Dr H
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,007
- Location
- Somerset, UK
Good Wear Leather Type A-1 (size 44-46) from 2008
This jacket is the second Type A-1 that John Chapman made and is tailored in the older US domestic capeskin, which has the best match for the thickness and depth of grain seen in period photos. The leather is soft but strong and the drape is outstanding - the jacket feels and wears like a leather sweater. This jacket is in excellent condition – beautifully worn in.
The brick red-coloured cotton lining is well selected to resemble a slightly faded period jacket. The specification and size labels are correct for the contract. The golden brown knits (collar, waist and cuffs) are tight and unholed. The paint is largely missing from the waist snaps consistent with a patinated jacket, but could be reapplied easily if desired. All buttons (horn to the front and bone to the rear) are complete and in excellent condition.
John Jeter (CBI), a talented jacket artist, has painted the jacket as it might have appeared around 1935 when used by a pilot within the 8th Attack Squadron. To the chest (left side) is the characteristic liberty bell, surmounted by a bald eagle. To the yoke on the rear is painted USAAC (the United States Army Air Corps, forerunner of the USAAF). The aircraft depicted on the back is a Curtiss A-12 Shrike, which the squadron flew around this period; the markings are authentic. John has done a very convincing job in achieving a well-patinated and well worn artwork, in keeping with a used jacket.
This A-1 is tagged a 46, but the dimensions mean that it fits like a larger 44:
Pit to pit = 25 inches.
Front length = 23.5 inches.
Back length = 26 inches.
Shoulder = 20 inches.
Sleeves = 24.5 inches.
In summary, this is a unique jacket crafted by a premium jacket maker in a hard to source hide with very well executed artwork.
This is a great jacket, but owing to the imminent arrival of a new Good Wear A-1, it has been listed on EBay (Item 190767625207).
This jacket is the second Type A-1 that John Chapman made and is tailored in the older US domestic capeskin, which has the best match for the thickness and depth of grain seen in period photos. The leather is soft but strong and the drape is outstanding - the jacket feels and wears like a leather sweater. This jacket is in excellent condition – beautifully worn in.
The brick red-coloured cotton lining is well selected to resemble a slightly faded period jacket. The specification and size labels are correct for the contract. The golden brown knits (collar, waist and cuffs) are tight and unholed. The paint is largely missing from the waist snaps consistent with a patinated jacket, but could be reapplied easily if desired. All buttons (horn to the front and bone to the rear) are complete and in excellent condition.
John Jeter (CBI), a talented jacket artist, has painted the jacket as it might have appeared around 1935 when used by a pilot within the 8th Attack Squadron. To the chest (left side) is the characteristic liberty bell, surmounted by a bald eagle. To the yoke on the rear is painted USAAC (the United States Army Air Corps, forerunner of the USAAF). The aircraft depicted on the back is a Curtiss A-12 Shrike, which the squadron flew around this period; the markings are authentic. John has done a very convincing job in achieving a well-patinated and well worn artwork, in keeping with a used jacket.
This A-1 is tagged a 46, but the dimensions mean that it fits like a larger 44:
Pit to pit = 25 inches.
Front length = 23.5 inches.
Back length = 26 inches.
Shoulder = 20 inches.
Sleeves = 24.5 inches.
In summary, this is a unique jacket crafted by a premium jacket maker in a hard to source hide with very well executed artwork.
This is a great jacket, but owing to the imminent arrival of a new Good Wear A-1, it has been listed on EBay (Item 190767625207).
