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Amelia Earhart Flight Jacket Reproduction - The Aviatrix

Bombing IP

Well-Known Member
What's your point ,your talking in riddles !

Good Wear? Since when is that an informed manufacturer, the dude is ok with using grainy hide on pre-war Werbers?! Pshaw.

Next thing you know he'll be related to Amelia or sumthin'.
 

Bombing IP

Well-Known Member
Isn't cape and lamb skin one and the same? Sure I read that somewhere when discussing A1's!
Cheers
Wayne

Wayne you are correct today but 100 years ago it was something different ,see below .



capeskin

Word Origin
noun
1.
a firm, washable leather used especially for gloves, originally made from the skin of goats from the Cape of Good Hope, but now from hairy lambskin or sheepskin.
Origin of capeskin
1910-1915
1910-15; cape2+ skin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2017.
Cite This Source
British Dictionary definitions for capeskin
capeskin
/ˈkeɪpˌskɪn/
noun
1.
a soft leather obtained from the skins of a type of lamb or sheep having hairlike wool


BIP
 

Skyhawk

Well-Known Member
The lambskin I have seen has been fairly thin. Like 1.2 - 2.25 oz. I have never seen 3 or 4oz lambskin. I have seen a lot of Goat & Cape in 3 -3.5 oz weights. One Cape hide I have is close to 4 oz. Lambskin also has a much smaller grain than Goat or Cape, and it is a much softer leather than even Capeskin is. Lambskin is also less durable than Cape or Goat.
 

Skyhawk

Well-Known Member
Interesting. Ken Calder has always assured me that Capeskin was a type of goatskin.
It is....or was from a particular type of goat raised on the Cape of Good Hope, Africa. Thus "Capeskin". It is very different than your standard Goatskin. It is closer to sheepskin with it's soft texture and dense grain.

It's interesting to me that our government chose to use this hide from Africa in the 1930's when domestic Goat or Sheep could be used. In fact there are reportedly examples of surviving contract A-1's that were made from Sheep as well. Maybe the supplies of the exotic imported hides could not be maintained, or it was too expensive in the long run.

By the time the A-2 came around, they started using domestic hides so maybe there was a lesson learned with the A-1.
 

Ken at Aero Leather

Well-Known Member
Ken, will Aero offer this jacket soon, perhaps in your russet goatskin?

We made two samples a couple of years ago............ before my second retirement, wrong leather but the pattern was pretty close, both sold on the sale pages.
Sam(antha) does all our Lady's designs these days, has this on her "to do" list, I do know we are due some sample skins of Cape from our Goatskin tannery failry soon
 

Skyhawk

Well-Known Member
We made two samples a couple of years ago............ before my second retirement, wrong leather but the pattern was pretty close, both sold on the sale pages.
Sam(antha) does all our Lady's designs these days, has this on her "to do" list, I do know we are due some sample skins of Cape from our Goatskin tannery failry soon

Sounds intriguing Ken! I am always interested to see your new models. You guys have some great jackets. Keep up the excellent work.

We just received some new Capeskin samples from our supplier last week. We are getting ready to release two new 1930's flight jackets that, to my knowledge, are not currently being made by other manufacturers. Very interesting jackets. They are Hookless zipper models. We are just waiting for the labels to be complete.
 

Skyhawk

Well-Known Member
Ok it's been over 4 weeks since your last big announcement, and six months since your first ad. Whatcha got?
What we got is a lot of revisions on the label. We are up to 30 something changes and edits to get it right. The process was supposed to take a week. It has been 7 weeks. I also have received the extra long hookless zips about a week ago. Those took 8 weeks to be made and shipped. We are probably at least 3 weeks out from getting the labels. I am awaiting the final mock up so they can be woven. We had a perfect sample but some of the details were getting lost in the transfer over to the embroidery phase. They are now working on that problem. They have done some amazing work recreating the label, but it has been moving at a snails pace.

I have come to realize these things happen when creating a precise reproduction from scratch. There are always delays and unforeseen issues to address along the way. Rest assured the jacket will be made, and it's going to happen as soon as we have all the parts on hand.

Thanks for the continued interest in the jackets!
All the best,
Jay
 

bseal

Well-Known Member
Yes, the point was you trash the Belstaff and the US Wings version, which is fine, yet then not even a view of a prototype?

JC puts up prototypes all the time indicating that there will be further revisions to come and doesn't tell us how awful the others are... please walk the walk.
 
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Skyhawk

Well-Known Member
I will post photos of the prototype when it is complete. I would have posted photos already if the jacket was complete. It does not make sense to me to build up a test jacket when I don't have the pieces to complete it. A prototype with the wrong zipper and no label isn't really good for much, so I have to wait until I have all the correct parts on hand to make the jacket. I have posted photos of the pocket flaps and I will have more photos as they become available.

Bseal, as far as pointing out the shortcomings of other makers, you were the one who posted up the other companies jackets on this thread that I started about my upcoming jacket. So of course I will point out the flaws when you post up other jackets that you deem as competitors. In my book, they are doing something different so the jackets really aren't in the same category. Fashion jackets vs Reproduction jackets.

I haven't seen you post up other companies offerings on the Good Wear posts as other possible options. Maybe a Banana Republic A-2, or a Ralph Lauren A-2. It would essentially be the same thing. Fashion jackets vs Reproductions.

I have great respect for other jacket makers. I think we all have our place and niche in this great industry. I may be a bit more vocal than some other MFGs but I think I am talking and walking just fine.

All The Best,
Jay
 

Bombing IP

Well-Known Member
QUOTE[ A prototype with the wrong zipper and no label isn't really good for much, so I have to wait until I have all the correct parts on hand to make the jacket. I have posted photos of the pocket flaps and I will have more photos as they become available.[QUOTE ]

I disagree a label an a zip does not make a jacket ,we are not the dumbed down public that can only look at a finished product on a handsome male model is the middle of an aviation museum . I like to think of our selves as the doctors of the flight jacket world ,by that I mean we want to understand how it is made and what is right and what is incorrect inside and out side and constantly learning .We have interest in the leather the lining the cuffs the method of assembly with the correct threads .Just like a doctor can tell if someone is healthy or sick how to operate and how to correct things that are not right he understands all .By you just giving us a finished picture your denying us the bigger picture of the jacket as previously mentioned . Most of us have never constructed any clothing why would you think we would not be interested in the process soup to nuts . One thing it will give us is a better understanding and an appreciation for the art and how difficult it is .

BIP
 
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