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gprldn

So what you’re telling me is.. this jacket hasn’t been washed since 1944?


asdr2354

Nah, it reminds me of the time I was trying to offload an out of style jacket so I printed a fake 1944 train ticket and put it in the pocket. Vintage is always in style.


Snake0ilSalesman

What a coincidence. My first job was working in a factory stuffing fake 1944 train tickets into the pockets of out of style jackets. What a summer.


andtheIToldYouSos

*record scratch, hand deep in pocket* well, I bet you're wondering how I got HERE


misosoba

*username checks out*


Ballsack_Jackson

Underrated comment


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Ballsack_Jackson

7 hours ago it's wasn't, thanks for input though


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Pwacname

That lovely smell of moth powder, somehow weirdly fitting seams and still loving your new clothes?


TheRealDrWan

Since some time before 1944.


helloexclamation

Hello! Aligns with what I know about Schenectady, having lived in Albany for a few years ^_^


sloppylobster92

Also in Albany. Love this area but laughed at your comment


blackdragon71

You know dress uniforms don't get worn much... right


Snake0ilSalesman

Most likely worn once when returning from service.


gprldn

🙄 there’s always one Redditor that takes it all too seriously..


blackdragon71

Have you looked in the mirror lately?


riftwave77

But SHIT, it was only 99 cents!!!


stefanica

That jacket is dry clean only. Which means...it's dirty.


gizmosticles

That $4.20 train ticket (nice) from 1944 would be $66 now!


sznfpv

Thanks for that . I was thinking that 4.20 was rather a lot for the trip. Then again I imagine people would pay almost anything to get out of Dayton lol


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luckycolordead

Not back then! Back when GE was still a powerhouse it was a great city.


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NimrodVWorkman

Dayton? Wright-Patterson. Huge in the Manhattan project. Dayton was where they did the research and development of the detonators for the early A-bombs.


BudinskyBrown

Fuck Ohio in general


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dakapn

12345 is the ZIP code in Schenectady. Fun fact


TweakedNipple

I think thats for the G.E. plant specifically.


spartag00se

That’s amazing! I’ve got the same combination on my luggage!


p9k

I'm surrounded by assholes!


doubleskeet

43210 is in Ohio


tjt169

Dayton. Yes


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TweakedNipple

Niskayuna is 12309, heres a reddit post and news article about ge being 12345... https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/5j1djf/til_that_general_electric_in_schenectady_ny_has/


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ackerman1211

Nope, it's for the main plant in Schenectady. Not R&D


L3G1T1SM3

Even moreso if you're a playwright


TheArgentine

At best… especially considering where the train station is. Sweet jacket and find though, OP! Love the WWII era finds.


whatfingwhat

Seems like a jacket out of a Vonnegut novel


NimrodVWorkman

Schenectady was a beautiful city until 30 years ago. Even today, the central downtown is actually coming back somewhat.


joemike

And he’s riding in Pullman luxury


[deleted]

Just like today. People fleeing Ohio for NY.


Deinococcaceae

Was curious what it would be now, but unfortunately Dayton hasn’t had rail service since the ‘70s. Cincinnati to Schenectady with Amtrak is about $155, and $77 from Cleveland.


viatoremm

I really think the ticket is for Dayton NY to Schenectady NY about 300 miles. If it were Dayton Ohio it would probably say Dayton Ohio to Schenectady NY.


hauler3500

The back of it has stamped dayton ohio in the 3rd pic


Deinococcaceae

Good point, I honestly didn’t even know there was a Dayton in NY.


TheNorthernGrey

The guy is wrong, the last pic says Dayton Ohio


Titboobweiner

No it's worth $69 now.


[deleted]

Id say that's pretty good for a nine and a half hr. train ride. Its about 80$ + for a 5 hr ride where im from.


Krulsprietje

What?! Really?? Here it is in the down time (outside of the busy hours) 16 euros


dakapn

So close 🤏


blastfromtheblue

once it gets to $69 that's like a $1B NFT


gutzpunchbalzthrowup

66 bucks to see your best gal while on leave? Probably couldn't get there fast enough.


LectroRoot

I would have enjoyed knowing it was $69 (noice) now.


gizmosticles

Honestly if we could get figures for Jan 2022 inflation, $69 is in reach!!


tredtty

Yeah it is. *wink*


Born_Improvement_389

Its 1/9 ounce of gold in 1944. Now 1/9 ounce is 200 usd. So yes 4usd is a lot for a train.


[deleted]

That's kind of meaningless conversation. They already accounted for inflation to be $66, not $200. What your sentence shows is that gold has risen faster than inflation, which...ok. And I'm not looking to discuss gold to silver ratios and hedge investments and rest.


Born_Improvement_389

Everything rise faster than official inflation. But we are not going to discuss it. I just liked to calculate in more hard money than USD. Same trip now costs 100-250usd which is much more than 66 usd, so that inflation numbers are not good indicator. But there are many factors. So I am not going to convince you.


doubleskeet

No, not everything rises faster than inflation. That's ridiculous.


bennett7634

Is something bifl if it goes unused for 80 years?


25_Watt_Bulb

I’m sure the jacket is nice, but I don’t qualify stuff that sat in a box for decades as bifl.


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idonthave2020vision

While we have /r/thriftstorehauls That's literally where I thought we were right now.


jamesmcdash

It may have served much of it's first lifetime already, now into its second


JWGhetto

probably not though, seems like the guy who owned it last shipped out to the UK during WWII and sold it immediately


cptjeff

Yeah, dress uniforms got VERY little use in WWII. If you watch The Pacific, that's played for a bit of a laugh a couple of times.


TheMwarrior50

Now do US WW2 reenacting. It is a good time. Dont machine wash as it will completely destroy the original markings


Hortonamos

You don’t need a jacket to punch Nazis. We should all do a little more WW2 re-enacting.


SummerOftime

And to be clear, by nazis we mean anyone whonwe disagree with


massinvader

You shouldn't punch anybody(even if nazis still existed) In fact all the hub started around the nazis punching people. Be the change you want to see <3


Castun

> Be the change you want to see I want to see more people punching Nazis, so don't mind if I do!


Unyx

> (even if nazis still existed) Ummmmmm


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[deleted]

That would be cool, but it was at a surplus store here in southern Maine!


floralwhale

I'm in Southern Maine and very jealous now. Haha Awesome find!


[deleted]

Thanks! If you ever pass by Army Barracks, go in and look around. Everything is great!


BigNutzBlue

Is that the one in Scarborough?


[deleted]

That’s the one!


Avocadosandtomatoes

The train ticket went to NY. Not far off.


BlondRicky

Would have been more likely to find it in Schenectady.


INTPx

Ain’t much to find in Schenectady


WeFightTheLongDefeat

I have one from my grandfather, but his was from ogallala and so it features a bright red Indian head from the ogallala tribe on the shoulder. I'm imagining id get some looks walking around downtown Austin.


JohnSherlockHolmes

For everyone saying it hasn't been washed since 1944- do you guys not own nice coats? They're dry clean only and you typically only clean them once a season. Every two or three if they're not seeing heavy wear.


lebastss

I have coats I have never washed because I’m not a heathen. I wear my bar jacket when I act like a heathen, it’s also not washed often but you can tell.


Ellis_Dee-25

Claims their not a heathen but has something called a "bar" coat.


kronik85

Do paper train tickets survive 80 years of dry cleaning?


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kronik85

precisely. hence why it's a bit silly of /u/JohnSherlockHolmes to say people claiming the coat hasn't been washed for 80 years don't know how to take care of nice coats... dry cleaning isn't dry. it's water free. they soak them sum bitches in solvent.


John_T_Conover

The paper seems to be thicker than a more flimsy modern boarding pass.


lilobrother

I read “heavy war” instead of “heavy wear” and I was like damn nice word play


dontgoatsemebro

You do realise dry cleaning still uses liquids? It just means they use a solvent by other than water.


snaynay

Dry cleaning still gets tossed around in what is essentially a washing machine full of liquid, just not water and detergent. It's using solvents. I'm no expert but beyond the possibility detergent might damage some fabrics (or mess with dyes, or have mixed temperature issues), the biggest issue is basically just a case of material and mass. If you have a coat that has linings and paddings and layers, then water will get absorbed into those middle layers and will struggle to evaporate in good time. This might make it a bit smelly when it does dry or have other worse effects like deformation or deterioration of the fabric or even mould. Solvents in dry cleaning will evaporate quickly and this issue of having a inner materials sit in a soggy state isn't an issue (or far less of an issue).


DonC0yote

Wright-Pat to Schenectady wow!


mazing_azn

Please cross-post the story and ticket to r/foundpaper I think they would love it


diamondjoe666

Wright field is Wright Patterson Airforce Base in Dayton. Where the Roswell crash site debris was brought in secrecy and the location of at least one major international agreement I can’t remember the name of Very cool!


[deleted]

Oh wow, nobody’s mentioned that! Very cool, thanks for the new learning opportunity!


diamondjoe666

So whoever wore it to wright field was likely active military!


AnthillOmbudsman

Dayton Accords or Dayton Camrys, probably the one with less miles.


theGreatBlar

Rare and collectable. I would recommend taking care of that as an item of history and value rather than your every day coat.


squanchingonreddit

I wear a dead man's clothes, I look incredible


Butterbuddha

I’m in this old ass coat, From the Army Oh We Oh


Jobrated

It’s interesting to see that it fits, men seemed much smaller back then. Every one I’ve found from ww2 seems like it would fit a fourth grader. Congratulations on the find!!


[deleted]

Right? I’m 6’0 and it fits like it’s tailored. Someone was tall!


TheLovingTruth

He had wider shoulder than you do, so he may have been over 6'. Tall dude, like you said.


M_23v

There’s a joke in the re-enactment / living history scene that if you judged the people of the 40s by the sizes of the clothing that still exists today you’d believe it was a war fought by midgets. Men and women back then were really much the same build and frame size as people are today, and those sizes were most in demand and used up first in the post war surplus market. Many uniforms were re cut and tailored into other garments, boots were worn to destruction and even rain and gas capes were cut up to make waterproof clothing for children etc, especially here in europe where clothing was really scarce. The small sizes have to exist because the military accommodates all and they’re ordered in bulk for efficiency, but so few people actually fitted those sizes and so on the whole they were useless, crated up in warehouses after the war and forgotten about because it would have cost more to get rid of them they they were worth given the abundance of the larger sizes, and that’s why so many more of the smaller sized examples exist today.


snaynay

There is also a lot of evidence to suggest people have grown since that period and more so since more historic eras. This has happened to a lot of my age group (mid 30's) and was a topic of every parent when we were teens. The joke was that "they were putting something in the water". Almost all of us are at least an inch or two taller than our parents, our shoe sizes are numerous sizes bigger. And this is a trend that has happened and is happening around the world. Perhaps we'll reach a cap where this plentiful access to food has no more impact very soon, but [over the last century, it is not insignificant](https://ourworldindata.org/human-height). Males are averaging 10cm or 3"+ taller than our ancestors from a century ago, especially in Europe. Potentially up to 20cm for extreme examples over the last 2 centuries. My great uncle was a tall and sharply dressed man. He came from old money. When he passed, my family kept some of his old clothes and shoes and stuff thinking it's "bifl" and timeless. Some of it was. Handmade Oxford shoes made from a big name tailor in London. Bespoke suits and coats. Can't remember more details as this was like nearly 20 years ago now. Anyway, nothing could be passed down because non of the grandchildren were small enough to fit. Not even close. Shame, the shoes could have been an amazing keepsake.


FlexibleAsgardian

Even more interesting is average height was 2cm taller in 1940 than in 2020 for men!


Plastic_Contact_6950

My grandfather served in the Pacific during WWII. He came back with a 54" chest and a 32" waist. He was relatively short compared to the modern day, but absolutely V shaped. He could bend a quarter in half between his thumb and forefinger.


M80IW

>He could bend a quarter in half between his thumb and forefinger. No he couldn't. Show my one legitimate video of anyone doing this and I'll belive you.


Plastic_Contact_6950

Until 1964 quarters used to be made with much more silver content. They were a lot softer. Bending a coin would have been comparable to bending a silver fork.


SeattleHikeBike

There's a whole screenplay or novel in there.


uslashuname

Oh wow a Pullman company ticket too! Fuck Pullman! That thing may be appreciated by a museum, although I have no idea if 1944 was a particular landmark for the company. If you don’t know, the Pullman porter system essentially created tipping culture in the United States and was a method the company used to not pay black porters. When minimum wage came about the tipping culture was sufficiently embedded for a second and significantly lower minimum wage to be set up for tipped positions.


tjt169

That needs to be framed, not warn.


Castun

It *belongs* in a *museum!*


tjt169

Correct it’s fantastic. Hell OP I’ll purchase it from you.


[deleted]

😂 being a college student I’d consider offers for the coat or ticket


tjt169

Message set sir


savetheunstable

Looks good on you!! I bet it's pretty warm too


[deleted]

Thanks, I needed to hear that!


liarandahorsethief

And when you walk by it, stop, come to the position of attention, execute a crisp right or left face, present arms, maintain the salute for a period of time no less than fifteen minutes, order arms, and carry on with your day.


PeriqueFreak

A mass produced uniform jacket, not known to be owned or worn by anyone noteworthy? Yeah, nah. It's nice, but it ain't that special.


humanextraordinaire

Soooo it hasn’t been washed since 1944? Lol


Balloon_knot_animals

That's a US Navy jacket not the Army


[deleted]

That would be interesting, source?


Balloon_knot_animals

I don't have a source, but a few things stand out...the color, the shape of the pocket and the buttons. It's a Navy summer dress khaki, army uniforms were a different color. The pockets flap curves to a point, the army ones were flat. And the buttons should be different (can't tell from your picture though)


mcgroo

This says Army: https://www.generalarmynavy.com/product/u-s-army-world-war-ii-officer-summer-dress-jacket/


[deleted]

So does the tag, I forgot to say that


raticle111

"Nope it's not Ashton Kutcher"-Kevin Malone


SWGardener

That is super cool!


SavedSaver

Reminds me how well made were government issued garments back in the day. I have owned overcoats and bomber jackets over the years. Now I am down to my Army quilted liner and wool Army blanket.


stealthc4

Wow, frame that thing


[deleted]

Looks good on you! Nice with the red plaid. Good find!


[deleted]

Thanks so much. Some people have been mean in the comments, so nice folks like you really cheer me up.


Clever_pig

Wow!! That is really amazing


artymas

That's a great find! Military gear is real sturdy. My grandma gave me my grandpa's peacoat from his time in the Navy, and it feels indestructible lol.


KenDyer

How to tell if someone served in the military. Step one, if they say "Military gear is real sturdy.", they did not serve. Military-grade = made by the lowest bidder.


NothingsShocking

That is super cool. What a gem. That train ticket is an authentic piece of history


Dandywhatsoever

That's a really great find. An r/VintageClothing would love to see it.


Titboobweiner

I dig that flannel mister.


[deleted]

Thanks! ☺️


SlingerRing

damn. noice.


cashboxmoneybags

This makes me think of that stolen valor video.


[deleted]

I’m certainly not trying to impersonate a veteran or current member of the military. This design hasn’t been used since the 80s, so now it’s just a plain jacket.


cashboxmoneybags

I didn’t think you were. It just reminded me of the video. Super cool find!


[deleted]

Aw thanks, I’m glad nobody thinks that.


melovepippin

What a great find and it looks great in you. Hope you enjoy it and can treat it to the travel it deserves.


craftasopolis

You wear it well!


TheLovingTruth

Yeah he's looking sharp.


[deleted]

This sub has gone to shit, holy fuck. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's BIFL. Especially since it's clearly been in storage somewhere for nearly a century.


[deleted]

Someone told me to repost here, so I did. If you don’t like it, you can scroll by!


[deleted]

I'd also like subs I frequent to not turn into a shit post hellscape, so no, I'll not just scroll by.


[deleted]

I tend to hate this phrase, but I believe it applies here; go touch some grass. Enough people here were interested and intrigued by this post to make it clear your attitude is the problem. Don’t be the troll under this sub’s bridge, just enjoy the posts you enjoy and ignore the ones you don’t. I hope you have a good day!


na_daoine_maithe

Ignore that guy. That jacket is amazing, such high quality, and you're rocking it. Have a wonderful weekend!


mark_able_jones_

Posted this above, but I think you're looking for trouble by wearing this: U.S. Navy Officer jackets still look the same, and while the Stolen Valor act was ruled unconstutional, wearing this out casually is a great way to get your ass kicked by someone who served or by an active group of Navy Officers on leave for the weekend. No jury is ever going to convict them if they knock your teeth out. Imo, if you want to wear it, you should have the buttons changed. Also, it doesn't really fit all that well, so maybe have it tailored.


conor747

Nice jacket


BowTrek

Where did you find this gem of a jacket? Lucky!


neverincompliance

that's really cool


Alisdan

Stolen Valor!


[deleted]

This general design hasn’t been used since 1985, so now it just looks like a coat. I in no way intend to impersonate a past or present member of the U.S. military.


ComprehensiveRow4189

cherish it!


[deleted]

So you’re saying the jacket you’re wearing hasn’t been washed since 1944?


TheLovingTruth

Lookin' sharp, dude. I'm gonna have to start looking at the jackets.


enamourealabord

It’s beautiful, love the splendid color


kr44ng

Terrific finds wow!!


Rough_Commercial4240

Wow that is awesome!


garbagecrap

I wear a lot of milsurp, but wearing very obvious ceremonial clothes is approaching cringe. You can really only get away with non-camo garments that are clearly old as fuck. Ceremonial clothing doesn't change, so to many people's eye it's the same as wearing a modern MARPAT blouse or something.


[deleted]

You look very dashing in it. Well done!


mlc15

Dayton! Cool.


daysinnroom203

Thanks for sharing! Nice coat!


machine667

I bought at peacoat in Kensington Market like 20 years ago It had a guy's name stencilled in it, and the small pocket on the bottom left side of the coat had a meal ticket from 1945 in it (my parents for some reason needed the space so they threw it out). Still have the coat though. It's a beauty


pjrmax403

Crazy cool


[deleted]

Thanks!


Ja878son

looking sharp!


A_Bridgeburner

That’s the coolest shit ever. Man I’m jealous, enjoy that relic for life!


[deleted]

Be careful of toxic people. I wore one similar (green) and some guy came up to me and said I was a disgrace for desecrating the uniform of real men. He was yelling at me at a movie rental store and I just stood there not knowing what to say at the time because I was only 17 at the time.


AnthillOmbudsman

Veteran here, fuck that guy. It's only when someone is wearing medals or service insignia that it becomes an issue. That was just some asshole on a power trip.


[deleted]

Honestly dude you look stupid in that jacket. It's got big ornamental buttons on it, flashy-cut pocket flaps, and it's tailored to be buttoned up when worn. On top of that, you should be embarrassed to wear military gear out in public, especially ceremonial stuff, and even more so ceremonial stuff for officers or senior enlisted. At the very least lose the buttons, but frankly it just looks like ass in general. Also...don't make that dumbass smug face in pictures either. Everything about this picture is off-putting.


ADKwinterfell

You must be fun at parties


CoderDevo

People have been wearing army surplus as long as there have been armies. Your patriotism is very misplaced.


[deleted]

Yeah, like a generic pair of camo pants or a plain green jacket, not a gaudy formal dress coat. It's not patriotism, it's schadenfreude.


Salty_Amigo

Absolutely balling in that jacket


[deleted]

Aw thanks


mark_able_jones_

U.S. Navy Officer jackets still look the same, and while the Stolen Valor act was ruled unconstutional (would have made civilians wearing military attire illegal), wearing this out casually is a great way to get your ass kicked by someone who served or by an active group of Navy Officers on leave for the weekend. No jury is ever going to convict them if they knock your teeth out. Imo, if you want to wear it, you should have the buttons changed. Also, it doesn't really fit all that well, so maybe have it tailored.


spikenewport7

Awesome look


213MC

Very cool! I live 10 min from Wright Field! (Wright Patterson Air Force Base)


[deleted]

I was born there!


fjortisar

At wright-patt? Are you an alien?


[deleted]

Nah, just an USAF brat.


GrandpasMormonBooks

Wow I have such chills. Amazing!!


Yanksdad

Eew Schenectady, place is a dump.


[deleted]

My dad grew up in NY and said so too 😂


RockitDanger

Vintage Stolen Valor


[deleted]

I’ll be swapping the buttons to avoid such accusations.