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

[mr_lits]

Though not a mixed batch, here is an example of an early redskin from my collection. After seeing many variants of the redskin productions you will notice a variety of tones to the "red" from almost orange (like the Eastman Perry B3) to some like mine (label has contract but no maker) which are more blood red. With some variants almost purple.

You will notice in my photos the jacket is without a zipper at that time. I have since replaced it with an original Triple Marked Talon true to it original production. Painstakingly hand stitched using the original sewn holes. Took literally hours.

Nothing bad or crusty about this one. The leather is SOLID and in great shape.

 

[aswatland]

Here are some pictures of an extremely well preserve first contract RW B-3 from 1941. They show how close the ELC skins are to originals.

 

[Sloan1874]

Just stunning. Amazingly well-preserved.

 

[HPA Rep]

Though not a mixed batch, here is an example of an early redskin from my collection. After seeing many variants of the redskin productions you will notice a variety of tones to the "red" from almost orange (like the Eastman Perry B3) to some like mine (label has contract but no maker) which are more blood red. With some variants almost purple.

You will notice in my photos the jacket is without a zipper at that time. I have since replaced it with an original Triple Marked Talon true to it original production. Painstakingly hand stitched using the original sewn holes. Took literally hours.

Nothing bad or crusty about this one. The leather is SOLID and in great shape.

Thanks for posting! The zipper job sounds to have been a nightmare. I can never see too many of these magnificent, hand-dyed, pre-1942 sheepskin garments, especially because no two are the same. These are my favorite articles of sheepskin flying clothing.

 

[mr_lits]

Thanks for posting! The zipper job sounds to have been a nightmare. I can never see too many of these magnificent, hand-dyed, pre-1942 sheepskin garments, especially because no two are the same. These are my favorite articles of sheepskin flying clothing.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a nightmare, but the old adage "good things don't come easy" crosses my mind. I have to agree with you on the favorite sheepskin, but it is a close call between the B-6 and D-1 as well. Heck, I think all the wartime sheepskins are iconic jackets in their own right.

 

[Dumpster Diver]

Would love to see more photos of you enjoying your B-3s Andrew! wow! Please!

do some for us outdoors, the ELC looks AMAZING on you! :eusa_clap

PS. Apologies for the Derailment of this thread.

 

[HPA Rep]

Here are some pictures of an extremely well preserve first contract RW B-3 from 1941. They show how close the ELC skins are to originals.

Positively pucker! Thanks for posting this, Andrew. It fits you to a tee, it would seem, but I hope you don't wear it. May I ask what size this is? Also, though not typical of Rough Wear, do you have an inspector stamp on the inside of the hip belts? How about the actual jacket number on the pocket label?

Many years ago I had a complete B-3/A-3 redskin set produced by HLB with matching B-2 cap made by Werber, A-9 sheepskin gloves by Perry Sportswear, and Monarch A-2 with full artwork on the back, all of which came from a B-24 flight engineer who had ceased wearing it for the newer F-2 electric suits, hence the kit was sent home while he was a guest of the Germans after being shot down over Austria in 1944. I'll never forget the veteran, T/Sgt. Arnold Mitchell from Elmira, NY, whose plane was named "Ford's Folly." He had some amazing stories to tell. This was all back in the fun days in the hobby when I'd place ads in various publications and all sorts of great items and people would percolate to the surface.

Slightly off topic, Andrew, but I believe you own or owned a Rough Wear two-tone post-1941 B-3 in near-new condition in, I believe, size 44R, which you got off Ebay via a good pal of mine from San Jose, CA. If this is correct, I found that jacket in Pennsylvania in the spring of 1997, which was bought from the family of the veteran who was deceased. Unfortunately, they didn't want to share his identity, so I know nothing about him other than he served as an officer in a fighter squadron in the 9th AF flying P-47s. I would have kept that B-3 had I not picked up an equally nice two-tone B-3 made by Bernstein and fully ID'd to a B-17 gunner in the 8th AF who was KIA; this has an off-white leather name tag on the breast, which is something I've never seen before or since.

 

[aswatland]

Charles, this B-3 is no longer in may collection and the duo tone RW likewise. Unlike many Irvins they are not really robust enough to wear and can damage easily so they have been sold to fund wearable jackets.

 

[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.

Yes mint 70 year old jackets. But they would have changed over the 70 years so would have looked very different in 1940 or when ever they were made. The Perry looks very close to the originals you show which are stunning, but surely a truly accurate reproduction of something should not be artificially aged ? The skins Gary uses are very cleverly tanned and plated to look old so the end product is more film prop albeit a beautiful one.

 

[aswatland]

Yes mint 70 year old jackets. But they would have changed over the 70 years so would have looked very different in 1940 or when ever they were made. The Perry looks very close to the originals you show which are stunning, but surely a truly accurate reproduction of something should not be artificially aged ? The skins Gary uses are very cleverly tanned and plated to look old so the end product is more film prop albeit a beautiful one.

How do you know that mint 70+ year old jackets look very different now than they did in the War. What evidence have you got for this assertion John?

 

[John Lever]

How do you know that mint 70+ year old jackets look very different now than they did in the War. What evidence have you got for this assertion John?

A politician might answer ' what evidence do you have they did ? '!
No seriously, we all know that materials change over time. Leather dries out, it wrinkles and it hardens to give the characteristic look that we all love so much. They are truly stunning jackets but I have found that most people seem to need to go up a size to get a comfortable fit which I suspect is because the materials are somewhat inelastic compared to those used before the Broken Grain variety.

 

[Sloan1874]

I can imagine a jacket shrinks and hardens over time as moisture evaporates from it.

 

[Otter]

Getting close to a certain "mysterious shrinking jacket" thread here!

 

[Sloan1874]

I have a bag of oranges ready and waiting...

 

[aswatland]

A politician might answer ' what evidence do you have they did ? '!
No seriously, we all know that materials change over time. Leather dries out, it wrinkles and it hardens to give the characteristic look that we all love so much. They are truly stunning jackets but I have found that most people seem to need to go up a size to get a comfortable fit which I suspect is because the materials are somewhat inelastic compared to those used before the Broken Grain variety.

I'm not disputing leather shrinks over time, but am still waiting for hard evidence to back up your assertion about the look of the jackets then and now.

 

[John Lever]

I very much doubt that new jacket in 1940 would look 70 years old. They were just jackets. Gary is deliberately making something that looks aged, the dull faded wool, the creased skin the suggested wear . Surely that's obvious ?

Check this out
http://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k188153853

Any way this is no big deal so let's not spoil the thread.

 

[aswatland]

Of course a new jacket in 1940 would not look 70 years old!

 

[John Lever]

What do you think of the Avirex ? On Yahoo Japan there are several b3's that are the equal to any on offer.

 

[aswatland]

Another mint example of a redskin B-3 which used to be in my collection. This one dates to the 1938 fiscal year and was made by Phillip's Tanning & Co. The skins show how close the redskin panels are on the Perry.

 

[Halsey]

Wow! Absolutely stunning.