Type A-2 Flight Jacket by Rough Wear Clothing Co.

Posted on by Rob Drews

WWII era Rough Wear Clothing Co. Type A-2 Horsehide Flight Jacket size 36. Rough Wear was one of several different companies to produce these “summer” jackets for the US Army Air Force as is was called in those days. Earlier contract numbers from them date back to pre-war, but the model number on this one puts it in war-time production. The label, markings, hardware and stitching are all consistent with those found on other original jackets. This jacket has no art work present on it, but you can see the stitch marks from where a bar patch was sewn on each shoulder epaulet.

The horsehide exterior is in nice shape with no holes, stains, or significant gauging. Nice patina and wear throughout, this jacket appears not to have been re dyed maintaining its russet-brown color. Most significant wear on the leather is in the elbows but all stitching is still intact. The cotton inside is still complete but is coming away at the neckline and armpits. Cotton cuffs have been replaced with a slightly darker brown than the waist and hand stitched to the lining.

Tag reads:

Type A-2
Drawing No. 30-1415
Contract No. W535AC-27752
Rough Wear Clothing Co.
Middletown, PA
Property Air Force U.S. Army

Class-5 Mountain Parka

Posted on by Rob Drews

This vintage Class-5 parka done in rust features classic styling comprised of materials and craftsman ship that was top of the line in its day. It has clean lines that were innovative for the time.

Cotton blend throughout, most likely 65/35 polyester cotton or similar (no materials tag). Double layer lined in khaki through out. 3 piece hood nylon draw cord. Two-way heavy gauge YKK sleeping bag zipper and snap front closure. Drawstring waist cinch and two snap adjustable cuff. Two top and side entry hip pockets. Left breast zippered pocket. Also, one zippered back pocket.

Class-5 the self-proclaimed Standard of The World was is  California-based outdoor gear company founded in the early 70s by Justus Bauschinger a designer for Trailwise and The North Face. The company was known for their innovative designs and marketing.

Hein Gericke for Hondaline Cafe Style Jacket

Posted on by Rob Drews

This Late 70s/early 80s Hein Gericke for Hondaline racing style jacket looks like something worn by a member of Toecutter’s gang in the film Mad Max and is the perfect jacket to accompany any mid to late 70s CBs or other cafe bikes of that era.

Construction features two offset zippers for tighter or looser fits depending on layers. There are 3 external chest pockets, one left sleeve pocket and one inside pocket. Adjustable waist belt is fixed at back. Adjustable snap close shorty collar. YKK zippers throughout, all working

Ribbed detail around shoulders and down torso sides provides stretch for movement. Back is cut slightly lower with thicker padding around lower back section.

This jacket is fully lined with red nylon and has a thin insulating layer between it and the leather.

Measures: Tag size 38

7″ shoulder to shoulder
21″ top of collar to bottom (front)
27″ top of collar to bottom (back)
17.5 ” pit to pit (tight setting)
19″ pit to pit (looser setting)

1980’s The North Face Gore-Tex Anorak Parka

Posted on by Rob Drews

This North Face Gore-Tex anorak style parka represents technical innovations for the company in the early/mid 80s. Traditional 60/40 cotton blend materials are bypassed in lieu of the emerging weatherproof fabric known as Gore-Tex. Advancements in materials have pushed design by allowing the parka to remain weather proofed with more seams backed with waterproofing (note the seams mid sleeve). The growth of the brand from the “Brown Label” garments is also evident in the use of branded hardware. The embossed buttons (used on later “Brown Label” pieces) label screened cord locks and emblemized zipper pulls attached to TALON loop zippers. This piece is also clearly designed for a woman as evident in the contoured waist.

1/2 zip with zip and snap closure. Innovative two-piece hood with peak and elastic draw closure ran through a nylon sock for optimal, form-fitting tightening. Nylon lined front zip kangaroo pocket with pass-through velcro closed hand pockets. Elastic cord cinch at bottom.

This piece is in very nice shape. Almost no signs of wear with no holes or stains. All stitching is in nice shape and the Gore-Tex fabric backing is in great shape. Color is pretty much dead-on Navy Blue. Refer to the picture of the back of the parka for truest representation of the color.

Measures:
neck seam to cuff: 27″
across at slimest: 17″
across at bottom: 19″
top of zip to hem:  25.5

This Parka is currently available on the BCV  eBay store

Altra kit Mountain Parka

Posted on by Rob Drews

This Altra Kits of Boulder Colorado mountain parka is your quintessential parka and very comparable to other parkas of this era by companies like Class 5, The North Face, Holubar, Gerry and others.  Good weight to the parka due to the double layer throughout. Red 60/40 poly cotton shell with a  slightly lighter cotton blend interior in Tan. Two-way TALON heavy gauge loop tooth zipper in black. Velcro closure on the storm flap, hip pockets and breast pockets and inner pocket. Nylon draw cord cinch at waist and hood and at the waist.

This parka is in nice condition for its age. Clean fabric that shows little signs of heavy wear.  Some light staining on the back of the right sleeve and around the wrists.  No holes or snags. Washed and ready to wear.

Altra was one of the last to jump on the outdoor kit bus behind frostline and holubar.  This gear was sold as sew-at-home packages during the 70s and  80s and allowed people to construct high quality gear at a fraction of the price (if the purchaser was or knew a capable sewer of course). This piece in particular is extremely well sewn. Nice straight stitches, no breaks, they followed the pattern to the T.

Measures
23″ pit to pit
22.5″ pit to cuff
30 inches neck seam to cuff
29.5″ top of zipper to hem

Eastern Mountian Sports Down Jacket

Posted on by Rob Drews

Great old EMS expedition weight down jacket. This size large jacket consists of a poly/cotton blend shell, fully lined with in nylon. Single way heavy gauge YKK zipper and snap front closure. Two top and side entry front hip pockets and one large internal top entry pocket.

The snap on down hood has an extra set of middle snaps to allow the hood to sit lower from the neckline if need be. This is the first time I’ve seen such an option on a removable hood. Wrist closure has two sets of snaps allowing for three cuff opening sizes. Also has an internal waist nylon draw cord and

Conditionally this coat is in good shape, especially for its age. Some darkening around the inside of the neckline, while the rest of the fabric is probably not as bright as it used to be 40 years ago. It is however free of any obvious stains, rips, holes or snags.  The inside nylon is in great shape too. A few little holes around the wrist leak a feather from time to time but aren’t much bigger than the stitch it would take to fix them.  Still has plenty of well-distributed down and has been washed and is ready to wear.

This is the original logo from when the company was formed in 1967. I’m not sure when the logo changed to the updated version which goes on to spell out Eastern Mountain Sports, but its a good bet this jacket is pre-1972 or better. This jacket is available so shoot me an email if interested.

Sized Large, but please see measurement.

33″ top of zip to hem
26.5″ pit to pit
23.5 pit to cuff
33.5 nick seam to cuff

Frostline Anorak Parka – Mens Large

Posted on by Rob Drews

Frostline Anorak Parka in Rust and Khaki. This parka is in good shape and is well sewn. Rust colored thread throughout the piece make for nice contrast on the Khaki. Great details around the front zip as the rust is carried up into the khaki. 65/35 Poly/Cotton shell or similar with full Nylon lining give this jacket nice weight. Talon zipper closure throughout.

Features:

  • Zip Kangaroo pocket
  • Separate pass-through front pocket
  • Nylon waist draw lace with spring cord lock
  • Velcro adjustable cuffs
  • 1/4 zip front
  • hood draw lace

The fabric on this parka is clean and in good shape, no holes or stains. Great contrast in colors from the yoke to the lower.

Measures:
24.5″ pit to pit
23″ pit to cuff
34″ neck to cuff
31.5 ” top of zip to hem

For those of you who may not be familiar Frostline was a Colorado based sew-it-yourself outdoor clothing kit company that manufactured a wide variety of products and styles beginning in the late 60s. The products featured innovative designs, materials and constructions and could be had for a fraction of the price of the leading outdoor companies if you knew how to sew (or could bribe someone who could).

Frostline 60/40 Mountain Parka

Posted on by Rob Drews

Classic Frostline Kit 60/40 parka. This is the quintessential parka of the 70s and probably the basis for multiple modern copies.  Good weight  due to the double poly/cotton layer throughout. Green 60/40 shell with a lighter cotton blend interior in Tan. Two-way YKK zipper in black. Velcro closure on the storm flap, hip pockets, breast pockets and wrist cinch. Nylon draw cord through the hood and at the waist. Zippered back game pocket and inner game pocket.

Frostline Kits wear sold as sew-at-home packages during the 70s and early 80s. This allowed people to construct high quality gear at a fraction of the price (if the purchaser was or knew a capable sewer of course). This piece in particular is extremely well sewn.

This parka is still available, please contact for price and details.

Holubar Mountain Parka

Posted on by Rob Drews

Original Holubar Parka from Boulder Colorado. This jacket features classic styling comprised of materials and craftsman ship that was top of the line in its day. It has clean lines that were innovative for the time evident in the pocket placement and yoke.

Cotton blend throughout, probably 60/40 poly cotton or similar. Double layer upper lined in gray. Very functional, well protecting 3 piece hood. Two-way heavy gauge YKK zipper and snap front closure. Drawstring waist cinch and Velcro cuff cinching. This thing also has pockets galore! two hip pockets with two left breast pockets (one zip one Velcro) and one right diagonal zip breast pocket. Also, one zippered back pocket.

This piece of outdoor  equipment history is in good used shape with no holes, rips or obvious stains. Wear on the left front hip pocket flap and storm flap is not a stain but discoloration probably caused by friction from a pack waist strap. There’s also some light spots on the left shoulder back. Other than this the jacket is in great shape.

Size Medium. Measures:
23.75″ pit to pit
26″ pit to cuff
37″ top of zip to Hem (note the front comes up  to cover ones nose when full zipped with the hood on)
32″ neck to cuff

Fostline Kit Anorak Parka

Posted on by Rob Drews

The Colorado sew-it-yourself kit company Frostline churned out dozens upon dozens of patterns throughout the 70s and 80s. This 60/40 Anorak Parka is a great example of how these affordable kits, when constructed properly resulted in beautiful, technical pieces as good as any others on the market at that time.

Features:

  • Zip Kangaroo pocket
  • Separate pass-through front pocket
  • Nylon waist draw lace with spring cord lock
  • Velcro adjustable cuffs
  • 1/4 zip front
  • hood draw lace
  • small gauge TALON zippers throughout