RAF Look a Like Scarfs

[Ken at Aero Leather]

 

[Smithy]

And a tip Burt, if you ever look at buying an original polka dot one which was aircrew used, one of the other things to look for (aside from material, etc) is the colour of the white polka dots. On a real used example the dots will have yellowed significantly on the outside edges on the middle span of the scarf due to sweat and salt staining from where it was worn. There is a very distinct difference between the other areas of the scarf, the ends and inner mid section which didn't experience as much skin contact.

 

[Grant]

Picked up this heavy silk scarf from a UK vintage dealer here in NYC who was selling the scarf and the Irvin it went with separately. I know next to nothing about wartime RAF scarfs, but as Smithy mentioned, it has quite a heft to it's very warm and soft around the neck. My lame digital camera doesn't do justice to the beautiful deep blue and burgundy hues. Oh yeah, I bought the Irvin as well to keep them together.

 

[B-Man2]

Grant
Great save!
Something like that shouldn’t be split up.
Well done.

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Picked up this heavy silk scarf from a UK vintage dealer here in NYC who was selling the scarf and the Irvin it went with separately. I know next to nothing about wartime RAF scarfs, but as Smithy mentioned, it has quite a heft to it's very warm and soft around the neck. My lame digital camera doesn't do justice to the beautiful deep blue and burgundy hues. Oh yeah, I bought the Irvin as well to keep them together.

View attachment 7916

Lovely fringing
Is there a label?

 

[Steve27752]

The first thing that I do is cut the fringes off of my scarf's.

 

[Grant]

Hey Ken, no label.
Steve, the fringe is a pain in the ass when zipping up but I figure if the original owner (who was a Lanc crew) could deal with it, so could I.

 

[Smithy]

Picked up this heavy silk scarf from a UK vintage dealer here in NYC who was selling the scarf and the Irvin it went with separately. I know next to nothing about wartime RAF scarfs, but as Smithy mentioned, it has quite a heft to it's very warm and soft around the neck. My lame digital camera doesn't do justice to the beautiful deep blue and burgundy hues. Oh yeah, I bought the Irvin as well to keep them together.

View attachment 7916

That looks the biz Grant and there's a good possibly that it's from the period if the weight and material is substantial.

The first thing that I do is cut the fringes off of my scarf's.

You wouldn't be the first Steve. I have a feeling also that many aircrew removed the tassels because they could jam zippers and catch on things inside an airframe.

 

[A2 B3au]

I've yet to see any Tootal or a Duggie made without a fringe, yes a couple showed up missing their fringe, but made without one? Never.
Going back to when I started in vintage (1963) the 1940s wasn't that far back, it was as easy to pick up WW2 kit as it is to to pick up 90's clothing today.......charity shops are full of it today. Back then, before charity shops existed it all came from jumble sales or rag yards.
I'd love to see photos of these orginally unfringed scarves. (Too improve my knowledge, no ulterior motive) There is one of those RAF Silk/Woven wool scarves(with fringe) in the Aero factory archives, emboidered with a reproduction of the RAF cap badge on the silk side
When all my peers were wearing kaftans, beads and cowbells in 1966, I was wearing Demob Suits and collarless shirts so we are getting into my specialist subject :>).
If Andrew and I were to go on Mastermind, I imagine his specialist subjects would be "The Irvin Jacket" and "The Type A-2" and I certain he'd do well at it.
Mine would be an easy choice, "British Men's Clothing of The 20thCentury" and "National Hunt Racing 1945-Today"
PS I got 14 out of 15 the last time Horse Racing was a Mastermind Subject

Your the man Ken