Persimmon
Well-Known Member
I have currently a sample of the new Bill Kelso Arco (Aero) 18775 A2 in their new horsehide "Victory Horse" sent to me by Platon to review.
It is labelled as a size 38 but for me fits to a true size 40.
There has been some comments that the Kelso jackets are not always perfect to size accurately. Perhaps it is the lack of large numbers produced so far by them that Aero/Eastman/Goodwear have manufactured in comparision that customers can trust their sizing policy more.
Bottom line as always is to give measurements to the company if they accept them.
Everything is in proportion on this jacket except the arms which are a shade too long for me.
I am told it was copied exactly from an original and the arms were that size.
As we all know no two originals in a contract are ever rarely perfect copies and the war time machinest's I guess had good and bad days for accuracy.
Maybe I just have short arms - Mr T Rex !! However even on my young son its the same effect.
He is the model for the pictures. It was easier to get the pictures I wanted with him as the model but I have cropped his head off.
Its bad enough that some gentleman over on the Hat Place (Majormajor) because I critized the cult that is Aero over there, actually posts pictures of me wearing a A2 to let the folks see my face. Can't have my son facing the same sad treatment.
Poor chap is probable printing Dead or Alive wanted posters of me as we speak !!!
At the moment it looks like a case of sleeve tunnelling in the pictures but when the natural creasing effect takes place I am sure it will be a job perfectly done although Platon tells me they will size the jacket to your measurements.
(for anyone wanting to see this effect Peter (BetterDuck's) Eastman Werber before and after pictures in his posts show the natural rise of the jacket sleeve length with wear).
The 18775 P Arco is made with Bill Kelso's new italian leather - Victory Horse and it is outstanding.
The jacket has not been worn outside (other than for picture taking) so remains in factory boxed delivery conditions.
I would love to wear this jacket to hell and do the review in 6 months time !!!
However Platon tells me he needs it back to show folks / publicity etc. Damm
Wear and tear will certainly add to the character of the Victory Horse leather but if you look at some of the pictures you can see there is already grain aplenty.
This to me looks like it will age fantastically well.
The colour is that iconic dark seal although I was initially surprised at the jacket weight.
Quite heavy was my first thoughts although I have no scales to be to 100% accurate.
All I can say is thats its heavier than my last purchase from Goodwear - a Monarch A2 .
This is no flimsy A2 jacket.
Speaking of colour, their seems to be tones of red underneath the dark seal and will again with wear increase that historic Aero look.
In certain light it can appear as more black than brown seal but that is often a problem when you take pictures -with/without flash, with/without sunlight etc
It does seem to be hard to get the red knits correctly shown in the pictures accurate to the colour in real life.
By the by, the knits are the same ones going on Goodwear jackets so are excellent quality.
The knit colour is a true rust, not the bright red colour perhaps shown and compliments the dark seal leather wonderfully well.
Its got the true historic Aero look about it.
Speaking of that wartime historic Aero look, the 42-18775 contract was the final A2 jacket produced during WW2.
As in most contacts there seems to be a wide variance of design although a strong majority of the jackets from this contract continue with features of earlier Aero A2's such as the square pockets, the mustard lining, and with either brown or green thread.
However brown knits seem to be more of a standard on this contract.
Equally the darker horsehide and red knits combination so prevalent in earlier contracts were less common on this contract.
Personally I prefer the Dark Seal/Rust Knits combination so I was pleased to see Bill Kelso offering this look. Kelso can tell you if you can have the thread colour options
A few unusual facts on the 18775 P contract that are on this Kelso Arco jacket which are different from the standards set by Aero jackets of the earlier contracts, is that jackets were made with rounded corners in the collar points, and rounded pocket body corners.
Something I like.
The zip is a repro Talon and works well. I believe its possible to have a NOS fitted (your own or sourced) but again speak to the Kelso team.
Currently this jacket is priced at Euro 740 and again I believe Kelso are considering offering the same contract cheaper in a non Victory Horse option.
If the jacket model is for you - dont go that way.
Save your pennies and go for the best option.
Would I buy one ? Yes
Do I want one ? Yes
Has Kelso raised their bar ? Yes
Is Victory Horse superb ? Yes
Pictures to follow over several posts.
It is labelled as a size 38 but for me fits to a true size 40.
There has been some comments that the Kelso jackets are not always perfect to size accurately. Perhaps it is the lack of large numbers produced so far by them that Aero/Eastman/Goodwear have manufactured in comparision that customers can trust their sizing policy more.
Bottom line as always is to give measurements to the company if they accept them.
Everything is in proportion on this jacket except the arms which are a shade too long for me.
I am told it was copied exactly from an original and the arms were that size.
As we all know no two originals in a contract are ever rarely perfect copies and the war time machinest's I guess had good and bad days for accuracy.
Maybe I just have short arms - Mr T Rex !! However even on my young son its the same effect.
He is the model for the pictures. It was easier to get the pictures I wanted with him as the model but I have cropped his head off.
Its bad enough that some gentleman over on the Hat Place (Majormajor) because I critized the cult that is Aero over there, actually posts pictures of me wearing a A2 to let the folks see my face. Can't have my son facing the same sad treatment.
Poor chap is probable printing Dead or Alive wanted posters of me as we speak !!!
At the moment it looks like a case of sleeve tunnelling in the pictures but when the natural creasing effect takes place I am sure it will be a job perfectly done although Platon tells me they will size the jacket to your measurements.
(for anyone wanting to see this effect Peter (BetterDuck's) Eastman Werber before and after pictures in his posts show the natural rise of the jacket sleeve length with wear).
The 18775 P Arco is made with Bill Kelso's new italian leather - Victory Horse and it is outstanding.
The jacket has not been worn outside (other than for picture taking) so remains in factory boxed delivery conditions.
I would love to wear this jacket to hell and do the review in 6 months time !!!
However Platon tells me he needs it back to show folks / publicity etc. Damm
Wear and tear will certainly add to the character of the Victory Horse leather but if you look at some of the pictures you can see there is already grain aplenty.
This to me looks like it will age fantastically well.
The colour is that iconic dark seal although I was initially surprised at the jacket weight.
Quite heavy was my first thoughts although I have no scales to be to 100% accurate.
All I can say is thats its heavier than my last purchase from Goodwear - a Monarch A2 .
This is no flimsy A2 jacket.
Speaking of colour, their seems to be tones of red underneath the dark seal and will again with wear increase that historic Aero look.
In certain light it can appear as more black than brown seal but that is often a problem when you take pictures -with/without flash, with/without sunlight etc
It does seem to be hard to get the red knits correctly shown in the pictures accurate to the colour in real life.
By the by, the knits are the same ones going on Goodwear jackets so are excellent quality.
The knit colour is a true rust, not the bright red colour perhaps shown and compliments the dark seal leather wonderfully well.
Its got the true historic Aero look about it.
Speaking of that wartime historic Aero look, the 42-18775 contract was the final A2 jacket produced during WW2.
As in most contacts there seems to be a wide variance of design although a strong majority of the jackets from this contract continue with features of earlier Aero A2's such as the square pockets, the mustard lining, and with either brown or green thread.
However brown knits seem to be more of a standard on this contract.
Equally the darker horsehide and red knits combination so prevalent in earlier contracts were less common on this contract.
Personally I prefer the Dark Seal/Rust Knits combination so I was pleased to see Bill Kelso offering this look. Kelso can tell you if you can have the thread colour options
A few unusual facts on the 18775 P contract that are on this Kelso Arco jacket which are different from the standards set by Aero jackets of the earlier contracts, is that jackets were made with rounded corners in the collar points, and rounded pocket body corners.
Something I like.
The zip is a repro Talon and works well. I believe its possible to have a NOS fitted (your own or sourced) but again speak to the Kelso team.
Currently this jacket is priced at Euro 740 and again I believe Kelso are considering offering the same contract cheaper in a non Victory Horse option.
If the jacket model is for you - dont go that way.
Save your pennies and go for the best option.
Would I buy one ? Yes
Do I want one ? Yes
Has Kelso raised their bar ? Yes
Is Victory Horse superb ? Yes
Pictures to follow over several posts.
