A wacky Eastman

[majormajor]

Just got this in my Email.

A very nice (though, at £70 ($110), expensive) reference book on A2s, and a very wacky (IMHO) B-3 jacket.

One of them will be on my Christmas list. The other, most certainly won't! :eeek:

 

[Peacoat]

When I first saw the flyer for the book, I thought, well, we will have many Andrews with subject matter expertise after this book is released. No substitute for knowledge learned the hard way, though.

 

[Edward]

Got the same email. I'm tempted by the book. I'm not really an A2 collector, but still, it'd be nice to have....

That B3.... I actually really like the look of it, but I can imagine it being a nightmare to stop from looking very grubby very quickly.

 

[majormajor]

Got the same email. I'm tempted by the book. I'm not really an A2 collector, but still, it'd be nice to have....

That B3.... I actually really like the look of it, but I can imagine it being a nightmare to stop from looking very grubby very quickly.

Stopping it getting grubby is one thing, but stopping all the folks down at the local falling of their chairs is something else entirely!:eeek:

 

[aswatland]

I plan to attend the launch and will be buying the book as it will be the only comprehensive book available on A2s. The price is not that expensive when you take into account the years of research Gary has undertaken, the money he has spent to source the original jackets and the cost associated with printing a book which is aimed at the specialist collector.


_________________

 

[aswatland]

When I first saw the flyer for the book, I thought, well, we will have many Andrews with subject matter expertise after this book is released. No substitute for knowledge learned the hard way, though.

Buying lots original jackets is an expensive way to acquire the subject knowledge as I know, and this book is a much cheaper way to become knowledgeable about A2s. I have no doubt there will be new information in it for even the most well informed collector.

I really can't understand why this thread is entitled " A wacky Eastman". There is nothing wacky about a well researched book on A2 jackets.

 

[rocketeer]

Won't bother with the book as I don't really collect, we'll have not for years now.
The B3? I would not be seen dead in it, we'll its supposed to be pretty hot down there isn't it. Definatley one for the die hard collector, a bit like his sheepskin trousers to go with the B3, sorry cant remember the A or B number.
J

 

[majormajor]

I really can't understand why this thread is entitled " A wacky Eastman". There is nothing wacky about a well researched book on A2 jackets.

Hi Andrew

The "wacky" refers to the B-3, which (IMHO) is decidedly "wacky".

As for the book, I described it as "very nice". I would love to be at the launch, but I live along way from London. However, despite most of the info already being on the Acme Depot site, I WILL be buying the book!!!

Buying lots original jackets is an expensive way to acquire the subject knowledge as I know, and this book is a much cheaper way to become knowledgeable about A2s. I have no doubt there will be new information in it for even the most well informed collector.

As someone else already mentioned, I guess you are out of a job, my friend!!(only joking)

 

[aswatland]

Won't bother with the book as I don't really collect, we'll have not for years now.
The B3? I would not be seen dead in it, we'll its supposed to be pretty hot down there isn't it. Definatley one for the die hard collector, a bit like his sheepskin trousers to go with the B3, sorry cant remember the A or B number.
J

You have confirmed my opinion that this book is primarily aimed at the collector.

 

[aswatland]

Hi Andrew

The "wacky" refers to the B-3, which (IMHO) is decidedly "wacky".

As for the book, I described it as "very nice". I would love to be at the launch, but I live along way from London. However, despite most of the info already being on the Acme Depot site, I WILL be buying the book!!!

Good for you. I know what you mean about the 1937 repro B-3 and I will not be buying it. I really can't imagine wearing it out!

 

[rocketeer]

Buying lots original jackets is an expensive way to acquire the subject knowledge as I know, and this book is a much cheaper way to become knowledgeable about A2s. I have no doubt there will be new information in it for even the most well informed collector.

I really can't understand why this thread is entitled " A wacky Eastman". There is nothing wacky about a well researched book on A2 jackets.

Hi Andrew I would think that it is aimed at the jacket rather than the book. I have never seen an original and personally I think it is an acquired taste.
The book would be more interesting if it covered a range of jackets, a bit like the Mguire books. I have the flight jacket books but the one with only painted A2s I sold on after a few reads, the other I am always going back to.

 

[rocketeer]

Looks like many of us collectors and non collectors have similar opinions.
Now then, is anyone up for ragging the B7?

 

[Sloan1874]

I don't have a problem with the B-3's looks at all, I think it cuts a dash, but I'm with Edward on trying to keep it clean for longer than 10 minutes.

 

[deluxestyling]

When I opened the same email my immediate thought the next time the misses asks me what I want for birthday/Christmas it'll be that book. I own quite a few similar information books, most cost close to that kind of price so I don't think it's that expensive.

I like the B6 in white too. The colour looks cool in my opinion but like most I would go for their ANJ-4.

 

[Edward]

Stopping it getting grubby is one thing, but stopping all the folks down at the local falling of their chairs is something else entirely!:eeek:

Eh, well. I've worn a fedora in Belfast. I don't much care what other people think...

I plan to attend the launch and will be buying the book as it will be the only comprehensive book available on A2s. The price is not that expensive when you take into account the years of research Gary has undertaken, the money he has spent to source the original jackets and the cost associated with printing a book which is aimed at the specialist collector.

Agreed. It's about the same price as the newly released Pride and Glory book on the rockers' leathers (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/39425972...d=16251906921340948330&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=). Compared to similarly specialist-interest academic publications (some of which I have, for my sins, been involved in writing and editing), it's resoundingly cheap. It's an expensive process getting a specialist interest publication to market.

Buying lots original jackets is an expensive way to acquire the subject knowledge as I know, and this book is a much cheaper way to become knowledgeable about A2s. I have no doubt there will be new information in it for even the most well informed collector.

I think it will mostly be collectors that buy one, but not exclusively. I want one too. I've also got a couple of books on the in-depth history of the Fender Stratocaster, and I won't be buying a pre-CBS model any time soon....

Won't bother with the book as I don't really collect, we'll have not for years now.
The B3? I would not be seen dead in it, we'll its supposed to be pretty hot down there isn't it. Definatley one for the die hard collector, a bit like his sheepskin trousers to go with the B3, sorry cant remember the A or B number.
J

I've considered the trousers more than once - mostly when I've been in Beijing in the depths of December, but over here too some days.... brr....

When I opened the same email my immediate thought the next time the misses asks me what I want for birthday/Christmas it'll be that book. I own quite a few similar information books, most cost close to that kind of price so I don't think it's that expensive.

I like the B6 in white too. The colour looks cool in my opinion but like most I would go for their ANJ-4.

I've always thought the white one would make a cracking looking ski-jacket. Nobel House also used to do an all-white version of the sheepskin Luftwaffe jacket (Winter issue Kanal jacke? Can't recall..). That'd look great on the slopes too, imo!

 

[rocketeer]

Come on Andrew let us in on the secret, are any of you jackets featured in Gary's book? You have some of the best examples of A2s I have seen(on here) this side of the USA or Japan.
When I had the collecting bug the scene was very different, label and contract details were almost unimportant, though there were Werber copies around that may look like the real thing now.
In fact some ex airman cut out the labels due to the 'Property of US army' written on the tag. If you check the items on that old Aero catalogue from 1983 I posted there are no makers labels listed!
I think Gary was the first to offer contract maker jackets though I am not sure, with his Roughwear jackets and also the ready to wear worn in look but this really comes from those popular distressed mall jackets from the 80s except his is slightly more realistic. To be honest Ken had a go at my pre-Aero A2 with some sand paper at strategic points and that was 1982
But I will say it a thousand times, the only way to get a jacket to look 60 years old is to wear it for 60 years.
I'd like to see a copy, maybe I can get the local library to stock it, they did the bike jackets book by Rin Tanaka.
Seeyas JT

 

[Edward]

Wearing it in right is the omly way... mind you, getting it to look sixty years old always struck me as an amusing take on authenticity if the goal is to look just like the flyboys did back when...

 

[rocketeer]

Wearing it in right is the omly way... mind you, getting it to look sixty years old always struck me as an amusing take on authenticity if the goal is to look just like the flyboys did back when...

Yes that is funny,in a ha ha sense.
Surly re-enactors should all be wearing new or newish jackets with a nice freshly painted lady on the back, not a tatty old jacket like mine.

Ooh! I see the book is being launched at the old American Classics shop in Endell street Covent Garden. They used to sell 'Vintage' clothing at this store in the mid 1980s but went over to new clothing, has it changed? Maybe some of us could turn up wearing Aero(Scotland) A2s, that would get the party going.

Just across the road used to be a shop selling genuine un shrunk Levis XX 501 jeans, made in the good old USA. Is that still there?
Johnny

 

[Edward]

Yes that is funny,in a ha ha sense.
Surly re-enactors should all be wearing new or newish jackets with a nice freshly painted lady on the back, not a tatty old jacket like mine.

Well, yes.... I' never deny the value originals have in themselves, but some of the pre-worn / "how can I age my jacket to make it look like an original (does now)? stuff.... Reminds me of the guys who rush out and buy the Fender Relic guitars (designed to look like a guitar which has been around since the Fifties and treated hard on the road) because they want to look like Buddy Holly. lol

Ooh! I see the book is being launched at the old American Classics shop in Endell street Covent Garden. They used to sell 'Vintage' clothing at this store in the mid 1980s but went over to new clothing, has it changed? Maybe some of us could turn up wearing Aero(Scotland) A2s, that would get the party going.

lol Been a long time since I walked past that place. I like to look in the window and stare longingly, but it'll be a rare day I'll have the cash to splurge on the stuff I really fancy in there (primarily various Buzz Rickson variants of the B15. I fantasise about collecting one of each variant. So far I have an Alpha Replica Series B15-C and a Buzz Rickson B15-C MOD. I'd love a Buzz B15-D.... ).

 

[rocketeer]

Never been able to get my head around the name, Buzz Rickson.
If you read John Hersey's novel, The War Lover, the Steve McQueen character is actually named Buzz Marrow, Buzz gets annoyed when people refer to him as Buzz Marlow.
Brilliant book, you really are sitting in that B17 buzzing the airfield at the end of a mission, then struggling back all shot up in those last pages.
John