Original Cable 42-10008P For Your Review.

[B-Man2]

It’s been pretty slow around here for the last few days, so I thought posting an original vintage A2 might generate some interest and conversation. I obtained this jacket from Vic ( Silver Surfer) a few months ago and this is the first time that I’ve actually posted it for discussion. It’s a Cable Raincoat Co 42-10008P contract A2.

HISTORY
The Cable 42-10008P A2 contract was issued in January of 1942 for a relatively small quantity of 10,000 jackets. The cost per jacket was $7.75 and the value of the entire contract was $77,500 dollars. This was the 2nd of three contracts that were issued to Cable Clothing Co, which was located in Boston, Massachusetts. The jacket is made from a very thick goatskin and is almost indistinguishable from Horsehide do to the thickness. The jacket is made without a collar stand and has a Conmar zipper which while not the norm, was an original option for this contract.
( Footnote: Thanks to Gary Eastman and his Type A2 Flight Jacket Identification Manual for portions of this information)

So that’s some of the history of the Manufacturing of this jacket and now a brief synopsis about the original owner.
T/Sgt William Heuser was part of an air crew on a B-24 Liberator Heavy Bomber. He is pictured below with his crew, on leave and in his final resting place. See below

I hope to be able to do additional research and find out more about this gentleman.

Photos

 

[B-Man2]

More photos

I hope you guys enjoyed the review .
Thanks for looking.

 

[Chandler]

Interesting that there doesn't seem to be anything "pebbly" about the goatskin. Maybe to the zipper side of the (wearer's) right-hand pocket?

Might I say, Burt, the cuffs look like old ELC knits.

Great historical piece.

 

[Flightengineer]

Incredible piece of history, Burt.

 

[Micawber]

Very nice Burt. Was he with the 392nd BG H at Wendling, Norfolk?

 

[B-Man2]

Very nice Burt. Was he with the 392nd BG H at Wendling, Norfolk?

Thanks Steve

Yes he was with the 392nd BG but that’s all I know at this point . Here’s some additional info about Heuser and his crew stemming from a mission on 11 February 1944.

 

[Micawber]

I saw that online Burt. Memorial associations are a good place to start, far better than the American Air Museum website a lot of who's info is obtained from other sites anyway.

Enter his surname into the search here brings up his mission info...

Search Airmen and Aircraft of the 392nd Bomb Group of WWII

Search for the flight and mission documentation of airmen and aircraft of the 392nd Bomb Group of WW2.

www.b24.net

 

[B-Man2]

I saw that online Burt. Memorial associations are a good place to start, far better than the American Air Museum website a lot of who's info is obtained from other sites anyway.

Enter his surname into the search here brings up his mission info...

Search Airmen and Aircraft of the 392nd Bomb Group of WWII

Search for the flight and mission documentation of airmen and aircraft of the 392nd Bomb Group of WW2.

www.b24.net

Steve
Thanks for this, I appreciate your knowledge and help in finding out more about Heuser. I will definitely check this out .

 

[Brettafett]

I love that patch, very unusual.
The very first original Cable A-2 I saw was one of Gary Eastmans. He showed it to me at my very first UK airshow, circa 2002/3
I don't recall the exact contract, but it stood out head and shoulders among all the repro A-2s at the ELC tent.

 

[Chandler]

FWIW -- the Cable Marc shows at Acme Depot is from this same contract.

 

[Silver Surfer]

I always thought that it could possibly be made of hh, and that would be the second 10008 cable that I have owned made of hh, as against the more common goaties. my guess is that because the cable contracts ran close in time to one another, and the cable company used what was at hand to fulfill the contract. similar to the goaties and hh dubows in the 27798 contract.

 

[B-Man2]

I always thought that it could possibly be made of hh, and that would be the second 10008 cable that I have owned made of hh, as against the more common goaties. my guess is that because the cable contracts ran close in time to one another, and the cable company used what was at hand to fulfill the contract. similar to the goaties and hh dubows in the 27798 contract.

Vic
I thought that this was HH as well. If it’s goat it’s the thickest goat I’ve ever seen. When reviewing the material for the post, I went with what was written down in the ELC A2 Manual which listed this contract as goat. However, I think you’re spot on , in thinking this is HH . It’s too heavy to be goat and it doesn’t have any of the surface properties of goat hide .

 

[Chandler]

@B-Man2 -- if you check Marc's notes on the contract he mentions that it was majority goat, but some HH had been seen too.

I'll link to the page if I can.

Be interesting to discern what yours is.

"Type A-2 Details, Jackets by Manufacturer, Page 1" http://www.acmedepot.com/a2jacket/a2detail2.html

He just mentions "predominantly or entirely" goatskin.

@MarcW

 

[Tattoo A2]

Very nice write up Burt, I have 2 original Cables in storage, one is the no name label in horsehide and the other is in goatskin, can't remember the spec numbers off hand I will have to dig them out, but the Cable jacket always seemed to give you a more comfortable feel then some of the other makers, when i get a chance I will try to get up in the attic and take some photos.

 

[B-Man2]

@B-Man2 -- if you check Marc's notes on the contract he mentions that it was majority goat, but some HH had been seen too.

I'll link to the page if I can.

Be interesting to discern what yours is.

"Type A-2 Details, Jackets by Manufacturer, Page 1" http://www.acmedepot.com/a2jacket/a2detail2.html

He just mentions "predominantly or entirely" goatskin.

@MarcW

When I was preparing the post I thought that it was HH ….. but then I checked the ELC A2 Manual and Gary E said that this contract was goatskin . So I thought …. “well who the hell am I to argue with Mr. Eastman ……. “

 

[Chandler]

When I was preparing the post I thought that it was HH ….. but then I checked the ELC A2 Manual and Gary E said that this contract was goatskin . So I thought …. “well who the hell am I to argue with Mr. Eastman ……. “

Time for the DNA test!

 

[B-Man2]

Very nice write up Burt, I have 2 original Cables in storage, one is the no name label in horsehide and the other is in goatskin, can't remember the spec numbers off hand I will have to dig them out, but the Cable jacket always seemed to give you a more comfortable feel then some of the other makers, when i get a chance I will try to get up in the attic and take some photos.

Rob
If you happen to come across them I’d love to see them and compare them to this one. This one’s a size 40 so I’ll never be able to wear it any place but I like it for the history of the jacket . Still I can’t help wishing it was a size 46 or 48.
What sizes are yours ?

 

[Tattoo A2]

Rob
If you happen to come across them I’d love to see them and compare them to this one. This one’s a size 40 so I’ll never be able to wear it any place but I like it for the history of the jacket . Still I can’t help wishing it was a size 46 or 48.
What sizes are yours ?

The two I have are both size 48s. The no name horsehide has lost its size tag, but the goatskin one, which I believe is the same contract as yours is in this post still has a tag, clearly a 48. I will do my best to get up there and take some photos.

 

[Silver Surfer]

even though I had several cables, and still own 2, I have yet to find a goatie cable in a clean, wearable size 42. a minor ocd of mine. oh brother where art thou? and yes, the cable contract original a-2s are easy, classic wearers if in good solid condition.

 

[Chandler]

The two I have are both size 48s. The no name horsehide has lost its size tag, but the goatskin one, which I believe is the same contract as yours is in this post still has a tag, clearly a 48. I will do my best to get up there and take some photos.

I'm not sure where you live, or what sort of attic you have, or how the jackets are sealed up, but after cleaning out my father's attic a couple years ago -- I know it's not the greatest place to store things. Lots of dried out items he was "saving," including old leather shoes that were un-savable.