saunders said:
Jason said:
Wow. One size too small but awfully tempting. Any guesses as to what it'll go for? I predict 1.5-2k.
It also goes to show how close GW are to producing garments just as they were rolling off the factory floor in the 1940s. Is John offering the rust knits yet?
"Rolling off the factory floor" is a bit of a stretch if you want to really be objective and critical in the analysis and assessment of GW or any other repro. maker. In my opinion, GW will have to up their game substantially in the way of lining fabric and wool knit to ever be in the league of ELC and worthy of the characterization you've bestowed here. The leather employed by GW is superb, as is the best stuff from ELC, RMJP and BR. But is the leather actually like what we see on vintage jackets? No, that would be impossible due to the passage of time and changes that prevail in the leather industry, as well as what could well be changes in the animals themselves. Does GW offer the sort of over-dyed seal-on-russet hides we typically see on some vintage Aero A-2s? I don't know. BR has done this, and possibly RMJP, but if GW has also done so, I'd say they're the first outside of Japan. It would be nice to see this done by some other makers outside Japan, and you'd think Aero of Scotland would have done so since this is what they should be doing better than anyone.
Saunders
Well Saunders (first name ?) you do like to cause a stir.
From recollection and detailed inspection the reputation and quality of the Eastman knits is well surpassed by Goodwear.
Indeed it has long been one of their weaker points.
As for the leather, I do believe the same methods are being used by Goodwear to simulate the methods used by the factories who produced the A2 jackets during WW2.
From what I have seen the jackets being produced by Goodwear are just like the ones that could have come off the factory floor 70 years ago and the passage of time re process is not an issue.
Of course to simulate exact age will take years and years for the modern repro and we will all be dead by then but what I seeing is getting there fast.