Old pair of ww2 AN-T-35 USAAF trousers

[Tkecks]

I just acquired this rather beat up pair of AN-T-35 flight trousers. Part of an estate sale; they were in with some totes and a tarp.

I've been looking about on the web but have not found any with this particular label (on the inside seam, rather than int the centre middle. I thought that they might be of interest, so I'm posting some photos. Too small for me, but it has been interesting to see; I'm generally into G1's and overcoats.

 

[rocketeer]

I had some the same but the zips were all shot.
At the time nobody was interested in them, cost me £10. I ended up making all sorts of things from them. I kept the best parts for a B3 if ever I needed one repairing, the pockets I had hoped to play around with on another old jacket, the buckles I may even still have.
Unless they are going to be put on a dummy for display or even worn, I think that is the best thing to do with them. I have seen reenactors wearing the jackets but as shows are usually in the summer, never the trousers. Whats more like mine they look 70+ years old so would look a little out of place with a nice sparkly new B3.
(Don't let Dumpster see my post please)

 

[Doctor Damage]

(Don't let Dumpster see my post please)

Dumpster would tear you a new hole and frankly he'd be right. Why do shearling jackets which look like they've been run through a wood chipper, stomped on by a herd of cattle, and pissed on by drunks in the alley behind a skid row bar get treated as historical relics to be repaired at any and all costs, but shearling trousers like these, which are heavily worn but appear to be 100% intact (no cuts, no tears, no repair patches, and all hardware present and accounted for) are considered good for parts only? I recognize there's little market for shearling trousers, but that doesn't mean there won't be demand for them in the future nor that they should automatically be written off. What I'm saying is that even though something can't be immediately converted into big $$$ doesn't mean it's worthless.

 

[rocketeer]

Dumpster would tear you a new hole and frankly he'd be right.
I recognize there's little market for shearling trousers, but that doesn't mean there won't be demand for them in the future nor that they should automatically be written off and chopped up.

The thing is, if you could look to the future, every item you see worth a ton of money would be worth little if there was a glut of it. And if you kept everything that you thought may be valuable one day I am sure we would all have a house cluttered up with junk. Indeed look at all the 'Limited Collectorsedition' items you may have, 1 of only 25,000 worldwide haha. You could all but guarantee there will still be 20,000 left in 10 years time.
Ok there is not a great market for trousers and museums are the only real way to display them, as if you wore them I think you would get laughed off your 37 Knucklehead, or better still, Harley 45.
Trousers make nice hats too

 

[Tkecks]

I'm not really sure what to do with these. They do have a few tears; the main one is the right ankle which reaches is about 1/3-1/2 way round; then there are 2-3 other small 2-3 inch tears. All small enough to repair if someone is so inclined. Two of the zippers work, and just need a good clean. The leather bends okay, although the surface is pretty roughed up, but the fleece inside seems very good. The pockets are much sturdier.

'Really nice to just see such a thing in person, and think about the history. I imagine that these were owned by a WW2 veteran family member, then used in the cold winter months here in North Dakota!

Probably I will just sell this on ebay. I generally don't keep things that don't fit me (famous last words, I still have 3 surplus G1's), and I wouldn't want to wear something this age anyway; it would probably be more appreciated by a more specialised collector.. Besides, if I sell all my non-fitting items, I can buy another one that does fit right?

 

[rocketeer]

Eastman makes A3s, but at around £850 he used to only make them as a special order.

 

[ChiTownScion]

When it's minus 5F with a howling north wind and my upper torso is toasty from my ANJ-4, everything below the waist really wishes that someone still made a repro of these.

 

[rocketeer]

When it's minus 5F with a howling north wind and my upper torso is toasty from my ANJ-4, everything below the waist really wishes that someone still made a repro of these.

As my previous post, Eastman make an A3 style. But would you really wear them in the street, or would you pay $1000 for something to wear in the garden/yard to cut up logs etc.