What jacket(s) are you wearing at the moment?
- Thread starter Roughwear
- Start date
entertainment
Well-Known Member
There's a description of the hot water technique and some photos of jackets that have received the treatment on John's United States Flight Jacket CD, for those who have a copy.
mulceber
Well-Known Member
Well that really depends on whether there's anything left to shrink out of the skins. Most modern tanneries stretch the hides to get the most bang for their buck out of them. So if the leather wasn't pre-shrunk before the construction of the jacket, yeah, heat will definitely cause shrinkage. As to whether cold vs. hot makes any other difference, you may well be right. This is a trick a folks over on COW swear by, but tbh, they aren't focused on jackets to the degree that we are, and so their knowledge about leather isn't as thorough-going as it is here.
mulceber
Well-Known Member
Dany McDonald
Well-Known Member
Frankly I would have never being able to tell it had any water alteration trick done to it other than it looks like a worn jacket, that may have seen the sun, dirt and rain and that's fine in my book.
But, personally, I will not try to Hot Water a garment made with high-end leather, chrome or veg or any master tannery technique! John probably has a lot of leftovers to test with and figure a modus operandy with desired results obtained. I just wear it, cote it and nature does the rest...
And since I work in the movie industry, I can tell ya there are a lot of ways to fake, make, aged and alter anything, especially cloth and leather...
Didn't know that this is a can of worms here on VLJ...
But, personally, I will not try to Hot Water a garment made with high-end leather, chrome or veg or any master tannery technique! John probably has a lot of leftovers to test with and figure a modus operandy with desired results obtained. I just wear it, cote it and nature does the rest...
And since I work in the movie industry, I can tell ya there are a lot of ways to fake, make, aged and alter anything, especially cloth and leather...
Didn't know that this is a can of worms here on VLJ...
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Chandler
Well-Known Member
Eh. It just looks water-logged.Thanks for reminding me, John:
B-Man2
Well-Known Member
It’s not really a can of worms, it’s just that it’s been discussed here a number of times and the pros and cons are always discussed and debated. I’m like you Dany. I prefer to wear the piss out of the jackets ( as much as is possible living in a state with an average year around temp of about 70 degrees ) and let nature take its course. Wearing an A2 in a Florida rain storm will be all the water treatment any jacket requires .
MaydayWei
Well-Known Member
Perfect fit. No words necessary!
How the heck do you keep getting these bad boys?
London Cabbie
Well-Known Member
You have sizing down to a fine art.
Micawber
Well-Known Member
Looking back on some of the past threads on the merits or otherwise of various of shrinking, stretching, pre aging of leather by hot / cold water soaking / natural and artificial drying strike me as a bit can o'worms like. However I agree, nothing beats wearing the wotsits out of them in various conditions, for me that can include mucking out my animals, fixing my tractors and generally wearing both piss and shit of them in rain, sun and snow included
Flightengineer
Well-Known Member
Oh, if I could...
But wait, it works ! Look ! the temperature drops in France (we lose 16°C in 3 days !)
View attachment 79069
It should be warmer at your place from Tuesday
Not work
When the sun shines brightly but doesn't heat and you want to wear A2.
Incredible cold May ( +7С = 44F ) and only one of my dogs in his great fur coat is happy with such "warmth"
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CombatWombat
Well-Known Member
That's a trade secret of us bikies mate..... you're not supposed to break the vow of silence on how we make our cafe racer jackets look good haha
I've never been one for getting pre-worn looking jackets since a month if motorcycle riding usually brings out the grain for me.
Though I did wear my Christie's in the shower (to get the shoulders a tad bit wider and the elbow creases)
Nickb123
Well-Known Member
I found I wear exactly John’s size. The past 5 or so I’ve purchased through him, I haven’t even asked for a single measurement!
I used to suffer for years wanting a Goodwear, believe me. Always thought I had to go full custom because I’m tall. But his standard test sizes are all fit just a little longer which really works for me.
Crazy full circle it’s become. I am blessed. Studying the info on this forum daily to try to learn as much as I can.
One thing about repros is that they cause you to become more knowledgeable on originals. There’s a lot of truth to be found in the statement that plenty of wearable original Naval jackets exist - a repro isn’t really needed in that realm. But this was a fun jacket, and John captured the nuances of the original goatskin in this particular hide. It’s a bit stiff and heavier- much like the 1952(approx) original Werber I owned.
Though I don’t see a year date for this Cagleco, I imagine it’s 1957-ish, prior to the Ralph Edwards name change.
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Pa12
Well-Known Member
Maybe the bug juice does it. Probably the size of birds where you are
