Restore, or don't restore?

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You get an original WWII flying jacket. You get to choose which kind: Irvin? B-3? A2? G1? Your choice.

The zip(s) are broken, the leather is dry, but otherwise there are no tears. Do you keep it in your collection as-is? Or do you repair it so you can wear it?

 

[ButteMT61]

You get an original WWII flying jacket. You get to choose which kind: Irvin? B-3? A2? G1? Your choice.

The zip(s) are broken, the leather is dry, but otherwise there are no tears. Do you keep it in your collection as-is? Or do you repair it so you can wear it?

Look forward to replies here. Got some amazing jackets and pants that are WWII and are intact, but dry and brittle with no tears, etc.
Been wondering what to do...

 

[Gilboa]

If an item is really rare (one of a kind, signed, etc) or a very old item, then would not wear it. I might gently revive it and keep it in storage, althought that may take away from its value, depends.


But generally I believe in wearing vintage garments, rather than storing them in a cupboard.

The difficult thing is to find good repair specialists. You should be able to revive the leather yourself, there are good waxes out there that feed the leather and make it smooth again. Regarding the zip: I am sure there are plenty of people here that can point you towards somebody that can sort out the zip.

 

[Graemsay]

I'd be inclined to go for a light restoration that preserves as much of the fabric and patina of the jacket as possible.

Firstly, having the leather treated (though I'm not a fan of the too shiny post-Pecard's look) would help preserve it than leaving it to dry out and rot. (Or whatever old jackets do.) In terms of retaining your investment or a piece of history, then this would be a sensible move.

Secondly, it makes the jacket usable. An an unwearable garment isn't really that useful.

The possible downsides are losing historical authenticity. But if it's a fairly common style (and I'm sure that the Smithsonian has a stack of well preserved A2s) then it's not going to reduce the sum of human knowledge if you can't get an exact 1940s Talon zipper.

 

[Peacoat]

The G-1 wasn't known as such until 1947, well after WWII. During the war that style of jacket was known as the M-422 or the AN-J. The years for the technical specifications are:

AN-J3A 1943,
AN 6552 1943,
M-422A 1940,
M-422 1940

I hate to be so pedantic, but I think of the G-1 as a Korean/Vietnam jacket and the M-422/AN-J as the WWII Navy flight jacket, later to be adopted by the Army as a replacement for the A-2. It's more complicated than that, but I don't have the energy to go into all of it. Your question presented, however, is well taken.

I would do the repair work, especially the leather restoration, and wear it if it weren't too fragile. If the jacket was compromised, I wouldn't further add to its demise.

 

[cafebmw]

i'm in exactly that situation right now. i scored this gorgeous 30's HH motorcycle jacket recently. d-pocket, center back pleat (!), right hand pocket, ballchain zipper, it's all there! except: the zipper teeth just above the pin are separating on a 1/2". and no lining.
replacing the lining wouldn't be a problem. but replacing the zipper is! finding a 30's talon with patina? almost impossible. so i will try to find a way to fix the zipper instead of replacing it... i would love to wear it resp. my wife already decided it'll be her jacket.
otherwise i just hang it on the wall as a showpiece rather then spoiling with a non period and/or non patina zipper...

 

[miger]

I think the word here is 'revive' ------------- a gentle sympathic treatment is the way to go.