Ultimate EASTMAN (ELC) flying kit thread.

[greyhound68]

I haven't had any problems with my Eastman A-2 staining anything. My only observation is that the leather is very stiff, I haven't really worn it enough to break it in though.

Greyhound68- Nice avatar! I have 2 retired greyhounds myself! Lindy and Normandie were both big losers on the track but they are perfect pets.

Yes I have two myself Lady and Miracle. Lady was a big winner on the track and Miracle was a loser. You are right they are perfect pets. Miracle is in the picture.

 

[MudInYerEye]

I've owned both the ELC and Hartmann. If I had to do it all over I'd get a Hartmann in brown. I've not yet had the problem you speak of on any of 4 Eastman jackets I've owned or currently own, tho I have encountered this problem with both Aero's oil-pull horse and steer.

 

["Doc" Devereux]

Thanks to everyone for their feedback. I've just picked up a black ELC Luftwaffe jacket on Ebay for less than half price, from a guy who got it as a present and didn't like the fit!

This has, unsurprisingly, made me very happy indeed. Next up is a nice 3/4 length double-breasted one, I think.

 

[scotrace]

Of course, you are required, optionally...

Pictures pictures pictures.

Please.

 

[Marv]

Eastman Goatskin / Horsehide question

Hi chaps,

Quick question for all you Eastman (house) A2 owners, is their a difference in the weight of horsehide and goatskin ( as ELC advertise all their hides are the correct 3oz weight) also which of the 2 hides is thicker and more sturdy if any.

any info would be appreciated......

 

[PADDY]

Goat and HH on the A-2

Hi Marv. Goat is a softer hide than horse, but many would argue that it is also a stronger hide (and again would argue that more goat skins have outlasted Horse skins in orginal A2s). Some love it because it has that pebbly look to the hide too, whereas horse can be as smooth as a baby's bottom, or as jerky hided and grainy as Paddy's old bottom! Tend to find more variation in the horse hides which many like in choice. Also, horse can take that bit longer to break in and crease up to your body. But once again, some folk like the feeling of having to wear something in, rather than feeling that it's already buttery!! Horses (or goats) for courses I guess.

As for weight. Well the Army prescribed a weight of 3 to 3.5 oz weight in the hides, so the hide can be stretched and cut to that weight. So I'd imagine that Eastmans or Aero, or BR or RMNZ/RMJ will have their hides graded to that weight, irrespective of hide type.

 

[DiabolicalAngel]

Paddy is spot on there with the hides Marv! I have an ELC Cable Raincoat A-2 in goat and no matter how hard I wear it it still looks new with minimal creasing on the arms and is pretty tough!! I'll probably be six foot under before it looks slightly worn in !!

 

[Marv]

thanks for responses chaps

 

[pharmotard]

A-2 27752 ROUGH WEAR by Eastman

Hello, i'm French and i have bid on Ebay for a magnificent Rough Wear 27752 seal brown.

I saw http://www.acmedepot.com/a2jacket/eval_ELCrw27752.shtml but i would like to known what you are thinking about this jacket.

Photos will follow.

Pharmotard

 

[scotrace]

Welcome

Welcome to The Fedora Lounge, Pharmotard.

I have an Eastman Roughwear 1401P. It is hard to imagine anything better made, or of better quality. I have seen Eastman's 27752 jackets side by side with the originals, and they are pretty exact copies.

That being said, some people find a more coarsely-grained horsehide more to their liking. Eastman uses a hide that begins quite smooth, but gathers creasing and wrinkles and wear slowly over time. Other jacket makers ship new jackets that already have a lot of wrinkling and character.
That part is a personal choice that is apart from authenticity.

You can't really go wrong with the jacket you are speaking of. They are tops.

 

[pharmotard]

Thanks for the answer.
At first i believed that the jacket was too small for me ( it's a 42) but i think that if i can break it, it will be fine on me.

 

[pharmotard]

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5803/4512sbif8.jpg

 

[gimmesomeshelte]

Hello-

Here are a few comments. Most will agree on some points. Others will want to saw off my head and send a video of the event to my mom.

The good:

Attention to detail (stiching is the correct color and material - even if another material would be more durable.)

Very nice leather.

Nice selection.

The less good:

Slow turnaround for special orders (I don't know about repairs.)

Weak knits - your jacket will last for years, but don't be surprised if your knits stretch out the first six months you own it.

IMO, some of the patterns are a bit off. If you look at old photos of flight jackets, they are cut like a dress shirt - the jacket body fits close to the chest, the arm holes are high and tight, and the sleeves are narrow. The Eastman RW jackets have slim arms, but the body, IMO, is too large.

Regarding this last point, I will admit that all the a-2 makers adjust their patterns from time to time. I don't know if this jacket will fit like the 1401 I owned six years ago.

I'm ready for my close up.

Paul

 

[scotrace]

Paul, agreed on all points. I would order a size or more down if i did it again, and since July 5, the knits are already looking a little loose. But I wear it hard.
Since this gentleman is in Europe, he may not have as ridiculous a wait time as you and I (5+ months in my case).

 

[greyhound68]

Having owned just about every ELC A2 jacket they make (1401, 27752, Star, Monarch, and Cable) and having sold each one of them to buy RMNZ jackets (Roughwear Goatskin, Monarch, and Dubow) I have to say I like the grainy leather of RMNZ much better. Of course nothing beats the Buzz Rickson Roughwear contract 23380 I have. Smooth hide vs grainy hide it is just personal taste.
BTW The ELC 27752 was the first repro I ever bought and it compared very well in most of the details with my original 27752 RW even the size matched (original 44 and ELC 42 the dimensions were about the same).

Here are some shots. First one is the Buzz Rickson the second the original RW (which I sold still regret doing that).

 

[Etienne]

Sorry about the female intrusion here, but I have a question for all of you guys: I have found some original jackets like the ones you are discussing and would like to know if most men would enjoy an original one (with all the broken-in wear that goes with it) that fits him well, or a new one that will take time to look broken in? In other words, do men like to look more rugged in them or more dressy? I am thinking of getting one for my husband as just a casual, keep warm jacket. Any thoughts? Thank you, Gentlemen!--Etienne

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Sorry about the female intrusion here, but I have a question for all of you guys: I have found some original jackets like the ones you are discussing and would like to know if most men would enjoy an original one (with all the broken-in wear that goes with it) that fits him well, or a new one that will take time to look broken in? In other words, do men like to look more rugged in them or more dressy? I am thinking of getting one for my husband as just a casual, keep warm jacket. Any thoughts? Thank you, Gentlemen!--Etienne

Obviously your intuition as to which your husband would prefer is more reliable than my opinion, but for a casual, keep warm jacket, I would prefer the original jacket. But either would be a good choice.

For a dressy jacket, consider instead an Italian napa lambskin - something quite different from what we are talking about here. If that's the route you would prefer, Sierra Trading Post offers Brunomagli jackets at steep discount.

 

[scotrace]

MUCH rather have an original in good condition in my size, any day of the week.

 

[Etienne]

Thanks so much! I'll look into both!

 

[Better Duck]

Bienvenue Pharmotard

Hello Pharmotard,

Welcome to the forum from Les Pays Bas, Holland that is for al you English speakers.
I have the ELC RW 1401 P in size 46 and am very happy with this jacket.
On the Vintage Leather jacket forum in one of the threads there is just a discussion going on, about smooth versus wrinkled and whether the one is more authentic then the other.
That said, I am very happy with my ELC RW which I bought last July at Duxford (no time waiting for it) I tried on a size 44, but couldn't get into it, to small on all accounts. The 46 fits me just fine.

Lots of fun with your jacket - and on the Fedora Lounge!!

a bientot,
Peter