bellumbill
Active Member
Thanks all! My point is that one can assume this is NOT a correct color that represents Seal Brown on WWII A2s, correct?? Best, Bill K
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Seal Brown??
- Thread starter bellumbill
- Start date
leper-colony
Well-Known Member
This color came from an actual A-2 that was depot refurbished. Not so factory accurate, but depot accurate.
bellumbill
Active Member
Ok should have been more clear in my initial question - I meant factory jackets not depot re-dyes. Thank you all this helped me figure some stuff out.
Best
Bill K
Best
Bill K
YoungMedic
Well-Known Member
I saw 2 jackets at the Mighty 8th museum that were seal brown, one was most definitely a Dubow 1755 with dull purple knits, this was the second, unable to ID or determine if a re-dye but I would assume not
YoungMedic
Well-Known Member
Here is the jacket next to it in the same cabinet, same lighting and you can actually see it's sleeve in the left edge of the photo to contrast with the russet
Enigma1938
Well-Known Member
Leather treatment products like conditioners also darken leather over time !
P-47 thunderbolt
Well-Known Member
I have a private purchase Star A2, certainly the darkest period A2 I own. Would have been made in 1945 or thereabouts. Although not government contract, it shows the leather colours available and used in that era.
It is pretty mint condition so I doubt the colour would have change much over the years
It is pretty mint condition so I doubt the colour would have change much over the years
P-47 thunderbolt
Well-Known Member
Photos taken under natural light
Chandler
Well-Known Member
Brown fur seal?Most of the seals I’ve ever seen have been grey, not brown. Sea lions, yes, seals, no. Why isn’t it called sea lion brown?
Brown fur seal - Wikipedia
ZuZu
Well-Known Member
I think this is one of the main factors in "Seal"! In the 70s my first jacket was an Avirex- almost black- and I was a bit surprised when I saw my first original was a chromatic brown. I can't really see "Russet" since I'm red/green colorblind. Just recently watching Memphis Belle outtakes you can see when jackets turn from almost black to suddenly now a light russet when the light changes.
Greg Gale
Well-Known Member
A-2s can look so different depending on the light…I’ve seen many photos of originals that look like they’re half way between ‘seal’ and ‘russet’ jackets offered by today’s jacket makers, but then again it may just be the light? But then are they dark looking russets or light looking seals? Hmm…
ZuZu
Well-Known Member
I agree- in fact this is one of my main arguments against the strict seal/russet dichotomy. Exactly- halfway between the seal and russet jackets offered today! Well put. Just brown really...
CBI
Well-Known Member
Just my opinion and I have said it before. I think the darker seal color is a much more practical option when wearing an A-2 in this day an age. The "traditional" russet brown as authentic as it is just looks like some "old man" jacket and kind of doesn't work in re general day to day wear. Of course many exceptions but a seal A-2 goes much better with "modern" clothes IMO. Hence all of those "black" Japanese A-2's - not authentic but they look cool........................
ZuZu
Well-Known Member
This was my first well fitting A-2- a Bronco- which I bought in 1979 for $250 which was a fortune back then.
To me the leather color looked a beautiful rich brown very chroma compared to the blackish seal Avirex I had.:
Again- this photo doesn't capture the hue but it was not even close to seal.
I bought an Eastman house jacket in 1989 and thought from having seen one on a friend that it would match my Bronco. It looked like this: (thanks Grant!)
When I got the Eastman I loved it but comparing the 2 jackets (Bronco and Eastman) the Eastman's color looked much lighter and orangish comparatively. It was a true russet. The Bronco (as Greg said) was in between- a rich brown.
To me the leather color looked a beautiful rich brown very chroma compared to the blackish seal Avirex I had.:
Again- this photo doesn't capture the hue but it was not even close to seal.
I bought an Eastman house jacket in 1989 and thought from having seen one on a friend that it would match my Bronco. It looked like this: (thanks Grant!)
When I got the Eastman I loved it but comparing the 2 jackets (Bronco and Eastman) the Eastman's color looked much lighter and orangish comparatively. It was a true russet. The Bronco (as Greg said) was in between- a rich brown.
