New Model "Admirls Jacket" & Our New Hides

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Thanks Alan, yes Ian we will have the correct Mid-level pockets. The lower pockets are an option as many people like this look over the higher mid level pockets. Here are a few shots of originals. They pretty much all had mid level pockets, as far as the contract jackets go. There were 2 main variations of pocket flaps, the flat and the angled. There are earlier examples before the contract jackets were made with higher chest pockets like a dress shirt. These jackets however, were not made for a 37J1 contract as far as I know.

The guy all the way to the right is in an A-1, the other 2 low pocket jackets are cloth 37J1's. All the other 37J1's in the photo are Mid pocket jackets. The guy second from the right is in a jacket from the same contract as the "Admiral's Jacket". Note the Mid-level pockets.

The cloth 37J entered service in 1932, and these fliers are Marines, who typically had to wait for the Navy to be fully re-equipped before they got new gear (and cloth 37Js were usually stenciled USN anyhow!). So perhaps it's 1933-'34.

 

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Update on the waxed leather version. We have been trying different treatments for our waxed version of this hide. Our latest trial is looking like the clear winner. It is an all natural bees wax treatment and really makes an impressive barrier against the elements. We are in the beta test phase but the hide is looking very promising so far!

It looks fantastic on these shots.

That modest water resistance, btw, was also the hallmark of the Jungle Cloth 37J1 – a feature typically ignored these days. (Jungle Cloth was Bedford cord treated with aluminum salts to shed water.)

About "Admiral Beltane": you must know this, but he was really ADM John J. Ballentine.
His famous jacket dated to his days as CO of Torpedo 2B aboard USS Lexington, 1931-'33.

 

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The cloth 37J entered service in 1932, and these fliers are Marines, who typically had to wait for the Navy to be fully re-equipped before they got new gear (and cloth 37Js were usually stenciled USN anyhow!). So perhaps it's 1933-'34.

I may retract that guess...this could be earlier, early enough that there could be test models on some of these airdogs. Let's go to the closeup view.

These cloth jackets appear NOT to have either storm flaps or reverse box pleat pockets. It is hard to tell at this resolution, but the guy on the right, whose right hand pocket is in shadow, would surely show a pleat if there was one.

Then there's the guy at the far right of the group. You might say, oh he's just got an A-1. But it's not! It has low pockets, but also the low-cut collar. Could it be a late test mod of the cape 37J1 - turned down in favor of the cloth model, which kept the low pockets?