My Sefton FQHH A-2 - And Hi...

[HoosierDaddy]

Yes I noticed that and the cheaper looking Talon zip. Though he did make a basic but well made jacket, not much else was available in the UK. My Battersea Aero also had seamed cuffs, but oh how I enjoyed that jacket
I remember discussing this on the old Classic 20th Yahoo group.

Yes they were well made...and the steer hide they used then had tons of character. I think that's where I first saw a pic of your old Aero on the 20th.
HD

 

[Doctor Damage]

This jacket was made by Steve Silburn of East Bergholt, a very well respected member of the militaria collectors/dealers. he made his jackets studying originals when almost no one but Aero were making them in the 1980s. Dont know if he still makes them but Steve mainly likes to work/repair original Irvins I believe and A2s were an early sideline. I shall be contacting him soon as I need an original A2 re-cuffing and a lining repair which means I can drop them off personally if possible.

Not to hijack this thread, but how does he make a living doing such a specialized thing? I guess maybe I just answered my own question.

 

[rocketeer]

Yes they were well made...and the steer hide they used then had tons of character. I think that's where I first saw a pic of your old Aero on the 20th.
HD

Cheers, yes it was also where I re-established a link to Aero after many years.
Briefly, I had lost contact with Ken and Co when they moved from Battersea to Scotland. Met up again years later at a big militaria fair in the UK, told Ken I had something in my Caravan he may like to see. He was amazed I still had the jacket and put me onto the 20th Group. Shame it sort of died a bit, it was a pretty diverse group covering all sorts of interesting vintage topics.

Not to hijack this thread, but how does he make a living doing such a specialized thing? I guess maybe I just answered my own question.

I dont know if Steve has a 'Day' job, but he was a regular at the fairs with continually changing stock of good quality aviation collectables. I have not been around militaria for a few years so do not know if he still sells stuff.
John

 

[MightyEighth]

In the early Sefton A2s there was a seam down the knit cuffs for some reason. Ever notice..??
HD

Yes, its because the tunnel-knit (without the seam) is prohibitively costly to produce in small numbers.

 

[rocketeer]

Yes, its because the tunnel-knit (without the seam) is prohibitively costly to produce in small numbers.

Probably, there was not that much of a collector base for A2s in the UK, certainly not for repro's 30 years ago.

 

[B-24J]

Stephen at Sefton Clothing Company is GREAT to work with!

On eBay he is "izavailable".

His eBay items state:

"Sefton Clothing Company are pleased to able to offer this item for sale. We have been trading since 1989 selling original wartime items such as goggles, wiring looms, receivers, oxygen masks etc. We also supply collectors, re-enactors and the film world with our high quality reproduction flying helmets ( B type, C type, Fleet Air Arm and D type) oxygen masks ( D mask, E* mask) and associated items. "

"If you have any questions please contact me through lucyquipment@aol.com and I will respond. "

John

 

[MightyEighth]

OK, here are the other angles.

See how at the back, it doesn't cut into my waist at all? And its starting to double over around my shoulder blades?

Think I need to sell it and grab a 36 or 38 now....

 

[Smithy]

OK, here are the other angles.

See how at the back, it doesn't cut into my waist at all? And its starting to double over around my shoulder blades?

Think I need to sell it and grab a 36 or 38 now....

If you don't want it I'll take if off your hands. Seriously.

PM me if you decide you don't want it

 

[havocpaul]

Do you have a link to that article on the 20th, can't find the group when I did a search. I got a very early Aero recently and corresponded with Ken who said it was one of the first made around 1985. At the time there were small ads in the likes of Flypast and Exchange and Mart from Sefton and Eastman who were just starting off. I had a Sefton and loved it back then, would like to find a 42 or 44 now as they were very well-built and great steerhide. Back then we weren't so obsessive about counting the stitches and needing Nos zippers etc, if the jacket looked right that was what mattered. Hats off to Aero, Sefton and Eastman for starting accurate A-2 repros, couldn't see myself wearing Avirex even back then!

Yes I noticed that and the cheaper looking Talon zip. Though he did make a basic but well made jacket, not much else was available in the UK. My Battersea Aero also had seamed cuffs, but oh how I enjoyed that jacket
I remember discussing this on the old Classic 20th Yahoo group.

 

[MightyEighth]

Do you have a link to that article on the 20th, can't find the group when I did a search. I got a very early Aero recently and corresponded with Ken who said it was one of the first made around 1985. At the time there were small ads in the likes of Flypast and Exchange and Mart from Sefton and Eastman who were just starting off. I had a Sefton and loved it back then, would like to find a 42 or 44 now as they were very well-built and great steerhide. Back then we weren't so obsessive about counting the stitches and needing Nos zippers etc, if the jacket looked right that was what mattered. Hats off to Aero, Sefton and Eastman for starting accurate A-2 repros, couldn't see myself wearing Avirex even back then!

My Sefton is tagged 42. I've dropped from 40-42 to 38, lost a lot of weight and muscle due to being inactive from an injury.

 

[havocpaul]

Well if you are thinking of selling it on as a size 42 it would be perfect for me, have ben looking around for a while and not found a good one.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Do you have a link to that article on the 20th, can't find the group when I did a search. I got a very early Aero recently and corresponded with Ken who said it was one of the first made around 1985. At the time there were small ads in the likes of Flypast and Exchange and Mart from Sefton and Eastman who were just starting off. I had a Sefton and loved it back then, would like to find a 42 or 44 now as they were very well-built and great steerhide. Back then we weren't so obsessive about counting the stitches and needing Nos zippers etc, if the jacket looked right that was what mattered. Hats off to Aero, Sefton and Eastman for starting accurate A-2 repros, couldn't see myself wearing Avirex even back then!

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/theclassic20th/conversations/topics


You'll need to search the forum for Sefton...
HD

 

[Edward]

This jacket was made by Steve Silburn of East Bergholt, a very well respected member of the militaria collectors/dealers. he made his jackets studying originals when almost no one but Aero were making them in the 1980s. Dont know if he still makes them but Steve mainly likes to work/repair original Irvins I believe and A2s were an early sideline. I shall be contacting him soon as I need an original A2 re-cuffing and a lining repair which means I can drop them off personally if possible.

Oh, I'd be interested in details if he does that: I have a Buzz B15CMod tat needs recuffing - can get hold of the knits easily, but no idea where to start getting them fitted. Wouldn't want to go to a non-specialist with this...

 

[rocketeer]

Oh, I'd be interested in details if he does that: I have a Buzz B15CMod tat needs recuffing - can get hold of the knits easily, but no idea where to start getting them fitted. Wouldn't want to go to a non-specialist with this...

I'll let you know how I get on. Won't be next week but I will post the info when I get mine fixed up

 

[rocketeer]

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/theclassic20th/conversations/topics


You'll need to search the forum for Sefton...
HD

I thought the group was just about finished, not had many post notifications in the last couple of years. Guess most members went over to either here or the Vintage Leather Jacket forums. Cant get on the latter as I use the free websites, and to be honest I dont think they would take me seriously as I dont take my leather jackets seriously. I just wear them and enjoy them, vintage or not.
J

 

[rocketeer]

Do you have a link to that article on the 20th, can't find the group when I did a search. I got a very early Aero recently and corresponded with Ken who said it was one of the first made around 1985. At the time there were small ads in the likes of Flypast and Exchange and Mart from Sefton and Eastman who were just starting off. I had a Sefton and loved it back then, would like to find a 42 or 44 now as they were very well-built and great steerhide. Back then we weren't so obsessive about counting the stitches and needing Nos zippers etc, if the jacket looked right that was what mattered. Hats off to Aero, Sefton and Eastman for starting accurate A-2 repros, couldn't see myself wearing Avirex even back then!

I had a massive argument in an Avirex stockist in London about their jackets. Their big ad showed an illustration of General Patton wearing a B3 jacket as he wore in service. I asked to see Avirex's version which did not have the leather sleeve coverings and was basically a sheepskin jacket with two pockets, similar but not the same as the B3 pockets. The only other thing was a generic label stating it was made by Avirex and was a B3.
I was standing in the shop wearing my old Lucky 7 Seven A2, looking for a replica of a B3, the 'boss' of the shop had no idea my jacket was original and I'm afraid told his younger assistant that the manager would be better off making tea and finding someone who knew a bit more about WWII and and leather jackets instead of trying to fob me off with a rather expensive poor imitation. Unfortunately he started laughing so I hope he didnt get the sack.

 

[MightyEighth]

If you don't want it I'll take if off your hands. Seriously.

PM me if you decide you don't want it

You need to clear your inbox Smithy, just sent you a pm but it bounces due to a full inbox.

 

[MightyEighth]

Well if you are thinking of selling it on as a size 42 it would be perfect for me, have ben looking around for a while and not found a good one.

PM'd

 

[Smithy]

You need to clear your inbox Smithy, just sent you a pm but it bounces due to a full inbox.

All clear mate!

 

[havocpaul]

See you put it on eBay then? Hope you achieve that price.