Wool Cape Coat
The Leather Soaring Coat — Good Reputation For The A-1 Style Coat
The A-1 leather flying jacket was conceived in 1922 and was standardised for use on November 7th 1927. The Type A-1 jacket was technically referred to as the A-1 Summer Flying Jacket. The jacket was also manufactured as Navy issue from November 1927 to 1931.
The A-1 leather flying jacket was non-standard after May 9th, 1931, being replaced by Type A-2 jackets in the U.S. Army Air Corps and by the G-1 in Navy service. The final procurement contract from the Air Corps was AN6501 in 1931. The A-1 could however still be found in limited use during WWII and was finally taken out of service on September 29th, 1944 after stocks were exhausted.
The Type A-1 has 5 central buttons for closure with 2 buttons for neck fastening. This was due to the fact that the zipper had not yet been invented. The knit collar, a variant of the baseball jacket type, was designed to secure snugly around the pilot’s neck and keep out the cold wind of the open style cockpit found on most aircraft of that era. Leather button-up collars can also be found on some A-1 spec jackets.
The original jacket was made from a variety of leathers depending upon military contract specifications. Some were made of fragile lambskin (South African Capeskin was specified in the 1926 contract), others from horsehide and some from goatskin. Originally, the A-1 specifications stipulated how the jacket be produced through olive lusterless cape leather-based, however the couple of existing good examples that may be discovered today are always the saying or russet-brown tone.
The jacket had a cotton lining with wool knitted cuffs and waistband. Earlier jackets had buttons at the base of the waistband whilst later jackets incorporated snaps. The pockets were often rather small in proportion to the jacket. On some jackets the pockets are high up on the chest, on others they sit closer to the waist. Sleeve seams show two common designs, one being a triple-stitched cut seam and another being a basic folded and top stitched seam.
The jacket is a close fitting style and photos show pilots in cold weather wearing their A-1′s under a long leather-flying coat. The A-1 was also the very first of the windcheater-type flying jackets, a design that was to set the basic outline for flying jacket styling to this day. The A1 is the predecessor to the better known A-2 and it is easy to see the resemblance in the design.
Flight handling characters, such as Jimmy Doolittle, Ira Eaker, Carl Spaatz as well as Hollywood’s well-known Motion Picture Stunt Pilots are just a couple of that used the actual A-1 design or variations of it. High detail replicas, essentially historical reproductions, can cost anywhere from $800 to $1,200. Modern versions in hide can be purchased for around $400.
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8 Plies Bolivian Baby Alpaca Cape with Fox Fur Collar Jet Black $450.00 Brand new alpaca cape made with alpaca yarn, first selection, one of the finest yarns in the world. Very soft, warm, no-itch. Its color is a beautiful and elegant Jet Black . It has a hand crocheted rim; comes with a matching , medium / large Black crystal fox fur collar . A garment capable of appearing the most feminine and graceful in the world, fabulous hand-made details, a very soft fabric mad… |
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Baby Alpaca Wool Cloak Cape, Hooded. Grey. Very Warm Still Light $149.00 Brand new brushed alpaca cape with hood made with alpaca yarn, first selection, one of the finest yarns in the world. Very soft, warm, no-itch. Its color is a medium Grey. It has a delicate hand crocheted rim . A garment capable of appearing the most feminine and graceful in the world, fabulous hand-made details, a very soft fabric made from the wool of the Bolivian Baby Alpaca. Shawls, Capes, Man… |
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KAVU Women’s Cape Beale Jacket Whether you’re taking a stroll in the leaf-covered park, rushing the girls to dance class, or heading out for dinner and a movie, the Kavu Women’s Cape Beale Jacket keeps you looking stylishly chic. Its semi-fitted cut, knee length, large button closures, welt pockets, and back slit makes you look all put-together no matter what the occasion. Thanks to the Cape’s smooth nylon lining, it’s easy to … |
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Cloak Cape Light Vicuna Color with Extra Hat Baby Alpaca Ruana $120.00 Brand new alpaca cape made with brushed alpaca yarn, first selection, one of the finest yarns in the world. Very soft, warm, no-itch. Its color is a beautiful natural light vicuna. It has a crocheted rim and extra matching hat… |
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Doll Cloak in Ivory Wool, Satin Lining, Silver Clasp ~ Fits All 18 Inch Dolls Like American Girl $38.00 Ivory wool cloak lined in satin and silver clasp closure. Made for all 18 inch dolls…. |