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ALL ORIGINAL Irvin RAF type Jackets - Loving that Wolf in sheeps' clothing!
- Thread starter PADDY
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Dr H
Call Me a Cab
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I'd just pick up a repro - elastic perishes/degrades over years of exposure to sun/ozone - not worth persisting with a worn out bit of old elastic IMHO.
aswatland
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The label was acquired by another maker and has nothing to do with me.
aswatland
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That is a shame. Eastman will be your best bet.
alsendk
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Here`s a load of pictures of my newly purchased 39` electrically wired Airchute,with a 42 size chest, in quite a fine nick, and very supple. I have been a little reluctant whether I should have the wiring cables taken off, or not, but have come to actually like it. They are not in the way, so I will let them be for now. The jacket is intact and strong, with a good fleece, and I will choose not to have any regrets wearing it on a regular basis whenever the weather permit.
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Spitfire
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WOW!!! Congratulations, Allan - sure looks like a beauty. And I fully agree with you. Leave it intact. It's a piece of history.
alsendk
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Thank you Søren. You are the reason, that I finally bought one .... I think you know that - but Sometime one needs a kick with a RAF boot your size, to get things done. I am truly happy about my Irvin, and it will outlast me I`m quite shure. It appears to be just as strong as my ALC, and weight the same ..3,2 kg
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aswatland
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congratulations on a fine wired jacket. Looking at the contract number 606981/37 this is one of the earliest wired Irvins made by IAC., dating to 1937. A different numbering system was used for 1938-9 jackets and trousers. I definitely would not remove the connectors.
alsendk
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Thank you, Andrew, for your summary on the jacket. I agree with you, and Søren, about not to change anything. Somehow it might add a certain amount of authenticity to it. Can one assume, that a Irvin like this one, still wired, might have been used in a bomber plane, for a certain extend of time, since the wiring still remains intact?
aswatland
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The wired suits were introduced in 1937 and were first used in Wellingtons, Hampdens and Whitleys. It is likely it was worn well into the war on other bombers too. The condition of the jacket does not suggest continuous or heavy wear.
Dr H
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I agree - it's rare to see an early wired jacket intact, and it would be a shame to see it broken down for wear, when it's easy to come by conventional jackets in this size for occasional wear.
alsendk
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Rear gunner Wellington bomber...it could be my Irvin this chap is wearing 
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aswatland
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Here's the picture the Wellington tail gunner by Cecil Beaton, but in colour.
It's hard to tell if the gunner is wearing a wired Irvin, but not in the next picture!
It's hard to tell if the gunner is wearing a wired Irvin, but not in the next picture!
Spitfire
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alsendk
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Any wired Irvins here? hard to see
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aswatland
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The third member of the crew from the left appears to be wearing a wired jacket. I can see the two connecting cables hanging at his right waist.
Oooh! I'm loving that! I'm loving the way the wiring is stitched under leather facings, I'm loving the period connectors (especially at the cuff- this is to connect to heated gloves?), and I'm loving the press-stud closure studs on the wrists (I've never seen that before), I'm loving the fact that it's an early heated jacket, so has few panel seams (really shows off the wiring).
Why doesn't anyone make a repro of that? It would be great for wearing in an open top MGB or something almost all year round in the UK (I am imagining plugging the wiring system into the car's cigar lighter socket).
alsendk
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But facing the fact that it was very cold up there, why didn`t they all have wired jackets Andrew? Perhaps far from all planes were prepared for heating? I find it hard to find information about this on the net. Till now I have just been informed that it was 24 volts DC that was used for the heating system.
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