1928-1932 Spalding Aviation Clothing leather flight suit

http://www.ebay.com/itm/272051885112

This vintage leather flight suit was made by A.G. Spalding & Bros. Aviation Clothing, between 1928 and 1932. It has a mouton collar, an offset closure, belted waist, large map pocket with sharply scalloped pocket flap, thigh pockets and a full silk pile lining. It is a size 42, and is their model 402. The suit has seven Hookless Fastener Co. Talon zippers, with the double marked sliders that indicate a date of manufacture between 1928, when the name Talon was introduced, and 1932, when Hookless dropped their company name from the product in favor of simply “Talon”. The zips are on the sleeves, legs, the chest and on two pass through pockets so the aviator could access his pants pockets.  The fly opening is accomplished by a snap on the zipper tape.  The large collar has a hook closure at the neck and a three button throat latch under the collar, to really secure it during open cockpit flight. While not his suit, Charles Lindbergh was a prominent endorser of Spalding’s flight suits of this era.

Tagged size: 42
Chest (pit to pit): 23″ (doubled = 46″)
Shoulder to shoulder: 19″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 25″
Inseam: 28″
Length (base of collar to bottom of belt): 22″
Length (top of collar to bottom of leg): 61-1/2″
The flight suit has the original boots, also made by A.G. Spalding & Bros. Aviation Clothing. These are moccasin style, with a lace up front and Hookless Talon zipper back.  They are fully sheepskin lined for warmth, with a double layer moccasin sole and tongues front and back.  They are a large size, measuring 12-3/4″ front to back, and 4-5/8″ side to side and comfortably fitting my size 12 foot.  Inside are sheepskin slippers, which appear to be of slightly later manufacture, either added for extra warmth, or more likely to down-size the boots for a second owner.
Lastly, there are two flight helmets, one original to the suit and also made by A.G. Spalding & Bros. Aviation Clothing and another unlabeled one.  The Spalding cap is a size 7-3/8 model 1900 and has Spalding baseball branded snaps for the goggle retainers.  The second cap is unmarked, with a snap closure and ear grommets.
Note: gloves are not part of the suit, and were for photographs only, they are not included.

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1930s Buegeleisen Eaglet Helmet blue

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400937745429
Strauss & Buegeleisen was founded in 1910 by Elias Buegeleisen of New York, and produced shatterproof aviators goggles under the Resistal name. Younger brother Joseph Buegeleisen and David Buegeleisen joined the company, with J. heading up sales in the Detroit area and D. as the West Coast representative. Joseph split from the family business around 1937 to found what would become Buco. D. Buegeleisen split slightly earlier and began production of these Eaglet helmets, marketed, like the other related family businesses, to the aviation and motorcycle markets. This cap has a navy blue cotton twill shell with a leather lining and trim. It has leather straps to hold on goggles with early style branded snaps. This one is tagged a size Medium and measures 20-1/2″ in circumference.

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1930s D. Buegeleisen Eaglet helmet

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271901808372
Strauss & Buegeleisen was founded in 1910 by Elias Buegeleisen of New York, and produced shatterproof aviators goggles under the Resistal name. Younger brother Joseph Buegeleisen and David Buegeleisen joined the company, with J. heading up sales in the Detroit area and D. as the West Coast representative. Joseph split from the family business around 1937 to found what would become Buco. D. Buegeleisen split slightly earlier and began production of these Eaglet helmets, marketed, like the other related family businesses, to the aviation and motorcycle markets. This cap has a khaki cotton twill shell with a leather lining and trim. It has leather straps to hold on goggles with early style branded snaps. This one is tagged a size Small and measures 20″ in circumference.

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WWII RCAF leather moneybelt

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271770019570
This vintage moneybelt was made during WWII for a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Most money-belts were constructed either like a fanny pack, with a compartment and a waist strap or like a standard trouser belt with a concealed pocket. This one is more like a motorcycle kidney belt in design (though not in thick leather), with decoratively punched and stitched RCAF flash on the back, zippered pockets on the sides and a double buckle closure up front. It has rare “Streamline” brand zippers.

Length (largest hole): 30-1/2″
Length (smallest hole): 28-3/4″

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Star Sportswear Kurland Gluv-Tanned leather jacket

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271137541051

This vintage leather jacket was made by Star Sportswear, under the “Kurland” label.  It is made of “Gluv-Tanned” leather, which , going by period advertisements, was a tanning process Star used primarily on cowhide, which gave it a soft finish.  Star Sportswear is also known for its USN G-1 contract.  This jacket is a classic early motorcycle style, with a D-Pocket map pocket and a front belt.  It has an action back, and a brass Scovill zipper.

Chest: 20″
Shoulder to Shoulder: 17″
Shoulder to cuff:  24″

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