Help identifying old Irvin.

[Hollywood]

Hi! I’m new here but not new to forums, I’m on many vintage bike and Landrover forums. firstly I love this forum! what a great way to keep history alive!

So, a little about myself , I collect stuff, after working on fighter jets for years and building vintage bikes I had started to collect items well into my 30s , war flags, vintage Indian and Harley Davidson stuff . so this has lead to an unhealthy obsession at collecting items at the age of 33 .

I currently serve with a Battle of Britain historian , most of his stuff is in museums etc and he has documented interviews with pilots and has ended up with a large collection of bomber clothing, spitfire clothing and hurricane squadron items including signatures.

He found out I was after a flight jacket to hang off of a 1916 Indian and as a gift he has given me what I believe to be an early Irvine jacket. this was given to the vicar at biggin hill from a former wife of a spitfire pilot who flew out of there, the jacket was with other items.

I was wondering someone with more experience than myself could identify a year or era of this jacket or any history etc

From my understanding many of these jackets from spitfires had repairs in the left arm? Due to the less fitted jackets getting caught on the spitfire drop door having a crow bar and spike fitted with sharp ends. mine has two repairs on the right arm in the same place?

thanks for reading and any help would be appreciated

 

[Silver Surfer]

looks like a very nice example of a 1939-40 Irvin....and in wearable condition, too.

 

[JonnyCrow]

looks like a very nice example of a 1939-40 Irvin....and in wearable condition, too.

I'd say very wearable, nice gift

 

[Hollywood]

Thanks for the replies guys. Where do I stand with care for this jacket? Some of the stitching has come loose . Is there a leather care or specialist or should I leave it in the condition it’s in? or to keep it in the condition it’s in for the future? etc

 

[Silver Surfer]

yes, get the stitching taken care of, as it will continue to come undone if left as is. what's more, there may be more weak stitching than what is apparent. if you are in the uk, aero Scotland would be a good outfit to do the work. some of the uk members here may know of others. if you are on this side of the pond, I would suggest sending the jacket to Steve sellers, whose reputation for restoration work is peerless. as ive written before, a rub down with vaseline [yes plain old vaseline] with help to rejuvenate the hides. apply it by hand, sparingly, and wipe off any excess. don't get the stuff on the fur. there are other hide products on the market, but John chapman recommends vaseline as well.

 

[blackrat2]

Nice Irvin and welcome to the forum
I am assuming your in UK so I would suggest Byson leather, they have a site and you can see they’ve worked on originals several times, being UK would make life easier

 

[Southoftheborder]

Yes, Byson do a lot of Irvin work. They have a web page with a repairs price list last time I looked.

 

[Grant]

Nice original Irvin. Coat hangers cause stress on the shoulder area and seams so try and store it laying flat.

 

[JonnyCrow]

Hi! I’m new here but not new to forums, I’m on many vintage bike and Landrover forums. firstly I love this forum! what a great way to keep history alive!

So, a little about myself , I collect stuff, after working on fighter jets for years and building vintage bikes I had started to collect items well into my 30s , war flags, vintage Indian and Harley Davidson stuff . so this has lead to an unhealthy obsession at collecting items at the age of 33 .

I currently serve with a Battle of Britain historian , most of his stuff is in museums etc and he has documented interviews with pilots and has ended up with a large collection of bomber clothing, spitfire clothing and hurricane squadron items including signatures.

He found out I was after a flight jacket to hang off of a 1916 Indian and as a gift he has given me what I believe to be an early Irvine jacket. this was given to the vicar at biggin hill from a former wife of a spitfire pilot who flew out of there, the jacket was with other items.

I was wondering someone with more experience than myself could identify a year or era of this jacket or any history etc

From my understanding many of these jackets from spitfires had repairs in the left arm? Due to the less fitted jackets getting caught on the spitfire drop door having a crow bar and spike fitted with sharp ends. mine has two repairs on the right arm in the same place?

thanks for reading and any help would be appreciated

Great story as well by the way, especially the vicar out of Biggin Hill

 

[Southoftheborder]

Great story as well by the way, especially the vicar out of Biggin Hill

Maybe as a sky pilot he needed it.

 

[Hollywood]

I love these forums lol always have done there such a wealth of knowledge with this. thanks again for advice . I am indeed from the Uk and currently living in bury st edmunds. I know this sounds tight , but what would I be looking at to have this jacket done by one of the names above? I feel very lucky to have it and the guy I have got it off knows il hold onto it forever so keen to get it sorted and displayed in my house (as with most my stuff)

does this particular jacket have a model ? or anyway if pinpointing it to a particular aircraft or unit? the damage on it erc? Or is that a “anyone’s guess” kind of question!

 

[Hollywood]

Great story as well by the way, especially the vicar out of Biggin Hill

I love the story behind all these jackets , it’s a shame this doesn’t have more of a history , I keep hearing more and more stories of peoples grandkids clearing out lofts and throwing away flight suits and jackets etc, or selling them to the highest bidder which I think is a shame as it isn’t what the items are worth , more the stories they have to tell right?

 

[Hollywood]

yes, get the stitching taken care of, as it will continue to come undone if left as is. what's more, there may be more weak stitching than what is apparent. if you are in the uk, aero Scotland would be a good outfit to do the work. some of the uk members here may know of others. if you are on this side of the pond, I would suggest sending the jacket to Steve sellers, whose reputation for restoration work is peerless. as ive written before, a rub down with vaseline [yes plain old vaseline] with help to rejuvenate the hides. apply it by hand, sparingly, and wipe off any excess. don't get the stuff on the fur. there are other hide products on the market, but John chapman recommends vaseline as well.

This is interesting I didn’t know this

 

[Hollywood]

This is interesting I didn’t know this

Iv read up about pecard?

 

[JonnyCrow]

Iv read up about pecard?

Pecard or Sapo is another good one

 

[Hollywood]

Do you mind me asking one more question, with keeping it well maintained and restored etc? How does it effect its value in both price and and historic if I sent it to a company to have professionally done? So most owners keep them in their authentic condition ? I’m aware with vintage Indians and Harley people prefer original paint , dinks and dents etc as part of the history is this jacket the same?

 

[caddyd]

Condition and originality are preferred and that's a top notch Irvin that needs to be seen and appreciated.

 

[Paul Glover]

Hello Hollywood, welcome to the forum !, from your introduction it sounds as though you have a lot in common with many of forum members including myself.
I have been collecting ww2 flight gear for many years and own several originals in various degrees of originality.
There will always be rivet counters ( being a landrover buff I am sure you are familiar with that terminology) but any reputable jacket restorer would most likely be aware of what repairs can be carried out without risking de valueing your jacket.
I am not an expert by any means but to keep the jacket held together is of the upmost importance, as far as treatment i have used Pecards for many years and had no adverse affects.
Things like original zips, buckles, collar rings and collar straps are all considered assets, I also dont mind period repairs seeing them as part of the jackets history.
Although your jacket is really nice it has limited provenance, something that some collectors find important, most of mine are the same.
I just enjoy them for what they are and feel privelaged to be a guardian of historical garments and strive to keep them in good condition until it is someone elses turn to take over !.
Enjoy your jacket and your other stuff !.

 

[B-Man2]

Untouched original jackets command a higher price at time of sale. However, restoring an original jacket in an effort to maintain the jacket and help it to survive another 80 years is definitely an acceptable practice. The one caveat to that it is, the restoration work must be done by a knowledgeable person using period items like zips, pullers and other hardware. Otherwise the jacket becomes severely reduced in value .

 

[Hollywood]

Condition and originality are preferred and that's a top notch Irvin that needs to be seen and appreciated.

Thanks mate much appreciated , il just get the loose stitching done and have it cleaned and conditioned at one of the places above