N.F.S. Greatcoat... knowledge needed

[sharp1]

This is for all you outerwear folks,
I'm a total newbie to this forum, the wealth of knowledge is very impressive. So I'm here to call on you. I have a 1943 Greatcoat made by Dunlop Rubber Co. for the British NFS. I never knew of the NFS, reading about them was quite interesting. Anyways the coat is in wonderful condition and I'm having trouble finding any info on this piece. Thoughts on how rare a NFS Greatcoat is? Maybe a possible value to establish it at?(really have no interest in selling) Also I thought it was a pea coat at first, am I totally wrong in thinking that?

 

[sharp1]

I can't seem to be able to post pictures. I have several. It is a navy blue wool coat that falls just below the knees. Has the typical "pea coat" button pattern. ( I'm obviously clueless) The buttons are plastic with NFS on them for National Fire Service.

 

[Sloan1874]

Set up a photo bucket account, upload your pics to it, and then click the little 'link' icon. A window will pop-up offering four options to share the image. Click on the IMG option, it will flash yellow, indicating that you've copied the code. All you have to do is then 'paste' the code into your FL message, and it'll appear as an image when you post your reply.

 

[sharp1]

 

[sharp1]

Upon further investigation I see one button missing that holds the flap shut below right shoulder

 

[sharp1]

Tag on inside edge of coat opening.

 

[sharp1]

Thanks Sloan1874. Your directions were obviously good for a newb like me..

 

[pipvh]

Nice find. You used to be able to pick these up (in the UK) for pennies 30 or so years ago - mostly Civil Defence ones (with CD buttons in black bakelite) - but wartime ones seem to have become rare. I wonder if the 'Pattern N.F.S.' differs from the C.D. one?

 

[Smithy]

It's a shame Alan Eardley doesn't post here anymore, this would have been right smack bang in his knowledge zone.

Lovely coat by the way, team that up with a sound scarf, some sensible gloves and you could stand outside for the whole of the worst English winter possible.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Tag on inside edge of coat opening.

I get a kick out of those old size methods they used. I wear a size 11 from that vintage, but in recent cavalry stuff I wear a size 4 or 5.

 

[sharp1]

I'm 5'10" and it definitely doesn't seem short in length, but the the sleeves are 3/4 to 1" too short. There seems to be enough material hemmed at the cuffs to lengthen them that much. My grandma is a wiz of a tailor. May have her check into it. I was just concerned that it would really devalue it doing such a thing...

 

[sharp1]

Also is this coat considered a "Greatcoat"? Im not fully aware of the difference between this and a pea coat.

 

[Hal]

Also is this coat considered a "Greatcoat"? Im not fully aware of the difference between this and a pea coat.

A pea coat is much shorter - car-coat or even jacket length (it should, of course, cover the jacket if one is worn underneath). A greatcoat is long enough to cover the knee, so the excellent coat you have been writing about is a greatcoat.