Just bought a 1963 Irvin Foster G-1 jacket

[Raul]

I just bought this G-1 jacket on ebay. It's an Irvin B. Foster, B series from 1963 so it should be real goat and mouton collar, from the pics it seems in good conditions, here it is (pics are from the auction as it is not in my hands yet):

 

[thor]

Nice jacket! The Nametag is for an “AD2” which is an enlisted man’s rating of an Aviation Machinist Mate, 2nd Class.
Very interesting find!

 

[Raul]

Yes, not the most prestigious rank but that's it...

 

[Peacoat]

I have an Irvin B. Foster from 1962. A well made jacket. Congratulations on a nice score.

 

[Grayland]

I always feel a bit sad when I see jackets like this with the name tag attacahed. I can't help feeling that this guy's grandkids would love to have his old jacket.

 

[Raul]

I can agree, but I suppose someone in the family (or the guy himself) at some point decided to sell the jacket. I was also considering to get a new repro name-tag with a different name on it, but I don't want to ruin the jacket's look

I always feel a bit sad when I see jackets like this with the name tag attacahed. I can't help feeling that this guy's grandkids would love to have his old jacket.

 

[Peacoat]

I can agree, but I suppose someone in the family (or the guy himself) at some point decided to sell the jacket. I was also considering to get a new repro name-tag with a different name on it, but I don't want to ruin the jacket's look

Your jacket probably has a velcro name tag. Mine does, and I put my own name tag on it. Not exactly accurate as mine has the Army aviator wings with the "US Army" logo under my name. Some would cringe at this, but it is easily removed.

I wish the Army would go with a G-1 type flight jacket, but with he mindset that we are all infantrymen first, that ain't gonna happen. Wasn't that way when I was in. We were distinctively pilots first. Infantry generals didn't like that; they were determined to change our thinking.

 

[Sloan1874]

By the looks of it, the zip fitted was shorter than the jacket, so it was stretched to the length, then it shrank over time, causing the 'pull' on the right hand panel. Not much you can do, but it's proof of how-make-do-and-mend the construction of these things was.

 

[Raul]

By the looks of it, the zip fitted was shorter than the jacket, so it was stretched to the length, then it shrank over time, causing the 'pull' on the right hand panel. Not much you can do, but it's proof of how-make-do-and-mend the construction of these things was.

Do you think it can be worth to look for a vintage/nos replacement zip for it? The one on the jacket is a Talon, is it original to the jacket or a replacement?:

 

[Sloan1874]

You could get the zip tape replaced and get the repairer to swap the zipper over. I had an original Cable Raincoat A-2 in a far worse condition than yours but with a similar zipper problem. Aero swapped out the original zip tape put back the original zipper. It doesn't solve the whole problem - that's 50 years of wear you have there - but it will give it a bit better fit. That said, it's lovely jacket as it is, so I wouldn't lose sleep on it.

 

[Deacon211]

Your jacket probably has a velcro name tag. Mine does, and I put my own name tag on it. Not exactly accurate as mine has the Army aviator wings with the "US Army" logo under my name. Some would cringe at this, but it is easily removed.

I wish the Army would go with a G-1 type flight jacket, but with he mindset that we are all infantrymen first, that ain't gonna happen. Wasn't that way when I was in. We were distinctively pilots first. Infantry generals didn't like that; they were determined to change our thinking.

Yeah, the Marines were like that too. Luckily, we got all our flight gear from the Navy!

I never quite understood why making Army pilots proud of being Army AND pilots was such a bad thing.

I knew a few Army pilots who did some crazy brave things....and their outerwear didn’t enter into it.

 

[Raul]

Just got the jacket, apart from the zip issue (it seems it should have been a blackened Conmar zipper so probably it was replaced at some point with the a bit-shorter Talon), there is an issue with cuffs, one is a replacement, it's shorter and also of a different brown. There is a few small hole in cuffs and waistband and these can be fixed, but I don't know what to do about that cuff, maybe to look for a replacement? I don't think one piece original of the same color is easily available, I know there are new replacement sets (waistband and cuffs) but I don't know which one would be the correct type and colour for my jacket [maybe rib-rack seal brown?] and I don't want ending to pay a lot to correct this defect. Advices? Thanks

 

[Raul]

Here is my jacket finally a bit restored, I took apart the zipper, painted the green zip tape in dark brown and had it mounted again in a better way (it was badly stretched and the leather didn't cover it when closed), then replaced waistband and cuffs with japan Mash repros, and completed with a treatment with Lexol

 

[Seb Lucas]

Looks FANTASTIC, Raul. Old goat has a wonderful and subtle luster or burnish to it. I love it.

 

[breezer]

I always feel a bit sad when I see jackets like this with the name tag attacahed. I can't help feeling that this guy's grandkids would love to have his old jacket.

why? The next generation don't want our old stuff...........when Bowie died his kids sold off his modern art collection in hot second......thats just the way it goes.

 

[El Marro]

Here is my jacket finally a bit restored, I took apart the zipper, painted the green zip tape in dark brown and had it mounted again in a better way (it was badly stretched and the leather didn't cover it when closed), then replaced waistband and cuffs with japan Mash repros, and completed with a treatment with Lexol

Absolutely beautiful Raul! Hard to believe that this is the same jacket you posted back in February. It looks great!

 

[antoine p]

That's a tasteful restoration- excellent job.
Please post pictures of it worn!

 

[Seb Lucas]

why? The next generation don't want our old stuff...........when Bowie died his kids sold off his modern art collection in hot second......thats just the way it goes.

I would have sold it too. So it goes.

 

[Raul]

Well, I forgot one thing, before replacing those parts I put it into the washer machine, cold water and a bit of mild detergent, so I have the confirmation that leather jackets can be washed without any big risk. Leather didn't suffer and the mouton collar came out great and clean.

 

[draš katalenić]

Just got the jacket, apart from the zip issue (it seems it should have been a blackened Conmar zipper so probably it was replaced at some point with the a bit-shorter Talon), there is an issue with cuffs, one is a replacement, it's shorter and also of a different brown. There is a few small hole in cuffs and waistband and these can be fixed, but I don't know what to do about that cuff, maybe to look for a replacement? I don't think one piece original of the same color is easily available, I know there are new replacement sets (waistband and cuffs) but I don't know which one would be the correct type and colour for my jacket [maybe rib-rack seal brown?] and I don't want ending to pay a lot to correct this defect. Advices? Thanks

If you want to replace cuffs, you can find it on ebay, seller is lb4041j. Bought cuffs from him for my jacket and i am satisfied with quality and colour.