IRVIN NUTS?...the ULTIMATE thread for those who love 'em!

[SamMarlowPI]

got a yank here that's interested in purchasing an IRVIN, thanks SpirtFire, or even a few and would appreciate some guidance as to what to start with and perhaps where...? Authentic is not a big deal, once i start out ill get more interested in the 60+ y.o. ones. thanks and cheers!

 

[Spitfire]

Sam, if you have not read this thread from the beginning, do that.
There's a lot of good and sound advice regarding IRVINS.
If you have the right size (That is: not too large and tall) you might even be able to get an origial on ebay.
Other than that check out Eastman, Aero in Scotland and Aviation Leathercraft - they are all UK based. But so were the Irvins!
Tally Ho!

 

[Speedster]

Congratulations S??ren

My new AL IRVIN has just arrived. It's SO B.... BEAUTIFULL!
(And it fits like glove)
Pics to follow...right now I just wont take it off.

Congratulations S??ren :eusa_clap :eusa_clap Let's see it...

 

[Spitfire]

My brandnew IRVIN

OK - here we go:
Just made these pics in a hurry - nothing fancy about them, except the brand new IRVIN - and one happy owner.

 

[Speedster]

Bravo Spitfire :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

After your very long wait you finally got it. It's looking very good. Not so bulky fleece anymore. Congratulations.

 

[Rufus]

Fantastic jacket.. I miss my old one now.. (checks ebay..)

Hope you get some good wear out of it this winter,Sir!

Rufus

 

[Smithy]

Great stuff Søren :eusa_clap

What a beautiful Irvin and she fits you absolutely perfectly! Good job going for the lighter weight fleece, that looks far better and more authentic.

You made the right choice by getting this jacket, she's a beauty and you look great in her!

Well done my friend :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Edward]

Spitfire, the new one looks great - that's ALC, who own/licence the rights to use the Irvin name, right? How do they compare to the Aero / ELC offerings in terms of price / detail-accuracy? I love that tawny/gold colour of the fleece, so much classier than white.

 

[Spitfire]

Thanks gents.

Edward: ALC is a bit cheaper than Aero and ELC - and the experts will also tell you that the zippers and buckel are not as the originals.
Just like there might be other slight differencies in shape and overall design - but that was also the case in 1940 - 1945, with different manufacturers.

As Smithy mentioned I talked them into making it in a slightly "not-so-bulky" fleece.
Which is a truely great impovement, both in the way the jacket feels and fits me.
It also gets much closer to the originals, which were also made up in both thick and thinner fleece. (No time to be choosey back then.)

Anyway - I am happy.
(PHEEWWW it's hot wearing an IRVIN in front of your PC lol)

 

[blacklagoon]

congratulations

That jacket looks magnificent on you spitfire,especially the way it rests on your hips.the fleece looks excellent in length,so much better than a longer fleece.it seriously compliments you to a tipple of tea.

 

[Flieger]

Very charming jacket Spitfire! :eusa_clap

I feel an urge coming on, but I'm a bit worried about my rump getting frozen in a short jacket like that.

/F

 

[Alan Eardley]

Spitfire,

I hope you enjoy your AL Irvin (note that for once I don't put quotation marks around the name). If you want to be really warm (and have something else to aim at and wait for), why not get a pair of Irvin (there it is again) trousers and make a suit? AL are AFAIK the only people doing them and,as I found, wearing the suit is a whole new experience...

Alan

 

[Spitfire]

Thanks Alan - tried to PM you a personal question, but your mailbox is full.

Maybe Flieger in the cold north should have a closer look at the Irvin trousers

 

[aswatland]

Very handsome Irvin. Best I have seen from AL. No repro Irvins have authentic zips, so don't wory. Great to see an AL Irvin which is not bulky! Enjoy her.

 

[Spitfire]

Thanks Andrew, comming from you it's a great compliment.

As mentioned earlier on, I had talks with AL persuading them to use thinner fleece if possible. They allready produce a "leightweight" "IRVIN inspired" jacket. And the fleece they use for mine was partly from that line and partly some handpicked, leighter - less bulky -fleece from the Irvin line.
I think they got it just right with this one too.
So maybe this is the beginning of some new and improved Irvins from AL.
Who knows?

 

[Smithy]

I seriously wouldn't be surprised if AL get a few calls from people wanting a "S??ren Special Irvin"

 

[SamMarlowPI]

That looks great SpitFire. Definitely going to get one now

 

[Edward]

Edward: ALC is a bit cheaper than Aero and ELC - and the experts will also tell you that the zippers and buckel are not as the originals.
Just like there might be other slight differencies in shape and overall design - but that was also the case in 1940 - 1945, with different manufacturers.
As Smithy mentioned I talked them into making it in a slightly "not-so-bulky" fleece.
Which is a truely great impovement, both in the way the jacket feels and fits me.
It also gets much closer to the originals, which were also made up in both thick and thinner fleece. (No time to be choosey back then.)

It looks great. I'm no expert, but it certainly looks good. I've been watching noe or two ALCs on eBay, actually - I've seen one or two come up which do not have the front pockets those usually do, and they look pretty good to me - they also seem to sell for much less than an ELC or similar on the used market.... I'm keeping an eye out, anyhow, for one in my size.

I was somewhat surprised to find out originally that the standard ALC offerings lack in the full-on authenticity front. Maybe they find that the Irvin name alone is enough to get them the sales they wanted, though I'd have thought that if they wanted a slice of the market for accurate replicas, a combination of a "correct" design like yours and the original Irvin brand name would have been a solid seller. [huh]

Very charming jacket Spitfire! :eusa_clap

I feel an urge coming on, but I'm a bit worried about my rump getting frozen in a short jacket like that.

/F

Heh. Others have suggested the matching trousers.... for something less conspicuous, hows about a good pair of long johns?

lol

 

[Spitfire]

Edward, thirty years ago - when I had my first ALC Irvin - they made jacket with no pockets - one or two pockets came as an option, because there was a demand for that kind of thing.
Now the original front is an option!
But you are right. They ought to market the original along with the name.

 

[Smithy]

I'd have thought that if they wanted a slice of the market for accurate replicas, a combination of a "correct" design like yours and the original Irvin brand name would have been a solid seller.

This is a great idea Edward and it makes good sense.

Just by looking at Søren's new one you can see what they are capable of and it's a lovely jacket. And when you think it's quite a bit cheaper than an Eastman or such it's a very good option.

I love my 1940 Eastman but I certainly wouldn't mind being seen in a "Søren Special" either