Good Wear Leather Coat Company — Sale Vintage Bronco A-2 Jacket

This item has been sold.
Original Bronco A-2 Jacket
Price: $1,200.00 (used condition) — note shipping costs below
Fit: this pattern is comfortable in the correct size
Leather: russet goatskin, depot-overdye, great condition, flexible and strong
Lining: very solid for age, some cracks around neck area
Waistband: original, has some darned holes, but very solid and with tension
Cuffs: replaced by us.
Thread: originally olive, solid condition
Zipper: originally installed Crown
Size: 44

This original Bronco Type A-2 jacket is in excellent condtion. It's been worn through the 78 years of its existance, but not in any great degree. The goatskin is in solid condition, with some minimal wear to the finish, and a few small abbrasions here and there. The hide is medium in weight, and was russet when new. The Army Air Forces did an over-dye to a darker brown, and applied a decal to the shoulder.

This jacket has a very common-sense fit. Anyone in the size range below would do well with how it fits. The waistband, which had a few holes darned, is still solid, with stretch, and a tough feel to it. The cuffs were ripped, so we replaced them with the closest color match we have. The thread was originally an olive shade, but the over-dye has made all parts look dark brown, from the snaps to the thread. We're glad that they were clean in the process, and didn't get dye on the waistband.

No name tag, nor any patches were applied to this jacket. Also, the lining shows no written name or other ownership marks.

The Crown zipper is very easy to use. That being said, Crown zippers are the weakest original zipper of the four typical wartime zipper makers. We suggest careful use and handling of the Crown, and if done, this zipper will last another 78 years. We put a little wax on the lower five inches of zipper, which is the white material in the image.

This contract was ordered in May of 1942, and was for 59,000 A-2 jackets. We believe that horsehide or cowhide was the bulk of the leather used, but goatskin was certainly used to fulfill a good portion of the contract. This jacket is made with that goatskin, which was russet in shade. The russet color can be seen inside the pockets on the body panel.

Bronco was a division of the I. Spiewak & Sons Company. It was run by Murray Spiewak, who lived until recently. The other company within the family was United Sheeplined, and all three were awarded A-2 contracts in May of 1942.

The jacket would ideally fit someone in the range of 5'10" to 6'1" with a chest of 41-43", and a weight of about 175-200 pounds.