Calling on all AERO "Happy Days" Jacket owners...

[Dagenham Dave]

Seal goatskin would also be a great choice.

Fanch,

I do think your jacket looks great in seal goatskin, but I just love the idea of the mid-weight HH, especially if it is period correct for a early 1950s jacket.

Cheers,
Dabe

 

[Fanch]

My seal jerky MWHH Mulligan

 

[Sloan1874]

Yes, it would have. Loads of A-2s were made from mid-weight seal HH. You get different shades of it, though. I have a Dust Bowl that's very, very dark shinki HH, but it's still brown - look at the examples below. I'd definitely ask for samples of the current leathers.

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=71

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=90

 

[Dagenham Dave]

My seal MWHH Mulligan

Love it!!! Thanks Fanch.

 

[Sloan1874]

Can I throw in a wild card here: tumbled cordovan FQHH. It's soft enough to get the drape and it's closer to a mid-weight in feel. Looks great!

 

[Rudie]

IMO the jerky HH has much more character than the smooth HH. The smooth HH looks kind of plasticky to me.

Fanch, that seal goat you have, is it the new or the old goat? And does the picture show the true color? I have the new mid brown goat (basically just a tad darker than russet) and it looks very similar. The seal HH I had was nearly black.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

IMO the jerky HH has much more character than the smooth HH. The smooth HH looks kind of plasticky to me.

I guess I can see what you're saying Rudie regarding the "platicky" look of SEAL BROWN SMOOTH HH, but I like it...




This SEAL JERKY HH photo from Aero just looks too creased to me:

 

[Dagenham Dave]

So would SEAL BROWN SMOOTHE HORSEHIDE have been around in the very early 50s?

View attachment 21177 View attachment 21201

And is it considered a true BROWN?

Yes, it would have. Loads of A-2s were made from mid-weight seal HH. You get different shades of it, though. I have a Dust Bowl that's very, very dark shinki HH, but it's still brown - look at the examples below. I'd definitely ask for samples of the current leathers.

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=71

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=90

Thanks Sloan1874.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

Zip choice?

I now need to choose a zip colour – Brass , Nickle or Antique Brass.

What zip is the most appropriate/period correct if this jacket was purchased in 1952?

Cheers,
Dave

All are correct.

Thanks Dinerman,

Which zip would be "most" correct, and look best with the SEAL BROWN SMOOTHE HORSEHIDE and SEAL knit?

 

[Sloan1874]

Depends how much of a contrast you want - I had a seal A-2 with rust knits, which looked great. In this case, I'd be tempted to go for a toning dark brown for maximum flexibility.

 

[Fanch]

IMO the jerky HH has much more character than the smooth HH. The smooth HH looks kind of plasticky to me.

Fanch, that seal goat you have, is it the new or the old goat? And does the picture show the true color? I have the new mid brown goat (basically just a tad darker than russet) and it looks very similar. The seal HH I had was nearly black.

Rudie, I'm not sure whether my seal veg tanned goat from my Pioneer is new or old goat but suspect the former. It is thicker, has infinitely more "character" and is markedly different from the thinner chrome tanned goat from my G&P Expedition and my Cooper G-1 jackets. The color is definitely dark brown and comparable to that of by MWHH Mulligan also shown on this thread. IMO the MWHH Mulligan has the least "character" of all. Maybe Thurston's new Italian MWHH is better but haven't seen it to make a comparison. My brown FQHH Teamster is more of a reddish brown, is soft and flexible, has a nice drape, but is definitely heavier. Of all of the hides presented, maybe Sloan's tumbled cordovan FQHH Board Racer is the nicest. With his assessment "It's soft enough to get the drape and it's closer to a mid-weight in feel. Looks great!" I think Aero's tumbled cordovan FQHH has to be a serious consideration. In any case, I would choose Aero's goatskin over their MWHH based on my personal experience. Just my preference, not saying one is better than the other.

 

[handymike]

Most vintage brown jackets of this style had brass zips, but they tarnished back in the day (unlike now). So I'd say Brass or antiqued brass.

 

[Seb Lucas]

View attachment 21167

Hi Seb,

So you think the SEAL BROWN SMOOTHE HORSEHIDE is a good choice then, as I believe it is a mid weight horse hide:

View attachment 21167

I do like this jacket on this Aero customer:

View attachment 21168

And then SEAL knit?

View attachment 21169

Cheers,
Dave

Good choice. Anything mid-weight will be more versatile.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

Most vintage brown jackets of this style had brass zips, but they tarnished back in the day (unlike now). So I'd say Brass or antiqued brass.

Thanks handymike. I think I'll go for brass.

 

[Don Tomaso]

Exactly my thoughts!!! Very bad customer service I feel.

Fair enough. So why still buy at Aero?
Seriously, if you cannot live with what Aero offers, why bother dealing with them and tell everybody and his brother how bad they are? You're buying a leather-jacket over the net and you want it in FQHH, no less. And then you cannot allow for a littly leeway, fitting-wise? You're a model, are you?
Well, check out your local mall and try on a jacket and be fine, I'ld say. Best for all involved, if you ask me.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

Fair enough. So why still buy at Aero?
Seriously, if you cannot live with what Aero offers, why bother dealing with them and tell everybody and his brother how bad they are? You're buying a leather-jacket over the net and you want it in FQHH, no less. And then you cannot allow for a littly leeway, fitting-wise? You're a model, are you?
Well, check out your local mall and try on a jacket and be fine, I'ld say. Best for all involved, if you ask me.

Hey Don,

Now that is a little nasty!!! And totally unhelpful!

It WAS average customer service (read the whole thread) until Denny got involved with measurements. Since then Denny (Aero) has been EXTREMELY helpful. Perhaps I did not spell that out well enough in my subsequent posts (but I thought it was implied).

Anyway, I am happy at present and progressing well with purchasing one.

Dave

 

[thor]

So you decided on an Aero Happy Days in mid-weight smooth seal brown HH with brass zipper? How about the lining? Aero has so many great choices! Any inside pockets? What kind of lead time did they give for a completion date?

 

[Sloan1874]

If I was living in Australia, I'd go with cotton, simply to get max use from the jacket.

 

[Fanch]

Aero's cotton drill lining is tough as nails and very wearable. With the exception of my Teamster with moleskin body shell lining, my other Aeros are lined throughout with cotton drill to wear in Texas for the very reason just given by Sloan.

 

[Seb Lucas]

If I was living in Australia, I'd go with cotton, simply to get max use from the jacket.

Yep. I do and I did.