk, it's russet. And the hide was once smooth but has taken on character at wear spots and from being tugged by it's own weight on the (thin metal!) hangar.
I promised the owner I would try and get some info on the insignia, and more on the jacket. And of course, said that I fully respect that it's a cherished family piece, but that if ever that should change, I'd like a crack at buying it. In this state, it's not very valuable except for the patch.
I took dozens of pictures in her office. Here they are.
Amazing! AND SO COOL to see the same collar shape as my Eastman: pocket flaps, zipper, snaps - all dead on in my new jacket. Exactly and precisely the same.
My hands and white shirt were black by the time I finished with it.
Enjoy the pictures!
I posted this for the good fellows at the Vintage Leathers forum, but I think it deserves a good sharing all 'round.
A co-worker saw me in my new Eastman/Roughwear 1401 last week and said "my dad's old jacket is at my house. Looks like that. He was in the war."
Of course I asked her to please bring it in sometime so I could have a look!
Im NO EXPERT by any stretch, but like most of us, there was a great deal of research and obsession that went along with learning what can be found out about these jackets prior to that first purchase. So while I really don't know squat, I figured I could maybe tell what it was, what time frame in the war it was made, and a few other details. Had no idea what to expect.
Amazingly, she brought it today and I followed her out to her car where she had the jacket in the trunk.
She kept saying that it was in really poor condition, but my first impression was "not that bad, really." The knits are all shot, but the leather, though it's got a hole here and there, looked OK, if FILTHY. It had been hanging in an open-window attic for decades so it's like a big potato chip - all dried out. "Nit that bad" may be generous... The dirt is heavy everywhere. But the hooks, snaps, talon zipper (exactly like the one Eastman used on my jacket), are all present and would likely function, if one were foolish enough to try. Only one insignia, of a knight in a leather patch on the left breast, that is natural leather (unpainted). Original owner's name is stenciled under the label, in very small letters, which are obliterated by the dirt. The label is all there. No rank. No Wing & Star decal. Size is 38.
Damn - no litte paper tag under the right pocket flap.
It's a Rough Wear 27752, and it doesn't look like it was ever anything but russet. Under the flaps, everywhere you can see color under the gunk, it's russet. And the hide was once smooth but has taken on character at wear spots and from being tugged by it's own weight on the (thin metal!) hangar.
I promised the owner I would try and get some info on the insignia, and more on the jacket. And of course, said that I fully respect that it's a cherished family piece, but that if ever that should change, I'd like a crack at buying it. In this state, it's not very valuable except for the patch.
I took dozens of pictures in her office. Here they are.
Amazing! AND SO COOL to see the same collar shape as my Eastman: pocket flaps, zipper, snaps - all dead on in my new jacket. Exactly and precisely the same.
My hands and white shirt were black by the time I finished with it.
Enjoy the pictures!
