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More car boot finds today......two arctic windproof smocks........one is brand new, a decent size and probably mid-90s manufacture on account of the FFD pocket, no rear rank tab nor manufacturers name on label...........the other almost new, but smaller size and early-mid 80s manufacture as FFD pocket (84) but still with rear rank tab........manufacturers name too, and rather an unusual one..........£4 for both.......couldn't refuse !!! :-D

Car boot find this morning........early DPM para smock, 77-79 issue in a Size 1......can just make out label with manufacturer "H E Textiles"........no FFD pocket, Newey studs, etc..............one small repair to the back, and the zipper replaced, but ex Air-Despatch................not a bad find for a fiver.........:-D

The rare olive drab 1963 pattern windproof smock, basically a full-zip version of the wartime pattern..........produced between 1964 and 1970 when the DPM version took over until 75 when replaced by the more modern "SAS" DPM windproof.......... Both of these rare smocks are in near new condition, both made by "BMC" (who also made 60s Denisons) and are both a Size 8 (the largest made)............the lighter olive one is dated 1966 and has suffered from long-term storage and is a tad crumpled and scuffed, whereas the other one is undated but has a NSN so probably late manufacture around 69-70 ??........both are made in high quality cotton gabardine, but the earlier example is slightly heavier and the fabric "stiffer", complete with a "Clix" zipper and 60-pattern lower draw-cord............the other example displays hardly any wear at all but is a far more "grey-green" colour, the fabric having an almost "silky" feel to it, the zip being a blackened brass "NZ" (Newey) type..............neither for sale, but nice to see such a colour and fabric variation on these rare smocks.....:-D

Hi Robert, currently SOF Military in Wales and WPG in the states are the main sources of the repro ATS gear.....both offer a good service but not certain on the quality of the products......... We have some original ATS hats here, plus a few other items, but nothing really of any use in getting a full outfit together.........the other convenient source of hire not too far from Reading is Sabre Sales in Southsea (still going until this December !) who do a hire service and they do have ATS uniform (repro and original)...... If your missus wants a long-term investment (eg - tailor-made uniform or vintage 1940s civvy dresses, etc) she needs to speak or email my wife who is a professional vintage dressmaker !!! Her prices are very reasonable (for civvy dresses) and she has a shop on Facebook and ETSY.........(kizzylou vintage)....we are only up the road in Newbury........:-D

Thanks Jason ! These came from the son of an ex-Royal Signals RSM. These must have been his spare set - never used. Oddly, the green combats became less "shiny" from around 61-62 when new as the WD decided to manufacture them with the satin-backed cotton drill cloth "reversed" (so the "shiny" outer ended up on the inside). Seemingly, the US Army who used a similar fabric had discovered that the inner of the fabric was far more wear-resistant than the outer, thus the UK authorities adopted a similar approach ! I have all the official correspondence covering this modification........

Forgot I acquired these a few months ago now......absolutely brand new OD 1960 Pattern combat smock and trousers, the former dated 66 and the latter 63.......both a large size 8 and perfect.....remains of paper cutters label still attached to outer pocket flap on the strides and in other places too........beautiful quality manufacture when we had money and a UK workforce to put this stuff together........

Apologies for the poor photo quality....another cheap purchase at War in the Vale last weekend..........seem to be 1968 pattern combat smocks, but they are not original MoD issue ! Cut exactly in 68 pattern in all detail, these are made in the lighter "tropical" fabric and lined in a semi-synthetic fabric........drawcords are a bright lime/emerald green, and no labels other than the single well-known Theatrical costumiers........dating these is simple however........both are fitted with MoD "Swift" zippers commonly in use in the 1960's/very early 70s......and with tropical DPM fabric not being available until the mid/late 70s I think we can put manufacture down to the late-1970s......? At the time, DPM was very hard to obtain on the surplus market therefore copies were likely made for the film and TV industry.....so, were these made for "Spearhead" or "The Wild Geese" perhaps...???!! Who knows, but either way at a fiver they were not too hard to resist........:-D

At last ! Found a pair of the arctic windproof trouser liners (mint) in the older size numbered range........introduced around 75-76 and sizing replaced by metric around 79-80.............just need the smock liner now to match !! :-D

Sounds like what I have.......on a large sheet.......bear with me !!

Any idea on the thickness required...? So I can check against what I have ?

I've got two sheets of black sorbo over at the farm Harry....had it for years and it's good n soft !!! One is thicker than the other.....will be a few weeks before next there tho possibly........

Adding to your comments Ron, Ariel parts lists reveal a cast iron and a steel hub on certain contracts.....I wonder if the brake plates also varied....? My own W/NG has hubs marked "Qualcast"........same as the lawnmower ??? lol.....

Looks Scottish.......maybe Cameronians....?

I had a 1940 Model C (WD version) fitted with alloy brake plates.........quite a rarity but used apparently until pre-war stock ran out......

Needless to say green PLCE was only in production between 1989 and 1991 and is fast becoming scarce, especially certain items in new condition.......the holster assembly is probably high on the scarcity list today..... Officially, the gear was referred to as "90 Pattern" PLCE but many items found are dated 89.......similar with the trial '72 Pattern nylon webbing where many items can be found with dates between '71 to '73 and it was also officially referred to on occasions as "PLCE 75"............ Not unusual to find no markings, but a UK manufacturers quality control stamp is a good sign and 99% likely ex-MoD....

NO SBS type........all 63 pattern full-zip green gabardine.............no idea on prices until / if I can get a deal......very few may be available (and one spoken for already !)..........all size 8 (largest made) and little-used, dates between 65 and 70............deal may/may not go ahead - depends on what I have to swap and whether collector wants to let any go...........won't be cheap if available !! These are extremely rare to find today...........

Might have a spare drab denim one Matt but no SBS type............bear with me....need to check exactly what I have....

It's basically the 2nd (wartime) pattern from 43-44 onward but with a return to wool cuffs that were specified from 52 onward (I have all the WD and MoD pattern specs).......so you could say "52 Pattern" (but this wasn't "official").........next pattern was the "59 Pattern" from 60 onward for the full-zip spec........

Thanks Harry ! Another colleague has expressed similar..........still, when I want something I try my best within reasonable limits !!

Well, I have recently acquired these 1958 Pattern webbing kidney pouches..........in superb, little-used condition but they are a little different........... Note the markings inside each pouch......."Expn" being "Experimental" and the rare early date of 1957 would add weight to this............pretty much the same design as the first production issue from 1959 onward with stiffened sides to each pouch lid, no secondary QR supporting straps.......but note the additional press-stud fasteners on the pouch-lid tabs and rear QR strap.....not sure of the exact purpose but "belt n braces" or "neatness" springs to mind........note also, no internal pouch within the lids for stowage of the loose utility straps issued with each set........... I'm well pleased with these.......now just need to locate the remainder of the trial kit........!!

Nice !!! I just love trial kit.........it sort of pieces things together........:-D

Beautiful smock Harry......ultra-fine "paintbrush-stroke" cammo print.....one of the best examples I've seen.....:-D

This well-known photo reputedly shows Canadian's under training circa 1941...........you can see here the good ground clearance of a sidevalve 16H compared with the ground-hugging M20 !! This scene has also been described as being near Frensham/Bordon (Hants) but I suspect that it is more likely Aldershot.......going by the sandy terrain and background landscape features..........just to the west of Aldershot are military training areas, including a very steep ridged hill just like the one in the photo called "Caesars Camp".......and the ridge in the background looks like the ridge for "Sandy Hill" just above Farnham on the Hants/Surrey border............the landscape hasn't changed much today save for additional foliage............I know it well from years of patrolling/trudging around there !!! :undecided:

Certain he was checking tickets on my train this morning........:undecided:

Never seen the lightweight green trousers ("TML's") in desert DPM.........they were generally only made in green and a version in black for MoD Police (no big leg pocket on the latter and later versions of the green)....... These are pre-95 on account of the manufacturers name on the label and definitely issue on account of the MoD contract number........... Can't understand why made when the standard desert trousers of the era were the tropical cut..........surely lightweight enough.....? A bit of a rarity methinks.......:-D