Diamond Dave L-2A

[Cocker]

They are supposed to be among the best, yes indeed. Personally, as stated higher, although the 3 extra inches may detract for the historical accuracy, this would be the only way for me to wear an L2A. At 6'4" and 200lbs, I do not consider myself big. Most of my pants are mid/high waisted trousers from either Pike Brothers or SJC. And I need a 27,5" body length to barely cover my belt

 

[kowalski]

Err, is this the Diamond Dave/Goodwear jacket that people were hyping so much?
Well, I appreciate that this is going to be heresay that will end in my being blackballed from the lounge, but I think it's absolutely awful.
Three extra inches? Why? For hipsters who want to wear low rise pants, or for people who are in such a bad shape that they have to hide their body? I'd love to see a shot from the back, I bet it's way too loose and baggy/saggy.
The dimensions of this jacket just look so wrong, it doesn't deserve to be priced any higher than one of the many mall jackets from which it's inauthentic fit is indistinguishable IMHO.
But that's just my 2 cents, and anyone who is happy with that is welcome to it.
I'll stick with my Buzz Rickson's, sensible eating, and daily exercise thanks.

Simply, there are things which are not for all unfortunately +3 +4 ' it bad evolution i think .I have repro alpha B15 and is as short as oryginal , the same applies MA1 (alpha).. Irvin (?) B3 ? it's also short jackets, and let it remain.
regards

 

[Big J]

Hey, look, if like Ton and Cooper you need a longer size so that the waistband sits in your WAIST, that's absolutely fine, but wearing a longer size so that the waistband sits on your HIPS is just plain weird.
In related news, I hear that G&B have altered their G-1 pattern. It's less authentic but more 'roomy' for guys who can't squeeze into an authentic fit G-1...

 

[Big J]

Sorry, I meant Ton and Cocker. My bad.

 

[CBI]

Thanks Big J. I love the fit. Dave can happily make these with the authentic length. As far as Dave's work, having owned a number of original L-2A's and 50 era military nylon, I can attest to an incredibly high standard of work, as good or better than BR. Dave used great materials.

 

[Cocker]

Case in point. My Aero 42-18775-P is 27.5 inches long. The trousers are SJC Yard Boss, which are really high waisted. When closed, the jacket sits about 0.5 inches below the belt.

View attachment 82896

 

[bn1966]

I'm done with high end nylon.....for now

 

[Big J]

@CBI, I know I'm a grumpy old windbag, and I know that it's difficult to get across the 'tone' that you want in a text message, when it's much easier to say it face to face. I'm don't want to, nor am I trying to, slam you about this jacket.
Put it another way, if I just gushed about it, and said something like 'wow! That's so great, why didn't the usaf make all their jackets 8cm longer?', it would be strange, wouldn't it?
It's not accurate.
That's fine if that's what customers want.
But let's not create some kind of modern fiction about the perfect jacket being an incorrect jacket. I think that's really important.
DD/GW aren't the second coming, and they don't have a license to rewrite history.

 

[EmergencyIan]

It's a bit surprising that this jacket accuracy "thing" is taken so ultra seriously, by some. I like an accurate reproduction jacket as much as the next guy, but let's face it, it's not significant with all of the other things most of us face on a regular basis.

If you like a jacket, great. If you don't, no big deal. The world keeps turning in either case.

- Ian

 

[Gav]

Dave said on vlj forum that he can make them shorter if you wish. I’m not sure why you are so cross about goodwear and DD @Big J

 

[CBI]

Yep - I think the key word here is "jacket" .............. its just a jacket so I am not going to worry about any aspect of it.

 

[Cocker]

Yep - I think the key word here is "jacket" .............. its just a jacket so I am not going to worry about any aspect of it.

Even the fit?

 

[Big J]

@Gav, because I believe that they are the very definition of emperors new clothes syndrome; a positive feedback loop of elitist snobbery and hype.
They're supposed to be 'the best', the most 'authentic', and your not allowed to question that coz it makes you 'unworthy' a barbarian, a 'hater'. It's kind of cultish.
So yeah, they deserve to get called out for making jackets that don't reflect historical fact (coz that's the image they are trading on).

 

[Big J]

Also, don't you think it's odd that there's only like five people commenting on this thread?
I mean, if this was an Alpha, or some other makers brand, all the 'experts' would be piling on about any perceived inaccuracies (like fit) but this time there's a deafening silence. The followers of cult of GW/DD are caught in cognitive dissonance this time it seems.

 

[Big J]

@Gav, you got a link for that DD comment over at Vintage Leather Jacket Forum?
I went looking but couldn't find it.
TBH, it's not so much a forum over there, but 'smart' marketing, isn't it? GW and DD set up a vintage leather jacket forum, get their 'market demographic' to spill their guts and surprise surprise, all roads lead back to GW/DD!

 

[Sloan1874]

Err, is this the Diamond Dave/Goodwear jacket that people were hyping so much?
Well, I appreciate that this is going to be heresay that will end in my being blackballed from the lounge, but I think it's absolutely awful.
Three extra inches? Why? For hipsters who want to wear low rise pants, or for people who are in such a bad shape that they have to hide their body? I'd love to see a shot from the back, I bet it's way too loose and baggy/saggy.
The dimensions of this jacket just look so wrong, it doesn't deserve to be priced any higher than one of the many mall jackets from which it's inauthentic fit is indistinguishable IMHO.
But that's just my 2 cents, and anyone who is happy with that is welcome to it.
I'll stick with my Buzz Rickson's, sensible eating, and daily exercise thanks.

I agree completely. Why, if you're attempting to recreate these jackets, would you start adjusting the pattern for 'modern tastes'? These things look their best when they're rendered in their original proportions, adding length just knocks them out of whack.

 

[El Marro]

Big J,
I admire your enthusiasm and the focus you bring to your posts. I too dislike snobbery and the people who practice it.
That said, I have to disagree with your stance on GW and DD. I have purchased jackets from both of these guys and in the course of doing business I had the pleasure to speak with each of them. What really came across in both conversations was the deep respect and fascination that these men have for the vintage jackets they are reproducing. That is what makes them tick and there was no discussion of who is the best nor any claims of superiority by either of them.
Just my two cents worth when it comes to GW and DD.

 

[Gav]

@Big J
This is from the nylon jackets by GW/DD thread page 2:

http://vintageleatherjackets.org/threads/nylon-jackets-from-dd-gw.20196/page-2

Quote:↑
Hi, lovely jackets but can you make in the original dimensions without the 3” added?

The extra length is no good to me as I do wear high waisted pants and measure 5’ 8”


Cheers
I can indeed. Hit me up on PM and we can go from there.

DD

 

[Big J]

Thanks Gav!
But just looking at that page I found DD posted pics of a different blue L-2, with this comment;
"Again 3" addition to the length is the only nod to the modern, and makes this a very wearable jacket indeed."
WTF?
"again"? Looks to me like +3 inches wasn't merely a one-off request, but DD's built-in an inaccuracy into his standard pattern? Why would he do this? Oh yeah, stupid me, he says it's a "nod to modernity". So does that mean "because all the hipsters are wearing low-rise pants" or does it mean "we don't make jackets for fit young men (like the originals), we're making jackets for out of shape middle-aged desk warriors"?
This is what I said at the start, but got told I was wrong.

 

[Big J]

@Sloan, yes! Exactly!

@El Marro, no problem at all. Real issue flight jackets weren't perfect, nor were they perfectly made. They were rush jobs banged together by workers with the minimum training time, working for the lowest bidder, to make a product that was 'good enough for government work'.
And then they were treated roughly.
IMHO, the drive by GW/DD to create something they think is the best, is just missing the point of the originals entirely.