WW2 US Navy M445a Shearling Flight Jacket

Since I started a winter theme with the last posting, I thought I'd publish some photos of the most wintery of winter jackets ever made.

This M445-A Jacket was very early or pre-WW2. The Navy made some changes after this model was issued, and the army changed it again to make the more common  B-3 jacket.

WW2 US Navy M445a Shearling Flight Jacket

WW2 US Navy M445a Shearling Flight Jacket (back)

WW2 US Navy M445a Shearling Flight Jacket (Early Talon Zipper)

WW2 US Navy M445a Shearling Flight Jacket (collar)

WW2 US Navy M445a Shearling Flight Jacket (nomenclature label)

Vintage 1930s A. G. Spalding & Bros. Varsity Sweater

So... Summer was really busy... Too busy. We haven't posted anything in awhile due to the extreamly sunny and long Portland, OR summer. We made a ton of great picks over the last while and will spend some rainy time loading up photo eye candy.

A good winter start is this 1930s or 40s  A. G. Spalding & Bros. wool varsity sweater. It's seen plenty of wear but still found a home in a fan's collection.

Vintage A. G. Spalding Varsity Sweater

Vintage A. G. Spalding Varsity Letter

Vintage A. G. Spalding Label

Vintage A. G. Spalding Varsity Sweater (Back)

Vintage Champion Products Inc. Hooded Sweatshirt

Vintage Champion Products Inc. Hooded Sweatshirt made for the OSU Rowing Crew

 Available for auction here until 5/6/2012.

We found this vintage sweatshirt that was stenciled for the OSU Rowing crew and couldn't believe how awesome the condition was. To be honest, it has been quite tricky to date because the white talon zipper appears to be from a different era than the sweatshirt itself.  After pondering and examining it for a bit, it appeared that the zipper was installed at a later date.

This sweatshirt is 100% nylon fleece.  The ribbing is in immaculate condition and still very elastic.  If it wasn't an adult extra small, it might have stayed around here for awhile.

Vintage Champion Products Inc Hooded Sweatshirt Back

Oregon State Crew

OSU Rowing Crew Logo on the breast

Champion Products Inc Label

1940s C. C. Filson Mackinaw Cruiser Hunting Jacket

This is a late 40s Filson jacket that was rescued from a trip to the dump.  Even with the few moth bites to it, we picked it up and set it to auction.


This is one of the 16 oz.wool surge jackets that were very popular amongst Pacific Northwest foresters, lumberjacks and firefighters as well as hunters.

 The auction was pretty uneventful, probably because fall/winter clothing sales are low this time of year, but whoever got it found a great gem of an item in a sea of eBay crap.

1940s Filson Mackinaw Cruiser Jacket

1940s Filson Mackinaw Cruiser Jacket Back

!940s Filson Mackinaw Cruiser Jacket inside

1940s Filson "Union Made" Label

1930s Denim Hunting / Work Vest

1930s Vintage Denim Hunting Vest

Yet another treasure fished out of the Goodwill bins.

This 1930s hunting vest had seen quite a bit of action in it's lifetime.  It had plenty of paint and blood stains, and was missing a button off of the front pocket.

We were happy that this was sold to a world renowned vintage collector/publisher/clothing maker.  It will become a museum piece that will be cherished for many decades to come.  This vest was about 30 minutes away from being shredded to rags until we dug it out.

Final auction price: $276.00

1930s Denim Hunting Vest Back Side

 

1930s Denim Hunting Vest Game Pouch

1930s Denim Hunting Vest Interior

WW2 Army A-4 Wool Mechanics Cap from Castle Gate

WW2 Army A-4 Wool Mechanics Cap from Castle Gate

 These rare wool caps were only officially issued to Army Air Corps airplane mechanics.  Since they needed to squeeze into small spaces, the official billed "beanie" cap was deemed a little bit too cumbersome. 

It has been noted that Army paratroopers managed to acquire and use these quite frequently.

WW2 Army A-4 Wool Mechanics Cap from Castle Gate

We put this hat up to auction last week and were surprised that it fetched a whopping $218.84.  It was a really nice, almost unissued looking example.  The money that collectors will spend on items is always baffling.

WW2 Army A-4 Wool Mechanics Cap from Castle Gate (Inside-out)

WW2 Army A-4 Wool Mechanics Cap  Spec Tag

WW2 A-1 Horsehide Flight Pants by Switlik Parachute & Equipment Company

 Before the advent of the pressurized cabin, early military pilots would have to do some serious bundling to survive to sub-zero temperatures at high altitude flight.  Sheepskin flight pants and coats were a staple amongst the US Army Air Corps from the 30s up through World War 2.

There is much documentation and trade happening of the "B" series flight pants, but I haven't been able to find much about the earlier "A-1" flight pants.  Unlike the B-1, which is made entirely of sheepskin, these A-1 pants are made of a much more durable horsehide with the sheepskin being quilted to the inside.  I suspect that, much like the A-2 horsehide jackets, production costs and supply forced the Army to find a more practical alternative in order to keep up with the war-time demand.

An excellent condition pair of B-1 flight pants can fetch between $250 and $400, but due to the limited availability, I have no idea what the actual value of a pair of A-1 flight pants is.


This pair was made by the Switlik Parachute & Equipment Company probably in the mid-late 1930s.  I'm assuming that they are one of the earliest examples of a pair of high altitude flight pants.  You can check back and find out how much these sold for here.

A-1 US Army Air Corps Flight Pants

A-1 US Army Air Corps Flight Pants Back Side

Unzipped inside

One 1930s Wide Head Talon Zipper for each leg.