Whatever Happened to the Goldsmith A2?

[Officer Dibley]

Are you saying that ELC would advertise a jacket that looks nothing like what they sell ? Not a smart business model !

Meachamlake’s and Pilot’s recent jackets on the for sale section show it well. As on the ELC official and unofficial websites. I also sold a ridiculously grained seal a few months ago. How many recent ELC jackets have you seen ? Or is your experience of their wares only older jackets ?

 

[Smithy]

I think there's actually a thing with modern high end repros in how nearly all of them are veg tanned. It looks lovely and develops patina quickly but it just doesn't drape the same way as vintage chrome tanned stuff, and it grains up and develops wear differently from an actual wartime A-2.

Once again just my opinion, but even the really high end repros never drape nor have leather which exactly mimics a jacket as it was issued in WWII.

 

[B-Man2]

Sorry guys...……...hoping to find out if Headwind is going to produce the Goldsmith or have they walked away from it entirely..

 

[Persimmon]

Was just about to post a similar call to get back to info on Goldsmith.
Grainy jacket et all can have their own thread chaps.
Where is the Headwind jacket update.

 

[2BM2K]

Bringing grainy and Goldsmith back together is is worth revisiting this photograph;

Brigadier General Oscar Westover, Lieutenant Colonel H. H. Arnold and Colonel John H. Howard a...jpg

General Westover's Werber has some lovely grain. There is also some grain visible on the Goldsmith jacket.

The trail of the original Goldsmith jacket has gone cold for now, maybe something will turn up in the future.

 

[Happy Hooligan]

and to take it into another turn, what is up with Arnolds knit length on his left arm? Did he get a jacket too small in length and someone just added 10 inches of knit to make it hit his wrist?

 

[jeremiah]

Happy,
I think that’s a combination of the photograph angle and could be the shirt he is wearing under it is catching the knits and pulling them and may even be stretching them a bit. At least a plausible answer to your observation?

 

[Cocker]

Guys did any of you notice the Headwind MFG website is down?!

 

[B-Man2]

Guys did any of you notice the Headwind MFG website is down?!

That’s not good considering Jay hasn’t really been around here much lately.

 

[Smithy]

Guys did any of you notice the Headwind MFG website is down?!

That’s not good considering Jay hasn’t really been around here much lately.

That's what I'm thinking too. Doesn't sound good.

 

[B-Man2]

Headwind is still selling jackets on EBay so that’s a good sign... for now.

 

[Smithy]

The last time Jay mentioned his Goldsmith he'd said he was having problems with the leather so maybe he's still trying to source something which he's satisfied with.

I imagine there's also the possibility that it might not be top of his to do list if he's started to have second thoughts about just how many he'll sell.

 

[zoomer]

I hope that if the Goldy does not pan out (pardon the pun), he will consider offering a Security repro. There at least exists an original for inspection.

 

[B-Man2]

I did a search on the subject and I believe this was Jays last posting regarding the Goldsmith A2, on June 23, 2019.

“We are down to the final revision. I had to alter the pattern a bit and there are a few details that needed correcting. I did sell that test jacket to a guy who had in a preorder. He loves it and that is a great compliment as he owns jackets from nearly all the top tier makers.

Right now we are juggling our completion of a lot of orders for other jackets. A-1's, 37J1's, and some custom jackets as well. We can't do it all at once, and our customer's orders take precedence over the revisions and another test jacket. We are working our way through our cue and we should be getting the final version of the Goldsmith completed soon.

Thanks for the interest! It should not be long now and we will have the final version complete and be ready to accept orders.”

All The Best,
Jay

 

[taikonaut]

I think there's actually a thing with modern high end repros in how nearly all of them are veg tanned. It looks lovely and develops patina quickly but it just doesn't drape the same way as vintage chrome tanned stuff, and it grains up and develops wear differently from an actual wartime A-2.

Once again just my opinion, but even the really high end repros never drape nor have leather which exactly mimics a jacket as it was issued in WWII.

How do you tell if it chrome or veg tanned?
I noticed veg tanned repros such as ELC seem to bubble up near the crease area in the arms when worn for awhile. The whole jacket form into a body shape after its been worn regularly over a few weeks or months and feels rubbery. My originals don't react like that.

 

[saucerfiend]

Try a Good Wear A-2. Much better!

 

[ausreenactor]

Or start hunting down one of Aero's?

 

[taikonaut]

But they are not chrome tanned. Nothing beats an original.

 

[jeremiah]

Only A2s I can think of using chrome tanned HH are the ones from LW.
Evidence shows that the majority of vintage A2s used chrome tanned but some were definitely veg tanned.

 

[ausreenactor]

I don't think that an original Goldsmith or HLB A-2 will be turning up in the near future...