I Acquired This USAAF Bronco MFG.CORP

[WW2 Buff]

Hello everyone-I've enjoyed very much many of the posts and threads about this subject from other members here. I acquired this USAAF Bronco A-2 jacket. I'm happy with it. I will probably put beside my TV and watch the movie "12 O'Clock High!" Does anyone have any opinions on what type of hide it is? Goat?

 

[mulceber]

IMHO, that's a tough one. That contract was made in Cowhide/horsehide and goatskin. At first glance it looks like goat to me, but the collar looks too smooth. Some of the cowhide/horsehide I've seen on this contract has tricked me in the past, so I'm inclined to say it's that, but not with any great confidence.

Beautiful example of that contract, btw.

 

[bseal]

 

[Saint-ex]

Nice catch, seems in outstanding condition !

 

[Silver Surfer]

nice one, and yes goat.

 

[Micawber]

After faffing with the thumbnails to enlarge to full size I would say goat too, it is a nice piece regardless

 

[ludospeed]

Nice BRONCO.
Enjoy it.

 

[Tattoo A2]

Looks like Goat to me, but its an 80 year old hide, my skin isn't like it was when I was brought into this life. Really nice jacket.

 

[Wz1999]

Good catch, Congrats!

 

[WW2 Buff]

Many thanks Gentlemen!!

 

[warguy]

I have two original jackets lying in my closet at the moment, one horsehide the other goat. My vote is goat on this one. Congrats and enjoy. Very nice jacket. By the way, I park my B-17 next to my TV when watching 12:00 o’ clock high. Takes up a bit more room but worth it!

 

[WW2 Buff]

Thanks for the replies. I also have a Rough Wear A-2, and a 2 piece Irvin flying suit. The Irvin jacket doesn't have a tag. I put an Ushanka on the Irvin and made it a Russian display. (The UK gave 400K Irvin jackets to the Russians during ww2).

War guy- I also don't have much room in my house-but.

Question-I have a ww2 1/18 scale airplane collection. Do you know of anyone who makes and sells 1/18 scale B-17 bombers? Or 1/18 scale ww2 Russian airplanes.

 

[ZuZu]

IMHO, that's a tough one. That contract was made in Cowhide/horsehide and goatskin. At first glance it looks like goat to me, but the collar looks too smooth. Some of the cowhide/horsehide I've seen on this contract has tricked me in the past, so I'm inclined to say it's that, but not with any great confidence.

Beautiful example of that contract, btw.

I agree- 90% sure it's goat but... some of the horsehide Bronco used was pebbly and fine textured like goat. Still- this looks like thin, floppy leather. Goat.

 

[mulceber]

some of the horsehide Bronco used was pebbly and fine textured like goat.

Yeah, thinking about it, the Bronco contract is actually the ideal contract for being reproduced with Italian HH, since the Italian stuff also is prone to having a pebbly texture like goat.

 

[ZuZu]

Yeah, thinking about it, the Bronco contract is actually the ideal contract for being reproduced with Italian HH, since the Italian stuff also is prone to having a pebbly texture like goat.

The dark GW Aero I have in a Lost Batch of Italian Horsehide perfectly replicates this. It's a bit thinner than the seal GW has now and it's pebbly in parts but smooth in small patches. I wish it was still available. He can kind of replicate it using russet Italian HH dyed to a darker but not seal brown.

 

[Grant]

Looks like goat to me as well. Here's a size 44 Bronco most likely steer hide for comparison. Love me the Bronco pattern!

 

[WW2 Buff]

Grant, your Bronco is in excellent condition and it fits you perfect. I have the Cooper A-2 from the 1980s for myself to wear. The Cooper (as I am sure you folks know) is not as WW2 in appearance as an original or some of the better copies, but I was in the Air Force when the Cooper was issued, and it fits me well. (I was not a pilot or officer). I had owned a Lost Worlds horsehide Dubow for a few years, but I sold it. Naturally I was very pleased to find I was able to sell it for what I had paid for it.

 

[ZuZu]

Looks like goat to me as well. Here's a size 44 Bronco most likely steer hide for comparison. Love me the Bronco pattern!

View attachment 118447

Why do you think it's steerhide? No way to tell really. Envy the jacket!

 

[ZuZu]

This is that sort of goatlike Italian HH GW used to have:

 

[caddyd]

Great original Bronc's!