NowOrNever
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 53
- Location
- England
Hey guys & gals,
Some of the long-term members might vaguely remember a thread I started back in 2011 under the username NowOrNever. I shared a thrifted, unlabelled A-2 that I’d picked up in the early 90s. Back then, the forum was mostly focused on original WWII contracts or brand-new repros, but I came here as the best chance of a "lead". Once again I've dug it out of the wardrobe after 30 or more years of dark storage! I'm sharing some photos and seeking help with possible jacket identification... its a lovely aged looking jacket that I enjoyed wearing briefly.
When I found it in a bric-a-brac shop around 1990, it had already been well worn by its first owner. The original by then, slack knits were totally worn and full of holes, almost as though they had been munched by a pest too. The fitted zipper had fallen into disrepair too. As a surprise souvenir it still had rolling tobacco in a front flap pocket, but literally no other clue I could discern about its origin.
He replaced the waistband and cuffs with what was a stroke of pure luck—he still had a stash of high quality brown(ish) wool that fit perfectly. (He also suggested adding a brass snap at the base of the wind flap. It was a practical upgrade as he explained it takes the strain off the zipper itself in stressed conditions like riding bikes... I slightly regret that addition now , but then again apparently this was a popular modification "back in the day" for many owners of wartime issued A-2s. For years, I thought he’d replaced the whole zipper. But looking closely at it now, he actually did a brilliant "Slider & Box Transplant" to keep the original track intact! The zip has worked adequately ever since and therefore its largely what I assume was fitted at manufacture.
I wore it to a film presentation at the University of East Anglia around 1992. The guest speaker was David Puttnam, who had just produced Memphis Belle (1990). His team had spent years sourcing authentic WWII flight gear for the movie, While briefly speaking to me after his speaking presentation David commented on the historical look of the jacket. I knew even then it wasn't a military specified A-2, but during the time that film was being shot, obtaining prop jackets that looked remotely "authentic" was difficult.
Shortly after that, it went into the closet for three decades as I worried if it wasn't adequately protected against the coastal weather we endure here. I still don't entirely know what the hide is, its fabulously "unusual", but I didn't want to accidently deteriorate it either.
Even the subsequently 1990s added brass snap, as photographed above is getting on now... 35 years possibly!
Over to the Lounge
I'd love to hear from the resident Aero historians. Given the lack of labels and the 30 year plus mystery, do these photographs trigger any new recognition or confirmation many years later? Please "chime in", if you have any thoughts? Thanks!
Some of the long-term members might vaguely remember a thread I started back in 2011 under the username NowOrNever. I shared a thrifted, unlabelled A-2 that I’d picked up in the early 90s. Back then, the forum was mostly focused on original WWII contracts or brand-new repros, but I came here as the best chance of a "lead". Once again I've dug it out of the wardrobe after 30 or more years of dark storage! I'm sharing some photos and seeking help with possible jacket identification... its a lovely aged looking jacket that I enjoyed wearing briefly.
Pre 1990's?
The standout feature is the one-piece back—something you rarely saw on cheap fashion replicas in the 1990s. It also has seemingly great WWII pocket geometry, no side-entry pockets and what looks like a close military shade of brown.
When I found it in a bric-a-brac shop around 1990, it had already been well worn by its first owner. The original by then, slack knits were totally worn and full of holes, almost as though they had been munched by a pest too. The fitted zipper had fallen into disrepair too. As a surprise souvenir it still had rolling tobacco in a front flap pocket, but literally no other clue I could discern about its origin.
The Mid-90s Triage: A Clever Hybrid Zip?
I took it to an elderly and skilled local tailor (he actually remembered seeing British bikers wearing real surplus A-2s after the war).He replaced the waistband and cuffs with what was a stroke of pure luck—he still had a stash of high quality brown(ish) wool that fit perfectly. (He also suggested adding a brass snap at the base of the wind flap. It was a practical upgrade as he explained it takes the strain off the zipper itself in stressed conditions like riding bikes... I slightly regret that addition now , but then again apparently this was a popular modification "back in the day" for many owners of wartime issued A-2s. For years, I thought he’d replaced the whole zipper. But looking closely at it now, he actually did a brilliant "Slider & Box Transplant" to keep the original track intact! The zip has worked adequately ever since and therefore its largely what I assume was fitted at manufacture.
A Nod from Hollywood!
I only actually only wore this jacket a few times "out and about" when a pretty cool and appreciated piece of provenance happened!I wore it to a film presentation at the University of East Anglia around 1992. The guest speaker was David Puttnam, who had just produced Memphis Belle (1990). His team had spent years sourcing authentic WWII flight gear for the movie, While briefly speaking to me after his speaking presentation David commented on the historical look of the jacket. I knew even then it wasn't a military specified A-2, but during the time that film was being shot, obtaining prop jackets that looked remotely "authentic" was difficult.
Shortly after that, it went into the closet for three decades as I worried if it wasn't adequately protected against the coastal weather we endure here. I still don't entirely know what the hide is, its fabulously "unusual", but I didn't want to accidently deteriorate it either.
Snaps & Vents
Even the subsequently 1990s added brass snap, as photographed above is getting on now... 35 years possibly!
Over to the Lounge
I'd love to hear from the resident Aero historians. Given the lack of labels and the 30 year plus mystery, do these photographs trigger any new recognition or confirmation many years later? Please "chime in", if you have any thoughts? Thanks!
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