B-15 Zippers

[dilbert]

I've read that the early B-15's, the B-15, 15A and 15B had offset zippers, but never read a reason why nor can I come up with a plausible reason for the offset. Anyone know? Surely there must have been some reason other than a WWII Calvin Klein or Hugo Boss thought they looked spiffy.

Thanks.

 

[Peter Graham]

I read somewhere that the reason is for ease of zipping and unzipping. If you wear a B-15 and fold your left arm across your chest, your hand will naturally rest to the right of centre, exactly where the zipper sits. Try it, it works. That quirky feature is one of the reasons why I love B-15's.

 

[asiamiles]

Remember, early leather "aviator" jackets (that mutated into the "classic black leather motorcycle jacket") had offset zippers. So the idea wasn't new.