Which Aero B3 =)

[member 16283]

Can't decide...redskin, standard duo tone or handwarmer duo tone.

http://www.picturetrail.com/aeroleatherusa

Then one with pockets (civvie?) would be cool because then I can store kleenex or my A10 gloves inside. But it just look so wrong.

 

[WhiskeyTangoFox]

The Aero redskin B-3 looks very classy. I love my Eastman redskin so I'm a little biased toward the redskin version.

By the way - the single pocket works just fine for me. I can put my house keys, car keys and a pair of gloves in there no problem.

Noel

 

[member 16283]

The Aero redskin B-3 looks very classy. I love my Eastman redskin so I'm a little biased toward the redskin version.

By the way - the single pocket works just fine for me. I can put my house keys, car keys and a pair of gloves in there no problem.

Noel

Sweet! I like the single pocket a lot. It just looks...right.

 

[member 16283]

How are B3's for driving? I just wore my Adidas parka today in preparation for this purchase. It's puffy and has high armholes. It feels like I'm wearing nothing I have so much freedom of movement compared to my US Authentic HH A2.

 

[Edward]

I am the owner of a Lost Worlds duotone model. At a time I wouldn't have fancied one of those, but my opinion changed when I actually saw them in natural light. The contrast between the sheepskin and the russet horsehide panels gives it an extra level of panache, in my opinion. Depends whether you prefer a more conservative look, I suppose. I do love the look of the redskins too; when funds allow, I'm hoping to pick up an Aero redskin B6.

As to pockets, well, there's a can o' worms. If you're not a purist and don't care about sticking as close as possible to the original spec, the handwarmer pockets might be handy. I wouldn't want to put anything other than a pair of gloves in them, myself, though, not unless you had zips on the pockets too. My LW, of course, doesn't have the handwarmer pockets, and in all truth I don't miss them. The length of that jacket, My trouser pockets are perfectly accessible, and once I take the jacket off inside, I prefer having things like my wallet to hand, on my person. I often wear the B3 (now also my ELC Irvin) into the office in Winter, over collar and tie. A four pocket waistcoat helps enormously with providing additional places to put phone, wallet, etc - all the detritus one requires in day to day life. The single mp-pocket on the outside of the B3 is wonderfully handy for gloves, especially when one is heading in and out of shops / other places where one is not removing the jacket. I do miss that with the Irvin. Again, I wouldn't want to risk something as important as keys / wallet / mobile in there, though. Maybe if you want something more secure, you could consider asking Aero to add a B2 style flapped pocket - or even consider, instead of the B3, a type ANJ-4:

 

[member 16283]

I am the owner of a Lost Worlds duotone model. At a time I wouldn't have fancied one of those, but my opinion changed when I actually saw them in natural light. The contrast between the sheepskin and the russet horsehide panels gives it an extra level of panache, in my opinion. Depends whether you prefer a more conservative look, I suppose. I do love the look of the redskins too; when funds allow, I'm hoping to pick up an Aero redskin B6.

As to pockets, well, there's a can o' worms. If you're not a purist and don't care about sticking as close as possible to the original spec, the handwarmer pockets might be handy. I wouldn't want to put anything other than a pair of gloves in them, myself, though, not unless you had zips on the pockets too. My LW, of course, doesn't have the handwarmer pockets, and in all truth I don't miss them. The length of that jacket, My trouser pockets are perfectly accessible, and once I take the jacket off inside, I prefer having things like my wallet to hand, on my person. I often wear the B3 (now also my ELC Irvin) into the office in Winter, over collar and tie. A four pocket waistcoat helps enormously with providing additional places to put phone, wallet, etc - all the detritus one requires in day to day life. The single mp-pocket on the outside of the B3 is wonderfully handy for gloves, especially when one is heading in and out of shops / other places where one is not removing the jacket. I do miss that with the Irvin. Again, I wouldn't want to risk something as important as keys / wallet / mobile in there, though. Maybe if you want something more secure, you could consider asking Aero to add a B2 style flapped pocket - or even consider, instead of the B3, a type ANJ-4:

Thank you for your detailed post. I will indeed be wearing it to the office most likely. I generally wear slacks and dress shirts with a breast pocket so that should be enough storage.

The LW seems kinda stiff and bulbous from the other threads I've seen. Not the look I'm going for. The ANJ-4 seems too ordinary.

So, it seems it's down to redskin or duo tone with classic pocket. Hmm. I tend to think the duo tone is more conservatively coloured.

Oh, nice sig

 

[Edward]

The LW seems kinda stiff and bulbous from the other threads I've seen. Not the look I'm going for. The ANJ-4 seems too ordinary.

I don't have an Aero or ELC B3 to compare directly to my LW, but certainly it is stiffer and heavier by far than the fleece of my Irvin. Of course, Irvins lacking the horse panels on the sleeves will feel that much lighter anyhow, but LW are notorious for heavy jackets. I'm sure I remember someone posting on the FL about a LW Irvin that could have given you a hernia to lift.... lol The ANJ-4 is a gorgeous jacket, I definitely want one in the future, though certainly I can see what you mean in that it's more like a 'regular' jacket than the B3. Maybe reflects the fact that, unless I'm mistaken (I don't claim to be an expert in this), the ANJ-4 was designed as a jacket specifically, whereas the B3 was designed as, in effect, the top half of a very heavy duty flight suit?

So, it seems it's down to redskin or duo tone with classic pocket. Hmm. I tend to think the duo tone is more conservatively coloured.

Oh, yes - more so than the redskin, I think I'd agree; I was thinking in comparison to the seal coloured duotone.

Oh, nice sig

Thanks.

 

[member 16283]

I can't find an example photo of the oil-pull brown trim B-3. And the russet, is that a very light colour in normal light?

 

[Philalethes]

"The ANJ-4 seems too ordinary."

Here is one thing that doesn't look ordinary to me: the buttons on the bottom. Does anyone know what they are for?

 

[JanSolo]

The wide horsehide hem on the ANJ-4 is not sheepskin lined but is a double layer of leather. I think (and other members may correct me) that the zipper doesn't go down all the way. Therefore the bottom part of the jacket has a two button closure.

 

[aswatland]

In terms of authenticity a pre-Crown zipped ELC Redskin B-3 is the way to IMO. They come up for sale on Ebay and on this forum from time to time.

 

[member 16283]

The originals were redskin? I thought that redskin was a weird novelty colour.

 

[aswatland]

Pre-war B-3s were mostly made of veg tanned, hand dyed sheepskin which collectors call Redskin jackets. From 1942 onwards most B-3s were chrome tanned and spray finished. This was a much quicker process and could more easily meet wartime contract requirements.

 

[member 16283]

Are the current repros from Aero veg/chrome in the same fashion by colour?

 

[member 16283]

I can't seem to get a response from Aero.

 

[Fletch]

Pre-war B-3s were mostly made of veg tanned, hand dyed sheepskin which collectors call Redskin jackets. From 1942 onwards most B-3s were chrome tanned and spray finished. This was a much quicker process and could more easily meet wartime contract requirements.

Doesn't the redskin date back to 1938? I remember your Phillips Tanning & Clothing B-3 from that year.

Those of you with Aeros, how long is your fleece? I just got an Aero redskin with 3/4" deep fleece thruout. Very awkward moving the arms and collar!

 

[member 16283]

Doesn't the redskin date back to 1938? I remember your Phillips Tanning & Clothing B-3 from that year.

Those of you with Aeros, how long is your fleece? I just got an Aero redskin with 3/4" deep fleece thruout. Very awkward moving the arms and collar!

Sounds warm!

 

[Fletch]

Warm? It's suffocating!

 

[member 16283]

Warm? It's suffocating!

In what kind of temperatures?

 

[Fletch]

So far, I've only had it out above 20°F (-7°C), with only light layering underneath.