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where to get a crown replacement zip for an BR L-2A (alternatively....)

Griffon_301

Well-Known Member
does anyone have an idea, how to fix this?

just noticed that the crown zip on my BR L-2A is damaged, please see the picture; question is, is there a "cheap" way to fix it or will I need a replacement zip?
if so, where would I get one?

thanks in advance for answers
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Griffon_301

Well-Known Member
thanks for the tip - I have, unfortunately, the Crown zippers are nearly all sold out, especially the ones in blue; I have contacted the guys at ELC now, as the Crown on my B6 looks just like the one on the L-2A, with the exception of making a sturdier impression to me...
I have also seen, that it should be possible to just exchange the puller while leaving the rest of the zip untouched, so maybe thats an option - get the puller and exchange the needed parts only...
 

Officer Dibley

Well-Known Member
I’ve got one where the zip teeth kept separating. Tried varies recommended ways of fixing it but no luck.
Getting to the point where i may buy a green zipper to replace it. Knits are green anyway. Could look like a field replacement.
Shame as i really like the jacket but have only wirn it a couple of times after getting it.
Or i could just put it in the bonfire.... all very irritating
 

Griffon_301

Well-Known Member
Yeah, that might be my solution as well, the knits in my blue L-2A are also brown in colour so it looks like a field mod already to start with.. I have contacted the ELC guys and might get a brown Crown zip from them if they do that and replace the blue one altogether....
 

Smithy

Well-Known Member
I’ve got one where the zip teeth kept separating. Tried varies recommended ways of fixing it but no luck.
Getting to the point where i may buy a green zipper to replace it. Knits are green anyway. Could look like a field replacement.
Shame as i really like the jacket but have only wirn it a couple of times after getting it.
Or i could just put it in the bonfire.... all very irritating

I really wouldn't be adverse to using a green zipper on a blue jacket for that very reason. I've got a few books on the 4th and 51st FIWs in Korea and there's more than a few photos of blue nylon jackets with replacement zippers in green.
 

Dany McDonald

Well-Known Member
Hello Griffon,

I've had two Buzz Crown M48 No.5 zip brake and could not find replacements, dead end with Buzz & HPA. Original sliders will not fit on the Buzz chain. Be aware that Mash blue pen is not a perfect match for your tape. It should be more violet than deep blue.

Now for authenticity, go for a Conmar No.5 it's what came with L-2A's. When mine broke (Buzz Superior togs), I found a white Conmar on ebay, dyed it and replace the puller with an original.

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Bz_Sup-tog-L-2-0.jpg


Hope this help,

D
 

Griffon_301

Well-Known Member
Wow! Thanks a lot for that detailed description!
As said, my problem does not originate from the zip itself, but from the puller.
So I hope that ELC can help with one of their complete repro Crown zips with which I can then replace the zip on my jacket...

Where did you get the original puller for the Conmar from?

On a sidenote, the zip on my L-2A is the most crappy one on any of my jackets...
 

Dany McDonald

Well-Known Member
I bought a 1950's USAF heavy flight suit, that was just good for zip parts. They are also fine for G-1 MIL-J-7823(AER) or earlier contracts but not a perfect match.

I used three sliders for:

L.W. FOSTER SPORTSWEAR CO., INC. CONTRACT NO.DA-36-243-QM(CTM)2312 SPECIFICATION NO. MIL-J-7823(AER)
MONARCH MFG. CO. CONTRACT NO. N383s-80667 SPECIFICATION MIL-J-7823 (AER)
Buzz Superior Togs L-2A

Cheers,

D
 

Smithy

Well-Known Member
Hello Griffon,

I've had two Buzz Crown M48 No.5 zip brake and could not find replacements, dead end with Buzz & HPA. Original sliders will not fit on the Buzz chain. Be aware that Mash blue pen is not a perfect match for your tape. It should be more violet than deep blue.

Now for authenticity, go for a Conmar No.5 it's what came with L-2A's. When mine broke (Buzz Superior togs), I found a white Conmar on ebay, dyed it and replace the puller with an original.

View attachment 58701

View attachment 58702

View attachment 58703

Hope this help,

D

They are fantastic looking jackets but you can totally understand why the USAF dumped the blues pretty quick.

Now just imagine being a downed pilot around the Yalu, so scrubby brown country without a lot of tall trees, and wearing a nice shiny, blue jacket whilst trying to evade capture.
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
They are fantastic looking jackets but you can totally understand why the USAF dumped the blues pretty quick.

Now just imagine being a downed pilot around the Yalu, so scrubby brown country without a lot of tall trees, and wearing a nice shiny, blue jacket whilst trying to evade capture.
Obviously designed by the desk jockeys in the Pentagon who thought the jacket looked cool with their dress blues .:rolleyes:
 

Officer Dibley

Well-Known Member
Wow! Thanks a lot for that detailed description!
As said, my problem does not originate from the zip itself, but from the puller.
So I hope that ELC can help with one of their complete repro Crown zips with which I can then replace the zip on my jacket...

Where did you get the original puller for the Conmar from?

On a sidenote, the zip on my L-2A is the most crappy one on any of my jackets...

It’s the zipper pull on mine too but i think i’m at the point of replacing the zipper with anything but an authentic Crown zipper. Maybe a bullet proof Conmar - any colour.
Break on me once, shame on you, break a second time, shame on me !
Dave
 

Griffon_301

Well-Known Member
I "solved" my zip problem for the time being with a bit of superglue...
Maybe if the ELC guys offer me a good repro Crown of their own for a reasonable price, I'll go that way, if not, I might get me a Conmar as well...
If you choose to go the Conmar way, please let me know where you got yours from and which one you choose then...
 

Dany McDonald

Well-Known Member
This is the exact one I bought last year, easy to dye. The seller has a lot of other vintage zips too.


@Griffon, ELC always turns me down when I ask if they will sell a zipper. But if you get a nice Crown M43 instead of a M45, man keep it for a A-2!!!

There is another option, but that's for the early B-10, B-15...


Dany
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
Hey guys
Here’s a possible option if everything else doesn’t work . I’ve talked about my cheap Repro L-2b jacket made by Jinruishi a number of times here. The jacket has a Chinese repro Conmar zipper that works flawlessly. I would highly recommend it as a second option . I would try contacting a few of the sellers of this jacket through eBay and see if they would sell me a zipper . The jacket sells for about $95.00 - $110 so for a few more bucks you can have the jacket as well . It’s a good piece of kit .
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