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

[Mike1973]

Here it is...

Mike,

Let us know when the 'freebie' Irvin reaches you.

Alan

Here it is! Cheers Alan :eusa_clap

Now I have to work out exactly what to do with it... as can be seen from the photo's, the leather is in bad shape. There is a lot of cracking all over, and rips and tears in the weak points. I don't think it would hold up to being worn... And to replace enough panels to make it wearable would make it an odd combination of very old and very new...

At the moment I am thinking of consolodating the damage, and repairing it sympathetically, and just preserving it as a peice of history...

 

[aswatland]

Mike, I think you have the right approach. The sheepskin looks to fragile for the jacket to be worn. Nice early Air Chute Irvin, a rare survivor. Enjoy it!

 

[aswatland]

[QUOTE="Doc" Devereux]Duxford, perchance? On a show day?

We could buzz the ELC stand and watch the reactions![/QUOTE]

Good idea. I might join you. The only trouble is it is usually too warm to wear an Irvin at a Duxford Air show. In the last three years I have only worn an Irvin three times to Duxford, once in May, when the weather was unusually cold and to the Autumn Airshow in 2004 and 2005. This year I have worn A2s.

 

["Doc" Devereux]

You might have a small point there - I was wearing my Luftwaffe and finding it quite adequate. It's a bit of a wait for the next October show, too...

Since air show season tends to coincide with summer (funny, that) how about the RAF Museum at Hendon when the next FL dinner rolls around? That gives everyone an extra reason to visit London as well.

 

[BellyTank]

Sounds like a super idear: A less formal meeting of IRVINs
When - where???? An airfield somewhere in England?

Me, Alan Eardley and Paddy met at Duxford a few years back...
...must have been 2004(?)
That was the first time we met each other- respectively...
Before we met again on the Fedora Lounge.
FL gatherings since then.


B
T

 

[Spitfire]

[QUOTE="Doc" Devereux]You might have a small point there - I was wearing my Luftwaffe and finding it quite adequate. It's a bit of a wait for the next October show, too...

Since air show season tends to coincide with summer (funny, that) how about the RAF Museum at Hendon when the next FL dinner rolls around? That gives everyone an extra reason to visit London as well.[/QUOTE]

When's the next FL dinner?
Sounds like a great idear to meet at Hendon. A visit to London needs no excuse

 

["Doc" Devereux]

I think we need to let Paddy return to the Old World before anything happens, butI expect we'll see the announcement relatively soon - once MK has sorted out when he's coming over.

 

[Smithy]

I'd be keen on a get-together. Would be especially nice to do it in Irvin weather.

It could quite possibly be "The Inaugural Meeting of the Fedora Lounge Irvin Appreciation Society"...

 

[aswatland]

I'd be keen on a get-together. Would be especially nice to do it in Irvin weather.

It could quite possibly be "The Inaugural Meeting of the Fedora Lounge Irvin Appreciation Society"...

Excellent idea and a very appropriate name!

 

[Spitfire]

Haven't really thought about joining a FL dinner - have far too little vintage clothing etc. to show up in.
But an IRVIN get-together? Count me in!

 

[Smithy]

Excellent idea and a very appropriate name!

We might have to have a society tie (or cravat) created for it!

Would be nice if it could tie in with a large air display but then again perhaps we could organise something for somewhere such as Tangmere where there is a lot of RAF history. A possibility?

 

[Spitfire]

Tangmere sounds like a great place for this meeting. And regarding the cravat, well - hasn't it allready been designed?

 

[Smithy]

No Spitty, we'd have to have our own!

Have you any suggestions Andrew seeing as you live in "Hell's Corner"

BTW where in Kent are you if you don't mind my asking? A lot of my mother's side of the family come from Kent and I have a great uncle who still lives there in Sellindge, and some other family in Ashford.

 

[aswatland]

No Spitty, we'd have to have our own!

Have you any suggestions Andrew seeing as you live in "Hell's Corner"

BTW where in Kent are you if you don't mind my asking? A lot of my mother's side of the family come from Kent and I have a great uncle who still lives there in Sellindge, and some other family in Ashford.

I currently live in West Wickham, but grew up near Lenham, which is a large village between Maidstone and Ashford. I know Kent well. A great place to meet would be the famous White Hart Inn in Brasted. As you know it was a popular drinking place for the pilots from nearby Biggin Hill.

 

[Smithy]

the famous White Hart Inn

That's a great idea Andrew! A pub lunch, a few pints and a few blokes (and maybe even ladies) who enjoy Irvins and the history of them.

I'm keen.

 

["Doc" Devereux]

I'm always happy to acquire another cravat for the collection. What about the colour scheme? I'm sure Indy Magnoli will be only too happy to help...

Somewhere linked to the history is a definite objective, I think. The White Hart sounds like an excellent idea.

And I shouldn't worry about having vintage for the FL dinner, Spitfire. I don't have much of a collection either.

 

[aswatland]

[QUOTE="Doc" Devereux]I'm always happy to acquire another cravat for the collection. What about the colour scheme? I'm sure Indy Magnoli will be only too happy to help...

Somewhere linked to the history is a definite objective, I think. The White Hart sounds like an excellent idea.

And I shouldn't worry about having vintage for the FL dinner, Spitfire. I don't have much of a collection either.[/QUOTE]


Now we just need to agree a date and time!

 

[Alan Eardley]

Doc,

I don't think the shop does mail order, but then (upon reflection) I'm not sure they were in the shop in Dudley, either. I'm beginning to think they were in a shop in Bilston. I don't think web shopping is a good idea - it drives up prices. The best stuff is in little shops and markey stalls - often they don't even have a 'phone number!

The problem with introducing a reproduction is that a manufacturer will assess the market and price the planned product accordingly. 'Irvin' trousers are relatively cheap compared to jackets* and I don't think it would be possible to sell repro 'Irvin' trousers at anything like the price of good originals.

A rough price guide for WW2 original sheepskin trousers - Andrew is more up to date than I and may wish to comment:
'Unissued' - 'As new', with no points of wear, zips and braces intact, labelled with manufacturer/contract = £200+
'Supergrade' - Very minor wear, slight damage or wear to zips or braces, labelled as above or no wear etc. without label = £150+
'Grade 1' - Average service wear, more damage to zips/braces, no label = £100+
'Grade 2' = Above average wear, missing parts. more substantial damage = £50+
In general, trousers for sale are less common than jackets but a re often in better condition.

BTW, if accuracy is not a major concern to you, the same type/length of zip is used in 1980s/90s British Army quilted under-trousers (from the 'Chairman Mao' suit) which are very common and usually sell for <£5.00. I once repaired a pair of USAAF B-3 trousers for everyday wear using such zips.

Alan

[QUOTE="Doc" Devereux]That gives me a nefarious idea, Alan. Do you know if the shop does mail order?

I'd rather get a (decent) repro pair than risk damaging originals with harsh treatment, you see. A repro might be expensive to replace if something unfortunate happens, but as far as I'm concerned that's prefereable to spoiling something with historical value.[/QUOTE]

 

[Alan Eardley]

Mike,

The intact sleeve zip is a very rare early pattern Dot. The main zip is a replacement 1940s Aero - collectors of 1950s British 'bike jackets go mad for those. My appraisal of the jacket (which I have owned for many years) is that is in the 'heavy restoration' category. I've successfully 'done up' worse jackets in my time, usually by combining parts from two or more jackets, but with retirement approaching fast I'm looking to leave all of that behind. I'd restore it, but it's your jacket now and you can do with it as you wish.

Alan

Here it is! Cheers Alan :eusa_clap

Now I have to work out exactly what to do with it... as can be seen from the photo's, the leather is in bad shape. There is a lot of cracking all over, and rips and tears in the weak points. I don't think it would hold up to being worn... And to replace enough panels to make it wearable would make it an odd combination of very old and very new...

At the moment I am thinking of consolodating the damage, and repairing it sympathetically, and just preserving it as a peice of history...

 

[aswatland]

Alan, You are spot on in pricing Irvin trousers.