A friend has just pulled these from a skip in Staplehurst, Kent. can anyone identify what the instrument is? and how can you tell a WW2 flying jacket from an newer version? cheers guys singe
I think the original flying jackets were made by Irvine but as I believe they still manufacture today unless you can find a date label you might be stuck. Maybe you can tell something from the zips?
An alidade is a device that allows a surveyor to sight an object some distance away (in the artillery this may be the target) and then draw a line on a plotting (or plane) table. It consists in a flat ruler with hinged vanes at each end that are raised to make a sighting. One of the vanes has a narrow slit for sighting through and the other has a wire hairline. It is aligned with the target while on the plotting table and supposing a map or other drawing (range card etc) has been aligned correctly, to North for example, then it will give the bearing of the target with respect to North. This alidade has a parallel rule attached. Pin and a length of fine string with a protractor !
Yes, it does look convincing. If it is original, it is BoB style and pre 1941. Post 1941 seams are seen as the sleeves had two pieces and later three. Regards Tom
I have a friend who works leather. That jacket will restore perfectly well. If old, as we know, the throwee has made a grave mistake, and your mate deserves some sort of skiprat medal.
Thanks chaps. Its new owner has been advised to conatct the wwii jackets web site owner. On balance it certainly looks old and i would have thought most repro jackets would have has a manufactures lable well sown in. the zip certainly looks period for the 40's and agian its intersting taht it has no makeds ID.
