New Find … Mint NOS USN M-446A Pants by Fred Ostermann

[B-Man2]

Hey guys
Just wanted to share a few photos of a NOS Vintage find, that just found me. This is a pair of Fred Ostermann M-446A shearling Cold Weather Flight Pants , in mint NOS condition.
Everything is original to these pants and while I don’t ever see myself wearing them , they are a pretty cool item . Since I can’t see a contract number or date , I’m guessing at the date of manufacture to be between 1936- 1942. If you guys have any info to share on these your responses would be greatly appreciated . Thanks for looking .

 

[B-Man2]

 

[Dany McDonald]

When you say mint, your not joking!

What a find, interesting for all the details to see and learn, zippers, leather, label... Good job!

D

 

[Smithy]

Nice score Burt!

You need to get a mannequin going in the man cave with those and other USN kit and clobber.

 

[B-Man2]

When you say mint, your not joking!

What a find, interesting for all the details to see and learn, zippers, leather, label... Good job!

D

I forgot to show you the inside of them, the shearling is unworn. Also it’s interesting that they must have run out of the blackened Talon zips as one leg zip has a Talon M-39 auto lock bar zip. Check out the photos .

 

[Smithy]

Boy you weren't kidding those are absolutely mint!

 

[Dany McDonald]

Everything looks like it was manufactured in the last decade, they were keeped in a very good environment.

I've never realized that not only the retainer box was coated, but the teeths too on that Talon. Do we know how that was done as it doesn't look like a chemical reaction but an actual coating?

Thanx for sharing,

D

 

[warguy]

Very nice! Congrats on a nice find. Same maker made the open cockpit 3/4 length goatskin jacket with mouton collar (I can’t remember the model number off top of my head) in this time period. I once owned a nice Navy set of shearling flight boots, the same model as the A6 but with Navy markings. I stupidly traded those off years ago, but a pair would look great with these pants.

 

[mulceber]

Everything looks like it was manufactured in the last decade, they were keeped in a very good environment.

I've never realized that not only the retainer box was coated, but the teeths too on that Talon. Do we know how that was done as it doesn't look like a chemical reaction but an actual coating?

Thanx for sharing,

D

I seem to recall hearing it was chemically applied. Normally we don't see the paint because it gets rubbed off by the slider pretty quickly. It's a testament to what good condition the trousers are in. Great acquisition, Burt!

 

[Micawber]

Very nice Burt.

You found the keys to Jorge's time machine haven't you

 

[Grant]

Hey Burt, according to Aorta's Full Gear, Fried Ostermann had three M446A contracts - one in 1942 and two in 1943. If your contract number is NOS-98190 (I can just make it out under Fried Ostermann on the spec label), it's the first contract from '42 - so cool!
Also, Aota notes there's a black stenciled USN - see one anywhere?
BTW, be very careful handling USN shearling. Even though it appears mint and not dry, they crack and split without warning. I've learned the hard way!

 

[B-Man2]

Hey Burt, according to Aorta's Full Gear, Fried Ostermann had three M446A contracts - one in 1942 and two in 1943. If your contract number is NOS-98190 (I can just make it out under Fried Ostermann on the spec label), it's the first contract from '42 - so cool!
Also, Aota notes there's a black stenciled USN - see one anywhere?
BTW, be very careful handling USN shearling. Even though it appears mint and not dry, they crack and split without warning. I've learned the hard way!

Hi Grant
Thanks for that info.
Looked all over and no USN stencil. I know you like hearing about the zips and I thought this one was interesting because all of the zips with the exception of the left leg are blacked out Talons and the left leg has what looks to be ( not a zip guy) a 39 Talon auto lock ). I checked very carefully with a magnifying glass and this is the original zip on that left leg . No extra stitch holes or anything that would look like extra holes or stitches from a replacement zip . I can only guess that the sewing machine operator was out of blacked out Talons or he grabbed that one as a left over in his parts kit .

 

[mulceber]

Very nice Burt.

You found the keys to Jorge's time machine haven't you

If Burt posts pictures standing next to a DeLorean, we’ll know for sure.

 

[ausreenactor]

Hey guys
Just wanted to share a few photos of a NOS Vintage find, that just found me. This is a pair of Fred Ostermann M-446A shearling Cold Weather Flight Pants , in mint NOS condition.
Everything is original to these pants and while I don’t ever see myself wearing them , they are a pretty cool item . Since I can’t see a contract number or date , I’m guessing at the date of manufacture to be between 1936- 1942. If you guys have any info to share on these your responses would be greatly appreciated . Thanks for looking .

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These will replace the need for home heating in Winter.

I use Tanker trousers.....

 

[MaydayWei]

Beautiful and really mint piece of kit.
I would ask you to wear the hell out of it, but I'm not sure if Florida weather would allow it