Who makes the most accurate hi-quality A-2 budget Repro ?

[bozko]

Howdy All-I'm a newbie looking for the best quality & most accurate budget repro A-2 I can find.A responsive tailor/company re fit,color,etc is a big plus.I've read abt Platon,FiveStar,Headwind,etc-so any opinions welcome.
PS-I notice most of the manufacturers don't have an extra 'Made by...' tag hidden in the jacket (ie: Made by 5*/Made by Platon,etc). If I'm on Ebay/Etsy & all the repro has is the US military replica labels-how do i know which modern craftsman manufactured the jacket ? Brand new to the field,thanks very much for your patience.

 

[mulceber]

Platon is far and away the best when it comes to accuracy, but communication is going to be a problem. A quick skim of the Dubow thread illustrates the trend - once you pay, don't expect to hear form him for months on end. You WILL get your jacket though, and it will be excellent.

 

[Rutger]

I agree, never owned a Platon (though I still have a BK somewhere from early spring 2012 I think), but if I wanted an A-2 on a budget that has the looks it'd be Platon's current offerings.

 

[Smithy]

Like Rutger I've never owned a Platon but from the multitude of photos that have come by here, they really look excellent for the outlay. But one thing though with Platon is if you're over 6' pretty much forget it as they're short.

 

[bozko]

I guess some of these guys kind of have 'stealth' marketing re: search engine optimization & self-promotion.He sounds like a great craftsman.

 

[Fredie]

I guess some of these guys kind of have 'stealth' marketing re: search engine optimization & self-promotion.He sounds like a great craftsman.

J. A. DUBOW MFG. CO.

 

[bseal]

Good Wear Leather Clothing Company. Do it right the first time.

“Penny wise and pound foolish.”

- Robert Burton

 

[John Lever]

Budget

 

[johnwayne]

If budget is key then patience is a virtue - personally not had a ‘budget’ priced new jacket so cant compare but like many here we’ve gone down the ‘used’ route before paying bigger bucks ‘new’although even secondhand Goodwear’s and ELC’s don’t come cheap any longer! The other major issue again as many here will testify is fit, because rarely can we try before we buy. I have heard/read here many times that even when measurements are correct sometimes a jacket just doesn’t feel right.
Not sure what my message is really other than it might take more than one attempt/ purchase to end up with the jacket you are ultimately happy with if you’re as nerdy as most of here are about our jackets!!!

 

[Greg Gale]

If Platon fits your budget then look no further. If not, AVI is the best in my opinion.

 

[Kermit3D]

Hi!
Well, it's the vacations, I have time, I just came back from Paris, I have a belly full of "foie gras" and "Christmas log" so I'm going to start a post that may create controversy... but it's only my opinion.

I hope it will help the newcomers. From what I've read on the forum (for a few years), I could summarize the current production of A-2 jackets like this:

• Eastman Leather Clothing :

Historical accuracy : very good (for the A-2)
Quality of the jacket : very good (be careful with the knitting)
Quality/price ratio : average, high prices not always justified (around $1600)
Communication : very good
Delivery time : very good
Diversity of the offer : good
Possibility of custom measurements : only extra arm and body length.

• Bill Kelso :

Historical accuracy : very good
Quality of the jacket : very good
Quality/price ratio : good (about $1060)
Communication : average, long response time.
Delivery time : average, sometimes quite long.
Diversity of the offer : good
Possibility of personalized measurements : only extra arm and body length.

• Aero Leather :

Historical accuracy : good
Quality of the jacket : very good
Value for money : good (about $750)
Communication : I think it's good
Delivery time : quite good
Diversity of the offer : quite poor
Possibility of personalized measurements : I think so.

• Goodwear Leather :

Historical accuracy : excellent (the best)
Quality of the jacket : excellent
Quality/price ratio : good (about $1550)
Communication : excellent, but sometimes long response time
Delivery time : very long, you have to know that. Approximately 14 months, or more.
Diversity of the offer : excellent
Possibility of personalized measurements : jacket entirely personalized to your measurements

• Real McCoy :

Historical accuracy : some jackets very good, others average.
Quality of the jacket : generally excellent
Price/quality ratio : in my opinion, too expensive (around $1900 - $3000...)
Communication : I don't know
Delivery time : I don't know
Diversity of the offer : average
Possibility of personalized measurements : I don't think so

• JA Dubow :

Historical accuracy : very good
Quality of the jacket : very good (almost identical to Bill Kelso's A-2 Dubow)
Quality/price ratio : excellent (about $480)
Communication : average, long response time.
Delivery time : average, sometimes quite long.
Diversity of the offer : Only the Dubow 27798 contract
Possibility of personalized measures : no, only standard sizes.

• AVI Leather :

Historical accuracy : quite good
Quality of the jacket : quite good
Quality/price ratio : very good (about $320)
Communication : good
Delivery time: good
Diversity of the offer : quite poor
Possibility of personalized measurements : I don't know.

• Fivestar Leather :

Historical accuracy : quite good (if you choose the contracts based on original jackets)
Quality of the jacket : quite good (there were some problems on the horse skin, but it seems to be solved (?))
Value for money : very good (about $350)
Communication : very good
Delivery time: very good (I think)
Diversity of the offer : rather good (on historical contracts), too high on non-historical jackets.
Possibility of personalized measures : everything is customizable.


There are of course other manufacturers but I know them less.

 

[Brettafett]

Second all the above.

Although the only thing budget about Platon's jacket is the price. Quality and materials right up there with GW, BK and ELC.
But with the lower price, you sacrifice options (one jacket in two colour ways, no custom sizing) and maybe some issues with larger size grading.

My only regret with my Platon Dubow, was that I didn't order a russet at the same time I bought the seal. All the high end A-2 you will ever need (assume it fits right)
But.. Not sure they are taking orders now, if they are, just put your money down and wait.

The real 'budget with decent detailing for the price' jacket is between AVI and 5*
I have a number of AVI's jackets and love them.
No, neither AVI or 5* hold a candle to Platon's Dubow, let alone GW, BK, ELC etc.

Another option, maybe... If you can't et the Platon, is to look at Aeroleather's sale page from time to time.

Other than that, its secondhand.

 

[bseal]

“Budget.” Yes, I also read, Most accurate, high quality A-2 though.

With proper “budgeting” one can save up for a GW over the approx 14 months or whatever the true actual queue time is. About a hundred a month in your savings column is better than blowing money on sale priced Aeros.

 

[John Lever]

Budget would be under 500 gbp in my thinking. That narrows the market considerably.

 

[bseal]

Budget would be under 500 gbp in my thinking. That narrows the market considerably.

Most accurate AND high quality does much the same.

 

[Chandler]

Budget would be under 500 gbp in my thinking. That narrows the market considerably.

What about factoring in satisfaction over the long run? How many of us have have gone cheap* in the beginning of our hobby only to realize we should have just bitten the bullet from the start?

7 jackets later (all in the $500 range when purchased) and I'm still not completely satisfied.

When, and if, I buy another jacket I'll finally do it right -- get my measurements down and talk with John about what I want.

Just my experience over years, your mileage (and budgets) may vary.

*relatively speaking.

 

[mulceber]

I will say, the possible problem with going GW on the first go-around is that, when you've never worn an A-2 before, you may not know what you want. If so, you (bozko) may find after wearing the jacket for a while, that you wish you'd gone for something different. I might suggest instead that you follow the Fedora Lounge's classifieds section, see if you can find a used GW at a decent price, and see how you like that. You'll learn a lot about what you like in leather jackets from your first jacket. Once you've worn it for a little while, you can then decide from an informed position whether you want to place an order with John and what you contract/details you want.

 

[Chandler]

7 jackets later (all in the $500 range when purchased) and I'm still not completely satisfied.

Sorry, 9 jackets later -- I forgot about the original closet turd and semi-turd. Neither of which were $500, but still added to the dissatisfaction and continued search.

So, $4,000* (+/-) later and I could have bought 3 Good Wears to my specs. Damn, that's sort of depressing.

(*I can probably subtract $2,000 from the sales of a few -- but the picture is clear from the start of the "obsession.")

 

[Flightengineer]

With proper “budgeting” one can save up for a GW over the approx 14 months or whatever the true actual queue time is. About a hundred a month in your savings column is better than blowing money on sale Aeros.

View attachment 92223

Damn, it's good that I have two

 

[WingAndaPrayer]

Commenting on the availability of full on customization options, I can say that AVI will make you a jacket to your measurements. I just spoke to AVI last week about a custom Perry. Morten said no problemo.