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Pre-war life jackets
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Pre-war life jackets
anyone have a good source for authentic style pre-war life jackets, like a "mae west" or whatever? thanks.
- Bill Basler
- Posts: 1996
- Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:48 pm
- Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Don:
Great timing. I have had he thought of producing a modern-day, practical facsimile of a pre-war 30s -40s vintage jacket. We have a prototype under development now. A very rough concept vest is posted here. There will be considerable refinements. Color is not accurate on this sample.
The vests will be a brushed nylon, which will have the soft look of a natural canvas, but they will dry like a modern day vest. Let me know what you think.
Great timing. I have had he thought of producing a modern-day, practical facsimile of a pre-war 30s -40s vintage jacket. We have a prototype under development now. A very rough concept vest is posted here. There will be considerable refinements. Color is not accurate on this sample.
The vests will be a brushed nylon, which will have the soft look of a natural canvas, but they will dry like a modern day vest. Let me know what you think.
Bill Basler
pre-war life preservers
funny coincidence, isnt it, Bill? they look nice but my recollection is that the front part consists of 2 more cylindrically filled pieces, one on each side, rather than a series of smaller tubes in a vest arrangement. I will try to see if i can find a picture of someone in the navy during the war to refresh my recollection. Do you have something you are basing your design on? The idea of canvas-like nylon makes a lot of sense. In any event, i think there should be a lot of interest in something that is (pardon the oxymoron) an authentic reproduction.
- Bill Basler
- Posts: 1996
- Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:48 pm
- Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
pre-war life preservers
yes, I guess the civilian ones may have been different. There is a merchant marine life jacket photo in the website for the national world war 11 museum; also I think the ones issued to the navy and the air force seemed to have an inflatable chamber on either side of the front and hence I think these were the "mae west" type. In any event, keep us posted on your progress. what were you thinking of stuffing it with?
- Bill Basler
- Posts: 1996
- Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:48 pm
- Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
The jackets that we are looking into the feasibility on are basically a modern-type life jacket that just happens to have a vintage look to it. They will not be kapok or cork filled, rather they will be filled with a modern closed-cell foam, or whatever a typical life jacket has today.
The manufacturer that I am working with is in the business of making jackets for a variety of manufacturers. As I mentioned, the first photo posted above is a prototype. The color is not correct, nor are the blue straps...it was just a rough prototype.
If we can make this work, we will produce a range from childrens to womens to mens in all sizes. These could be Coast Guard certified. The manufacturer states that some of their jackets are, and others are not. Kind of a technicality that has little to do with the safety of one jacket versus another...more of a hoop that can be jumped through if the certification is of the utmost importance.
Interest? If so, I'll put this on the front burner.
The manufacturer that I am working with is in the business of making jackets for a variety of manufacturers. As I mentioned, the first photo posted above is a prototype. The color is not correct, nor are the blue straps...it was just a rough prototype.
If we can make this work, we will produce a range from childrens to womens to mens in all sizes. These could be Coast Guard certified. The manufacturer states that some of their jackets are, and others are not. Kind of a technicality that has little to do with the safety of one jacket versus another...more of a hoop that can be jumped through if the certification is of the utmost importance.
Interest? If so, I'll put this on the front burner.
Bill Basler
pre-war life preservers
Well, I guess my preference would be to find an example of a common pre-war life jacket, and then use that as a model, but with modern materials, etc. but maintaining the "look" of a vintage jacket.
- Bill Basler
- Posts: 1996
- Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:48 pm
- Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Here is a look at another prototype jacket. This is getting fairly far down the road, so it will give you a bit better of an idea of the look.
The floatation on these is provided by a closed-cell foam. The shell is a brushed nylon. The jacket will dry, and resist mildew just as any modern-day jacket would.
Please express your interest or feedback. i would like to see this through to completion. It is a feasible idea only if we have enough interest to justify production.
The floatation on these is provided by a closed-cell foam. The shell is a brushed nylon. The jacket will dry, and resist mildew just as any modern-day jacket would.
Please express your interest or feedback. i would like to see this through to completion. It is a feasible idea only if we have enough interest to justify production.
Bill Basler
pre-war life jacket
bill, this is a very nice jacket. However, I still would be interested in knowing how it relates stylistically to some known pre-war jackets.
- Bill Basler
- Posts: 1996
- Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:48 pm
- Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
pre-war life jackets
Thanks for the clarification. Yes I would be interested. Given the limited storage in my boat, having them coast guard approved, if that is feasible, would allow them to serve two purposes.
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