Recent content by John The Hat

I need a hand here folks. A client has sent us a vintage US made motorcycle jacket for repair / restoration. The problem is that she wants the front zipper replaced "like for like", and the zips are #10 (9mm or 3/8") brass Talon. The front one is 21" long and the chances of picking one up on...

As an interesting aside, this suit is, as far as I can see, the same as the one worn by Katherine Hepburn in the 1933 film "Christopher Strong". If no one objects I will now ask the question elsewhere :-)

We have a 1 piece flight suit in for repair. It is in light-weight brown leather, deep brown shearling collar with a grey-ish fur lining throughout the rest. It has a single label: Air Associates Inc Garden City, NY Chicago Ill Glendale Cal. Hanging chain, 5 x Talon zips, Ring snaps at neck...

I think we could get away with (switches to yards mode) 2 yd at 48" wide. Our customer appears to have got the jacket VERY wet @ shrunk the lining. :-)

Hi guys. Anyone have a supplier for replacement wool backed blaze orange satin as used to line the later L-2B jackets ? Need about 4m shipped to the UK. Why is it easier to source the earlier sage green ? :-)

I have sitting before me an "Irvin" flying jascket. And it looks a "wrong 'un" to me. :D There are NO vent eyelets under the arms. The back of the collar is stitched "crosswise" not zigzag, and there is no band over the collar seam.. The neck strap is an eyelet & buckle type, not double "D"...

Does anyone know where I can get my hands on the correct cotton material for re-lining wartime A-2 jackets ? And (possibly harder) the early type silk fabric ?

We have one in for repair at the moment. It is in quite nice condition, but the stitching is going on the seams and there are a couple of splits. It looks its age, in other words. But the straps look thirty years younger. This is the third or fourth we have done recently and all but one have...

Does anyone have any info on this zipper ? http://www.bysonleather.co.uk/Odds%20&%20Sods.htm It is from an RAF flight overall (?) Stores Ref A.M. 22C/775 Contract number 10508 I am trying to source a couple of sliders for a customer, but at a push a couple of zips would do. Not our usual...

There are three ways I would suggest. Firstly you can patch and overband. You can use a LITTLE glue to stabilize the damaged area under the patch so that there is no more deterioratiion and you don't for instance put your hand through the tear.. http://www.bysonleather.co.uk/Images/Irvin.jpg...

Anyone know what the finish on wartime Irvin jackets was ?