Good Wear Leather Coat Company: Sale Vintage Edmund T. Church M-69F Aircraft Transport Coat

This item has been sold.
Vintage Edmund T. Church M-69F Aircraft Transport Coat
Price: $580.00 (used condition) — note shipping costs below
Fit: this jacket has a comfortable fit in the correct size
Goatskin: chrome-tanned with seal brown finish
Rayon Upper Lining: superb condition
Alpaca Lower Lining: superb condition
Mouton: superb condition
Buttons: all in solid condition and well attached
Cuffs: superb condition
Size: 40, fits as a 42L

This format of coat was commonly used by Naval officers who worked on a ship's bridge, dirigibles, or were involved with flight ops in very cold environments. We've seen them used in Alaska, the Aleutian campaign, and in other colder climates. They are amazingly well designed and constructed coats, with a dignified profile and common-sense features. They were used by flag officers, admirals, and presidents.

This particular coat is in wonderful condition. It was made by Edmund T. Church of New York, and this jacket shows the quality of their cutting and sewing, in so complex a garment. The goatskin leather, lining, and other details are all in superb condition, and the coat is ready for another 80 years of use. The thread is solid, the mouton doesn't have any bald spots, and is still quite fluffy, and the lining shows basically no signs of use. The coat only has the subtle odor of the tanning method.

This coat is a size 40. It fits like a typical size 42 Long. This is a common theme with Church jackets, having a bit more room per size than their counterpart garment contractors during the war. Though the pit measurement is 22.5", it feels much larger (easily similar to some vintage size 44s) as the sleeve holes are larger. The wearer in the photos has a 42" chest, and this jacket is quite comfortable.

The sleeve ends show a little edge wear in the goatskin, while the cuffs inside the sleeves have no moth or friction holes. Almost all goatskin from WWII will show some edge wear from even light use, and this jacket does have a tiny amount of wear here and there, but even with this, the wear seen may have been imperfect goatskin before the jacket was cut and sewn. Photographs show the condition, which really is superb.

This coat is very heavy, and will keep the wearer toasty under very cold conditions. It's well insulated. These were made during the production timeframe of the mroe well known M-422A jackets with the same goatskin and other components, often having contract numbers matching them, as this one matches the Church M-422A jackets.

We have no intention of copying such a coat. It would cost more than almost anyone would pay. The price these originals sell for betrays the extreme level of workmanship and quality that they were made with. This coat is great, and any other found in similar condition is a worthy investment for those who live in cold environments. And they look good!

The jacket would ideally fit someone in the range of 5'10" to 6'2", with a chest of 41" to 43", and a weight of about 180-205 pounds.