Eastman Leather Clothing USAAF B-3 Flying Jacket, Perry Sportswear 17808 Mixed Batch

[John Lever]

I tried mine, John, which is quite broken in, and I tried a new one off the rack, and I can't say either B-3 presented the issue you described. Since you've owned numerous B-3s and I've had hundreds pass through my hands via the business, I'm starting to think the Perry B-3 you sold was some odd one-off jacket, the problem of which was possibly manifested via both how it was cut and sewn and the skins it was made from.

I think you must be correct. Rob Brace sent me dimensions of a 42 and looks much bigger than mine was. I wonder if it could have been a mis-labelled 40 ?

 

[mr_lits]

Ok OK OK!!! AUUUGH!!! :kick:

You guys posted this up Just to tease me didnt you!!!

Well, I also noticed that my life improved in general after requisitioning one these. Women found me more attractive, my beer gut mysteriously turned into a sixpack, I received a huge promotion at work. I think it also has the powers to grant wishes. And in general I look stylish as hell everywhere I go. We didn't post this to tease you, only to help send you in a better, more fulfilling direction for your life.

 

[John Lever]

Some day I would love to have one that fits but I think it may be out of reach.

 

[Monsoon]

Well, I also noticed that my life improved in general after requisitioning one these. Women found me more attractive, my beer gut mysteriously turned into a sixpack, I received a huge promotion at work. I think it also has the powers to grant wishes. And in general I look stylish as hell everywhere I go. We didn't post this to tease you, only to help send you in a better, more fulfilling direction for your life.

And you just won the internet for the day with that post.

 

[Dumpster Diver]

Well, I also noticed that my life improved in general after requisitioning one these. Women found me more attractive, my beer gut mysteriously turned into a sixpack, I received a huge promotion at work. I think it also has the powers to grant wishes. And in general I look stylish as hell everywhere I go. We didn't post this to tease you, only to help send you in a better, more fulfilling direction for your life.

Appreciate the motivation.

Its a long race...so who is to say.

I got these coveralls for 10 Bucks at Value Village, and they would Typically Retail for 89.99 at the Surplus.

I will eventually get my ELC B-3 with or without the *new Jacket* smell.

 

[Dumpster Diver]

Good things come to those who wait...Except Colds..I have one of those right now.

*Achoo*

 

[bn1966]

Sorry to hear about your cold DD...moving out of the colds 'season' over here hopefully

 

[Dumpster Diver]

Naw, Its The Bacteria in my work kitchen, Its Just got a mind of its own Literally.

Starting my second month in this place, which is seasonal, and that is misleading because actually its like working Twice as hard in half as much time!!!

all the servers are pleased with my Hard work and effort to clean up, that there is a chance it wont dry their Eyes and Make their throats go scratchy this year. I was Noticing the effects on my first few Days on the Job even...*Shaking Head* Just knock yourself out if you would ever actually ***want*** to be a dish washer, its basically like **** you.

Its trying to give me a staph infection already, at least I KNOW what that even IS! and take good measures to use a wash cloth and good soap and keep my clothes clean and not touch my hands to my face while at work etc etc, and Just Literally go NUTS with the Ammonia and Vinegar and Bleach bomb the place, I think Im the only one so far to suggest putting bleach in with the mop water instead of Just sanitize fluid, Its Just un-real how much cleaning Ive done so I can SURVIVE the season here! AUGH!

.NO ONE ever cleaned out inside the pannels in the sink EVER, I had to bring my own Wrench set of keys from home to dismantle the stainless steel paneling and DOuse and scrub and Scrub it for all its worth some more!!!

My dish pit was Stuck with stale Fryer Grease and Just stuff Ive never even seen so thick!...Its Dripping black Gobs and white Fuzz...and lets talk about the Ketch-all mouse Traps that are Full of Half rotten Carcasses, Im sure bacterial culture Just loves that! I chucked those out back and have a De-greaser Bucket and am basically going to Hand scrub those and de-gunk them too individually. Mix that in with a perpetual STEAM from the Water and Rinse-Dry-sanitize Fluids and Its a putrid Volatile Cocktail of Evil.

Gotta Live in this place practically six ways from sunday, you know, its basically my second home for the season now, So I mean...why do people even theorize its ok to Leave the place like a total Death Trap.

basically got the worst of it because I *disturbed* it when cleaning it, no one else would dare muck around with it.

Oh well.

Like what does my new Team think!

if you avoid it or ignore it maybe it will Just go away or something!!!

I belted back some salt water and it was like a Razor Blade between my eyes..I cried out in pain for a few moments and got back to it. Its trying to get into my chest and Its making me Nauseous and Dizzy but I am going to soldier on through this and get over it.

Im over the worst as far as I can tell..Just Worked through it and at least Bleach bombed what I could get to, It seems to be a little better, of course the ceiling is looking like its ready to fall in on me, and full of Rot.

Kitchen colds.

Lets not get into what Its doing to my Digestive system right now. But Put it this way; I have to keep hydrated or I will not have a good time.

Ask a sheep farmer Why he dont eat lamb shanks, Same as ask why a dish washer who is smart will NEVER eat at a restaurant if he could help it.

HEY I GOT A QUESTION OF MOTIVATION FOR YOU;

how many dishes do you think I will have to wash to BUY one of these Jackets!!!

 

[aswatland]

Back to topic now! Here are some pictures of my ELC Perry. I have worn it quite bit in the winter and the jacket was admired on several occasions.

 

[HPA Rep]

Back to topic now! Here are some pictures of my ELC Perry. I have worn it quite bit in the winter and the jacket was admired on several occasions.

That's a winner if ever there was one - congrats! Makes me wonder if it was luck of the draw or if you were able to select it. We get requests from customers seeking specific elements in their various jacket purchases and I'm always happy to search from among stock in an effort to provide the customer's desire.

I find it interesting that each batch of skins varies in the amount of lacquer core seal applied, with some being more matte and some with a bit more sheen. This is precisely what we find on vintage examples, with the extreme being jackets and trousers made from a combination of both types of lacquer appearances and more than the two colors Eastman employs.

Your B-3 seems to have the redskin panels in the matte finish and the darker, monotone skins with a bit more sheen, which is my personal favorite combination. Gary Eastman once mentioned he was considering making some of the darker redskins which can often appear almost purple; I'd like to see that done and have them blended on the Perry B-3 as a third color.

I'm adding a photo of an Eastman Perry B-3 that clearly has the matte redskins with dark skins having more lacquer finish.

 

[aswatland]

Thanks Charles. I selected this one from Gary's mobile shop at Flying Legends last summer and am extremely pleased with it. The hand dyed redskins are spot on when compared originals that I have owned.

 

[HPA Rep]

Thanks Charles. I selected this one from Gary's mobile shop at Flying Legends last summer and am extremely pleased with it. The hand dyed redskins are spot on when compared originals that I have owned.

Andrew, I suspected you might have selected that jacket, as it has a connoisseur's look to it. :eusa_clap But I'd have to say they are all darn consistent in their authenticity and beauty, which I'm sure you witnessed in the mobile shop.

 

[John Lever]

I wonder what the originals looked like when they were new ?

 

[aswatland]

Andrew, I suspected you might have selected that jacket, as it has a connoisseur's look to it. :eusa_clap But I'd have to say they are all darn consistent in their authenticity and beauty, which I'm sure you witnessed in the mobile shop.

Actually, no. It was the only size 44 in the shop and the discount was very good! Perhaps I just struck lucky Charles.

 

[aswatland]

I wonder what the originals looked like when they were new ?

Much like the one above John. I have owned mint B-3s and I'm sure Charles here has seen mint ones too.

 

[HPA Rep]

Actually, no. It was the only size 44 in the shop and the discount was very good! Perhaps I just struck lucky Charles.

Andrew, I think you were lucky and that the B-3s Eastman offers are just that consistently great.

 

[HPA Rep]

Much like the one above John. I have owned mint B-3s and I'm sure Charles here has seen mint ones too.

Andrew and John, I have owned an unworn HLB redskin B-3 since 1991, so I'll take some good photos of this shortly and you can all have a good look at the coloring in detail.

 

[John Lever]

Much like the one above John. I have owned mint B-3s and I'm sure Charles here has seen mint ones too.

I would expect changes would have occurred to the leather over 70 odd years. It loses elasticity and looks and feels crusty.

 

[aswatland]

I would expect changes would have occurred to the leather over 70 odd years. It loses elasticity and looks and feels crusty.

Yes the leather may have contracted slightly with age and depending how it was stored. However as you know John I have very supple 75 year old A2s, Irvins and B3s in my collection which do not look and feel crusty.

 

[HPA Rep]

I would expect changes would have occurred to the leather over 70 odd years. It loses elasticity and looks and feels crusty.

I agree that we may never know with 100% certainty what these items felt like when new, but there's nothing crusty about this or any other vintage sheepskin garments I own. I'm far too selective to purchase anything that could even be remotely characterized as anything but as close to new as one can get. The vintage redskin garments were made from some of the best sheepskin, thus if you find one that's nice, it's pretty much a certainty it won't go bad on you. But most of the 1942-44 sheepskin was not even good quality back when it was made, which was the subject of a good deal of conversation within AAF Materiel Command and several substantive inquiries and investigations.

The tanning process was changed in a substantive way beginning in 1942, and this, plus acceptance of lower-grade skins (partly due to a gross lack of experienced inspectors and nefarious, criminal behavior on behalf of contracted tanneries) produced goods that were tearing and rotting at the time and which has spooked many contemporary collectors into thinking all WWII-vintage sheepskin garments are bad or will go bad.

One day I'll get that book done and the documents and details will be there for all to explore ...