NEW RAF / Irvin sheepskin type specialist thread suggestions - DISCUSS HERE

[aswatland]

I agree this Irvin thread is now too cumbersome to be very helpful. It would be best divided into categories, such as original jackets and makers, zips, labels, original photos, reproduction Irvins, Irvin trousers. What do you all think?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

How about the minefield of original jacket production-line quality control (or more appropriately the lack thereof), and how it affected the features sometimes attributed to various maker's jackets.

I suspect that labels, zips, collar fastenings etc. could all be reasonably accommodated in a single thread.

The original photos thread is a good idea, and would segue nicely into discussion of "proper" fit vis a vis reproductions, particularly in terms of length and the mythical "modern body". This would include original ads for civvie Irvins which show more the intended fit, and not the needs-must fit seen in photos of many wartime issued jackets (not, of course, limited to Irvins, but obviously Irvins would be all that were discussed extensively in the thread.

I also like the idea of a separate Irvin trousers thread.

bk

 

[H.Johnson]

How about the minefield of original jacket production-line quality control (or more appropriately the lack thereof), and how it affected the features sometimes attributed to various maker's jackets.

bk

Exactly up my street - but I'll have to PM you!

 

[Edward]

I also like the idea of a separate Irvin trousers thread.

bk

Paddy did create one of these last year, but I'm not sure where it went - maybe a casualty of the site-crash a few months back?

 

[scotrace]

I cannot speak for MK. But I think I know his heart on this, so here goes.

I think what is being floated is a subfora devoted to Irvin jackets. When a thread becomes as information-laden as the Irvin thread, it is only natural to start thinking that it makes sense to give it its own forum area.

The idea has been suggested in connection with several areas of enormous interest. The Adventurer's Gear Thread is laden with great information and could easily become it's own entity. A forum devoted to paper items, catalogs, magazines, etc., could quickly be conjured. Also one for A2 jackets, A1 jackets, shoes, shaving, cigars, drink recipes, decorating....

And there is the problem.

What we have opted to do, for now, is to keep the forum headings simple. "Hats." "Suits." We could create sub-fora, where a click on "hats" for example would lead to a page with "wearing, reblocking, sizing, cleaning, felt..." etc. That seems equally unlikely, as we are all about reducing the number of clicks to find what you want (finding the the FAQ page notwithstanding), not creating more. That is why you see us constantly merging threads and encouraging members to add to the information already present; because it makes for simpler searching later. Last night, I needed to find information on the hat Johnny Depp is often photographed wearing. New member, new question (for them), new thread. It's a topic that has been covered heavily in the past. So I went searching, and found a dozen threads all saying the same thing. That is exactly the sort of thing we try to avoid. We are, in many ways, an archive. An imperfect, somewhat disorganized archive. But we do our best.

So while your point is well taken, I can assure you that the bartenders have talked about the idea at great length, and unless opinions have changed, we'll probably keep things as they are for now.

Yes, the Irvin thread is BIG. But that's where the membership knows to go if they want to find information about Irvin jackets, and they can use the "search this thread" feature to drill down to specific info.

Your input, of course, is welcome!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I for one was certainly not suggesting a new subforum. Simply a series of threads incorporating independent information/research streams vis a vis Irvin jackets, much like those that already exist for A-2s. I would be surprised if anyone here was suggesting otherwise.

These subthreads, if you will, would be much easier to wade through for specific information, given the poor search engine capability of FLounge. Trawling through endless pages of WPG Irvins (nothing wrong with them), for example, in order to find the ABC zip that appeared on aswatland's 1939 XYZ made Irvin is laborious, a turn-off, and not conducive to discussion/research. The same is true of the Adventurer's Gear Thread and certain issues arising from that will be addressed by a thread H Johnson and I are working on to deal specifically with certain eras of military wear. These subthreads would all be under the "Outerwear" subforum since the moving of the mega Irvin thread to WWII was a disaster.

bk

 

[scotrace]

Meep. Have I done a Microsoft? Provided an explanation that is neither helpful nor addressed to the issue at hand?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Hey, at least you're not a bouncing paperclip!

bk

 

[Feraud]

The Irvin thread is huge! It is an appealing subject that has outgrown the one thread.
An additional thread or two devoted to Irvin zips, labels, repros, trousers, etc. as suggested is not a bad idea.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

It was solely because of the Irvin thread that i changed my appearance settings to show 40 posts per page.

bk

 

[scotrace]

*cough*

Carry on then.

(Back to scones & coffee)

 

[Hawk_Eye]

Hmm, this is a tricky dilemna. If it were up to me, I would probobly make a whole sub-forum devoted just to Irvins, with subheadings for zips, repros, etc. But as has been mentioned, then there would be no end to new sub-forums being opened up because of topic-threads that had gotten too big. So, where do we go from here? And is there an option that would keep the original thread as intact as possible?

 

[aswatland]

Hmm, this is a tricky dilemna. If it were up to me, I would probobly make a whole sub-forum devoted just to Irvins, with subheadings for zips, repros, etc. But as has been mentioned, then there would be no end to new sub-forums being opened up because of topic-threads that had gotten too big. So, where do we go from here? And is there an option that would keep the original thread as intact as possible?

At the very least repro Irvins and originals should not be in the same thread as someone wanting a repro does not necessarily want to wade through info about originals. Another forum separates original jackets from repros, which is very sensible IMO.

 

[Spitfire]

At the very least repro Irvins and originals should not be in the same thread as someone wanting a repro does not necessarily want to wade through info about originals. Another forum separates original jackets from repros, which is very sensible IMO.

I can only speak for myself here, but being a repro-owner (up untill now) I am very interested in reading about the real irvins - also in order to get as precise a repro as possible.
But keeping repros and originals in two different threads, certainly gives a better overview.

 

[blacklagoon]

At the very least repro Irvins and originals should not be in the same thread as someone wanting a repro does not necessarily want to wade through info about originals. Another forum separates original jackets from repros, which is very sensible IMO.

I personally think 'that other forum',has perfected the irvin discussion.absolutely nobody disrespects the subject of original irvins,by entering the original irvin thread and discussing or making references to REPRO irvins,or wishful thinking.The subject is concentrated and specialized and things are quite easy to find.nobody needs to ask many questions there,because most of the info is given on the first few posts,and very easy to read.
I personally do not think modern repros have any connection to original irvins at all.I think a seperate thread for each item.original and repro,would probably encourage false questions in the original thread.somebody will enter the original irvin thread and ask a question,with the sole purpose of doing so,only to create or continue a discussion in the REPRO thread.That would relegate the original irvin thread to a trivial thread.In my opinion,if two threads are created,members will have to be a lot more concentrated and disciplined,regarding their input,and not fill them with too much small talk,back slapping, off topic chats about books,planes,cars and meetings etc.

 

[Windsock]

I have to admit that I have never been a fan of the combined original and repro discussion in the one thread- and dare I say it but to me the only real Irvin is an original (albeit the ELC looks like a fantastic jacket and I would probably have one if the climate required it).

I would like to see these two topics separated as they are very different animals with originals discussed in a thread similar to the VLJ "Everything Vintage Irvins" thread but I imagine that contributions would be far more interesting here as there appears to be a greater interest in the subject.

I am more of a collector of Irvins than a wearer (lucky to be living in the Sub Tropics) so what interests me is the history of the jacket, the technology of its making, any real research that can be unearthed, the places and ways they were worn and by whom and period images of them- I can just imagine what a wealth of info that could be.

So to me the chat about the fit and detail of a repro is .........

 

[Windsock]

I just dropped in to the big thread and found it closed but read Mr Johnston's last post- all I can say is that the suggestion that some new factual research may have come to light via an exploration of a derelict factory site sounds really fascinating to me so Mods please crank up the new "Original Irvin thread" asap so we can read all about it! This is the type of thing that really adds to the topic.

(Mixed messages I know but I also wanted to tell Soren that it looks like he's sporting an original mid War...)

 

[Spitfire]

blacklagoon: "In my opinion,if two threads are created,members will have to be a lot more concentrated and disciplined,regarding their input,and not fill them with too much small talk,back slapping, off topic chats about books,planes,cars and meetings etc."

I think you must expect a certain "banter" here.
We are all "friends" and among friends it is expected that - now and again - the talk goes sideways.
Jokes, backslapping, memos on books etc. is only natural.

(Windsock: In order to keep this diciplined: Thanks!)

 

[Spitfire]

Before history rolls over this thread and it disappears on page two...what are we/the bartender going to do?
Where are we going to post on Original Irvins/Replica Irvins,/pictures/stories/jokes.....[huh]

 

[aswatland]

Before history rolls over this thread and it disappears on page two...what are we/the bartender going to do?
Where are we going to post on Original Irvins/Replica Irvins,/pictures/stories/jokes.....[huh]

I was wondering this too Soren.