Blue Anchor MA-1 Help

[therookie]

I’m hoping someone can educate me on one of my recent finds. I’m not very knowledgeable when it comes to identifying repros. Hardware and patina seem to check the right boxes for an original, but I’d rather get the seal of approval from someone that’s been around the block. I’m only concerned as the condition is pretty damn nice. Stencil is virtually unfaded and all the wool is near perfect (two or three small nibbles on the collar).

I’m having a hard time unearthing any info on the Blue Anchor MA-1 — let alone the company itself, but have scraped up a bit of info on the earlier “8279”, but found that they are Lion and not Blue Anchor. I’m hoping/assuming that’s a good thing?

Anyways, am I looking at the real deal or Real McCoy’s?

Please school me!

edit: Also, I’m hoping to have it dry cleaned in order to remove the yellowing around the shoulders. Should I worry about the stencil heavily fading during on round of dry cleaning? If so, I will avoid cleaning at all costs.

 

[B-Man2]

Hey Rookie
Welcome to VLJ .
Let me suggest that if you posted your images using the full image mode rather than the thumbnails, you might get a better response to your questions . These thumbnails are a pain to open up and most of the time we get 1/2 the of the photo.

 

[therookie]

Hey Rookie
Welcome to VLJ .
Let me suggest that if you posted your images using the full image mode rather than the thumbnails, you might get a better response to your questions . These thumbnails are a pain to open up and most of the time we get 1/2 the of the photo.

Thank you and thank you for letting me know! I’ve edited accordingly.

 

[B-Man2]

I would not dry clean this jacket for the exact reason you mentioned . A few of the guys have GENTLY washed their jackets like this and had a lot of success doing that. You can search the archives for that thread or hopefully the member who wrote it will pop up and give you some suggestions . Thanks for the bigger photos .

 

[bazelot]

yes wash it by hand with Woolite and put it in the washing machine to rinse and spin only. Works wonders with my nylons

 

[bazzer]

yes wash it by hand with Woolite and put it in the washing machine to rinse and spin only. Works wonders with my nylons

I agree woollite no conditioner warm water and let air dry in well vented room
not airing cupboard as will dry to fast
The wool in the coat lining has scales like humans hair and if you dry it out to quickly the wool contact shrinking jacket
Be careful with spin speed as this can also have the same effect
If you have it dry cleaned it will have negative effect on the usaf decal
Baz

 

[bazzer]

Sorry forgot my manners welcome from UK great place very friendly and supportive as well as educational
Baz