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

[bburtner@moran]

Irvin

OK .

 

[fishmeok]

Thanks, yes it's my new WPG Irvin- As to where they are made? I have no clue.
But with the price they are asking, propably not Europe or US. Pakistan maybe? India?....why not ask them.

Pakistan I believe- I had one of the first version WPG Irvins for several years, finally sold it when I forgot to retract a bid and bought a B-3 on e-bay. The current version looks more authentic to me, but they have had zipper problems. My brother bought one and had to have the zip replaced almost immediately, but Gerry refunded the cost of repair so it worked out.

Great to wear in the fall/winter, the thin fleece makes it a 2 season jacket. I really like my B-3, but I do miss the Irvins belt- keeps out the drafts when it's below zero (F) like it is now. The waist tabs on the B-3 don't serve that function very well.
Cheers
Mark

1st version WPG Irvin:

 

[Harp]

The WPG Irvin is one fine jacket, Spit.
Like that RN sweater too.

 

[bburtner@moran]

Irvin

Thanx fellows looks good to me,and believe you I am no purist.

 

[Creeping Past]

Thanks for that, Spitfire.

That's a good-looking jacket. I can't sneak it in with the other Christmas postal traffic, but very possibly in the early new year.

It looks great with the 1936 boots and the sweater. Not too much for me...

And, Fishmeok, I'm just wondering about the length of your WPG version — it looks a little longer than I've seen; is this due to buying a size up? That's the kind of length I'm looking to get.

 

[Hawk_Eye]

Lookin really good Spitty, goes really well with the boots too. I've recieved nothing but compliments when I'm out and about with my Irvin and 36ers, I'm sure it must be the same with you.

 

[aswatland]

Soren, your new Irvin is similar to a mid War Wareings jacket. It fits you well-now all you need to do is to find an original which will fit you.

 

[I Simonius]

This Irvin started life as an electrically wired jacket. It dates to 1939-40 and with the rounded collar is most likely the work of Links. The nipple on the sleeve is the give-away for it being an electrically wired jacket. This was used to fix the heated gloves to the jacket. The main zip pull is a late War Flash Fastener and these were normally only used as sleeve zips. The belt buckle appears to be a modern replacement. Nice jacket. Good luck with it on Ebay.

Thank you very much for that info - I will pass it onto Tim

 

[Spitfire]

Soren, your new Irvin is similar to a mid War Wareings jacket. It fits you well-now all you need to do is to find an original which will fit you.

One day Andrew, one day...but size 8 is a seldom as a ME109 over London in 1944.

 

[Spitfire]

Thanks for your kind and nice comments gents.
I am truely happy...

And yes - Hawk Eye - I too get a lot of comments. From the guys it's usually something like: "Where did you park the Spitfire?" - Which I take as a compliment. At least they know what kind of jacket it is.

From the ladies it's more in the way of:
Oh how soft/cudly/nice it looks/you look....etc.
But one gets used to that.

 

[dit dah]

Mr. Fire may I add my voice to the crowd

That jacket looks excellent on you. It is shorter, I believe, than your other Irvin? It's flattering, you look "the bomb" to use the parlance of the day.
Super!

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Great looking jacket Spitfire.

I think WPG is a cracking jacket for the price. The cut/shape looks spot on.

Last week wearing my 42 pattern ELC I had: is your spitfire parked outside? did you arrive in your Lancaster? And hello biggles! All this in one day!!

Cheerio

James.

 

[Hawk_Eye]

Great looking jacket Spitfire.

I think WPG is a cracking jacket for the price. The cut/shape looks spot on.

Last week wearing my 42 pattern ELC I had: is your spitfire parked outside? did you arrive in your Lancaster? And hello biggles! All this in one day!!

Cheerio

James.

Hmm, havent gotten those sorts of comments (yet). Maybe its because we Canadians are world renowned for being a polite people, brought up on the phrase "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". Though I'm sure people are still thinking things along those lines as I stroll past, even if they arent saying them lol

 

[Smithy]

Well done Soeren me old mate, you look the absolute business :eusa_clap

 

[H.Johnson]

If you find this lengthy thread so boring HJ I would advise you to ignore it in the future. It seems you take pleasure from being controversial!

New information is coming to light all the time as original jackets are studied. There are members here who are undertaking research on Irvins and may share it here at the appropriate time in the future.

Andrew,

'Controversial' as in I don't necessarily agree with what you think?

I think this subject is of considerable interest to number of people in a number of different ways. The subject of study - original and reproduction RAF flying clothing - is of such a range and diversity that, in my opinion, it is too valuable to put everything into one 'everything' thread. Take a corresponding subject - the A-2 jacket - which probably has more postings in the Lounge than RAF jackets. In this case there are many threads on a number of specialist subjects. If you're not interested you can ignore a particular thread and take part in one to which you want to contribute. The debate on A-2s seems to me to be no less active or useful than that taking place on RAF jackets. Yet, if a bartender suggested combining all of the A-2 therads into one huge thread, I contend that there would be an outcry that the resulting thread would be unmanageable, and yet this is what 'we' RAF afficianados are expected to put up with.

I am doing research into RAF clothing all the time. The fact that I no longer collect them does not mean that I am no longer interested. What prompted the posting that you find to be controversial was the fact that I recently found out something about one of the 'big four' wartime contractors that I think would add to what 'we' know about the subject. The item relates to a few postings that are somewhere in this huge thread. As I can't remember the exact search terms that were used, external search engines aren't much help and, of course, neither is the Lounge's internal engine. So, I have wasted several hours doing 'binary chops' and random searches and failed to find what I want in amongst this mass of postings. In the end, I felt as if I had undergone something like the saturation 'aversion therapy' that is parodied in 'A Clockwork Orange'.

So, I could just add my contribution to the end of the main thread (as everyone else does), but that completely loses the context of the discussion and compounds the problem we have now and I don't want to do that. If the subject was divided into specialist threads (even 'Reproductions' and 'Originals' would be a significant improvement IMO) the thread would be much more manageable. My personal interest in the subject (which fits in with my experience working for a manufacturer of RAF flying clothing) is in the wartime production of RAF flying clothing, how contracts were awarded and how the items were made. I like to look through archives and visit places where manufacture took place and I confess to a particular interest in zips. I love to reconstruct wrecked examples of original jackets and to help others to do the same.

I have no real interest in reproductions (I have owned a number but have no intention to buy any more) and personally I don't gain much from seeing photos of people in their new jackets. Just my opinion. My point is that I wouldn't expect most of the people who take part in this subject to be interested in what I am, (a visit to a factory site in Letchworth isn't likely to excite many people) and equally I don't think it is reasonable for me to have to have to wade through pages of photos and discussion of reproductionsto find what I need. Having proved the popularity of the subject, I simply can't see why we can't end this clumsy thread and start again with a set of specialist threads that will serve our different needs.

Andrew, I'm not sure it is really in your fief to suggest I don't post here any more. As a long-term researcher and collector I like to think that I may have things to add to the debate on the subject and I maintain that I have as much right as anyone to put forward my views. However, I am going to take your advice. Thank you.

 

[PADDY]

DISCUSS - smaller, specialist Irvin related thread suggestions.

PLEASE DISCUSS HERE...

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=36758

(For now, the GREAT IRVIN THREAD is closed - as there is 'so much' info here now to reference for both oldies and newbies to TFL) - See, I do 'try' to listen to your ideas gents (time permitting).