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Roughwear B3 on ebay

Paul Glover

Well-Known Member
Hello all,
I am new to your forum but have been collecting jackets for years now.
Can I ask has anyone viewed the Roughwear B3 soon to finish (23 hrs) on ebay uk, is it just me or does it look too good to be true ? , hope i am not breaking any rules by asking, thanks anyone .
 

John Lever

Moderator
If it's the one I think it its then its an older version pre Broken Grain. The photos are over exposed so it is difficult to see how much wear there is on the cuffs. Ask for some better closeups before buying.
 

Paul Glover

Well-Known Member
Hello all, thanks for your replies, and warm welcome.
Steve asked for a bit more info about myself, I apologise in advance for any missing gaps and bad grammar !.
As previously stated I have been collecting ww2 flight gear for over 30 years mainly in the search for a jacket that fits me well !.
The result of the quest has left me being the proud owner( much to the wifes annoyance) of several ww2 British and American jackets all of which I can just about squeeze into.
The list is as follows, Battle of britain period wired irvin (mint), early two panel irvin in wearable condition but has been fitted with two front pockets from Irvin trousers (handy to put the phone in). Later 4 panel irvin yellow hood replaced with origional salvaged collar.
A very nice B3 , no label but I think its a roughwear, a wearable Anj4, a shabby D1 which seems to have been proffesionally made using flying trousers, a usaaf shearling peaked cap (b2?) Think its origional, and a nice pair of irving trousers.
I also own a B3 that i bought in a very poor state and have since partly restored that bears the leather name tag J J Hamblin. I believe this jacket was issued to the JJ Hamblin that perished whilst flying a c47 on d day, he and his comrades are commemerated on a plaque at a farm in Picauville Normandy.
To date I have been unable to verify this but there were only 2 Hamblins in the Usaaf .I have conversed with gerry Mcglaughlin ( author of d day plus 60 years) who has tried in vain to find any photos, Gerrys uncle was also killed in a separate crash nearby.
If anyone has any suggestions to help obtain a photo of Hamblin please help !.
Anyway if your still awake ? Thanks for reading and its nice to know that there are others out there who appreciate these jackets (origional or repro), cheers Paul
 

Paul Glover

Well-Known Member
Thanks Steve for your interest, it might take a day or two but i will take some photos and upload them.
I do have a couple of pictures of the Hamblin B3, I cant explain why I felt the need but I took the jacket to his crash location and met the current owner of the farm ,he was very interested in the jacket and took me to the orchard where the C47 landed. Thanks again Paul
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Roughwear

Well-Known Member
I would be interested in seeing pictures of your 1940 wired Irvin Paul. I have yet to see a mint example, i.e in the condition it left the factory.
 

Paul Glover

Well-Known Member
Hello Andrew,
I will hopefully be able to post some pictures in the next couple of days.
I dont consider myself an expert in this field but the only thing on this jacket that would not be as it left the factory is the lack of bakelite plug and unbelical cord.
Other than that it has origional zips and tags, label, collar elastic,and without digging it out im sure it has its hangar.
The jacket once belonged to a gent who competed at the isle of man tt races just after the war and also competed in Europe(i dont think he wore the jacket whilst racing!).
Apparently he was one of the few people to have been trusted to ride a motorcycle called the old miracle which i think was destroyed in a catestrophic fire at the motor cycle museum some years ago.
The jacket is a good size and the fleece is a beautiful colour, will post the pictures soon.
Thanks Paul.
P.s. i remember a few years ago seeing a similar jacket same condition with plugs and cords attached.
I did also once own a pair of wired trousers, i bought them very cheap to use the fleece for repairs but when they arrived they were so good that i didnt have the heart to ta,e them apart, they were huge ! 42 inch waist.I put them up for auction not realising their rarity and returned my outlay at least 5 times over.
 

Paul Glover

Well-Known Member
Hello Andrew, and anyone else reading,
Hopefully attached will be some photos of my wired Irvin, im not sure if our interpretations of mint are the same but to my mind this jacket is in the best condition of any that I have come across during my years of buying and selling in order to find the right one for me !.
Alas it does not have its hangar and there is some service wear to the cuffs, to me that is more desireable than a box fresh un issued jacket. Thanks Paul.
 

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Roughwear

Well-Known Member
Your jacket was made by Links in 1940. It was a reasonable sized contract and I have seen quite a few from it over the years and have a very well preserved example in my collection. Yours is certainly not mint in the true sense of the word but in decent condition having seen service in the War. Like mine the connecting cables have been removed.




 

Paul Glover

Well-Known Member
Lovely Jacket Andrew , i will have to concede to a reduction in condition status !, thanks for the info re maker etc.
Bearing in mind your forum name and apparent knowledge would you please give me your opinion of my B3 jacket, I thought it was a Roughwear but maybe you recognise it as something else ?. Thanks Paul.
 

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Roughwear

Well-Known Member
Without the label it is difficult to be sure which B-3 contract this is. It is unlikely to be a RW as it has a leather hanger and RWs had chain ones. It looks like a Werber from either the 42-12693-P order or 42-21699-P from 1942. It has a replaced British Dot main zip, which you often see on B-3s worn by 8th AF crew.


 

Paul Glover

Well-Known Member
Well spotted re the zip , I forgot to mention that, thanks again for your info, just two more Irvins, a Anj4 , d1 and a pair of trousers to go !. Only joking, i really appreciate your time and effort, signing out for now, g,night all kindest regards, Paul.
 
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