Amoebentarn reversible parka find.

[BWilhelm]

Here's an interesting one. This came out of the attic of someone who served in Germany back in the late 50's or early 60's. It's 100% reversible with pockets on both sides. It was obviously made from zelt material and the buttons appear to be a mix of military and commercial ones. The drawstring at the waist and hood look to be recycled zelt cord too. Unfortunately, I know nothing about it's history because he has passed on. The family had never seen it before they were cleaning out. It seems to be pretty well made and the shape of it is clearly based on a wartime smock but modified. I wonder if the vet had it made or if he traded for it. I can't imagine German troops being allowed to wear a field made item like this. Whatever the case, it should make a fine jacket! What do you guys think?

Autumn side:



Summer side:

[Ron P]

Obviously made up privately but very cool! What size is it?

[sgtdorango]

uber cool is right!.........mike

[BWilhelm]

Size huge! I guess it's about a 50-52 metric but it's cut very generous in the chest, similar to a smock or the Bundeswehr splittertarn jacket.

[GREENEDUDLEY]

I was told years ago that the SS smocks that were worn in the movie "Where Eagles Dare" was made from Amoebetarn material. I haven't watched the movie in years but maybe this is a movie prop from then.

[GREENEDUDLEY]

I was told years ago that the SS smocks that were worn in the movie "Where Eagles Dare" was made from Amoebetarn material. I haven't watched the movie in years but maybe this is a movie prop from then.

Just checekd out some old war movies on youtube. They were not used in "Where Eagles Dare" but looks like in "A Bridge Too Far".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XCmQzfjuK0

[Asbjoern]

The suit used in one bridge to far was a simple Anorak type garment which was not reversible ... this one is for sure a nice looking tailormade "special".

Jens

[Gordon Craig]

BWilhelm,

Interesting piece. Things like this drive cammo collectors bananas!

Regards,

Gordon

[Collectinsteve]

Very nice! Someone put some serious time (or money) into that one.

The Bridge Too Far type smocks come up for sale every so often. I had one in my collection very briefly when I bought out a huge group of stuff. It was fairly closely patterned after the WW2 smock style. Whether mine was actually from the movie or made to fool collectors I don't know. Based on the other items that it was with I suspect it came from the movie.

I also had a two piece set that was made to look like a standard 1970s Moleskin uniform. Non reversible, of course.

Here are some pics of them:









Steve

[BWilhelm]

Neat stuff! Amoebentarn is a really fun pattern. I have a tent half that is essentially unissued but I like the worn in look this parka has better. Hopefully it fades in even more with use. After washing it, the material already became softer and more pliable for lack of a better word. Comparing it to my tent half, there is some variation and even some variation on different bits of the parka itself. When the white lines are removed and the colors allowed to bleed into each other some, the WWII ancestry really becomes apparent in the pattern.


Steve, do you think that your moleskin copy was period made and for what purpose?

[Collectinsteve]

This pattern was based on the principles of late WW2 Leibermuster. What it did was have the black roller made smaller in diameter than the other colors. It was printed last and that had the effect of producing a pattern that was always different, at least a little bit. The normal process is to have all rollers be the same diameter and that means the printing is 100% consistent.

The Germans did one better after the war. With the famous experimental Belgian/German Leibermuster, Amoebatarn, Broad Rain Strokes (three variations), and Palm Splinter they used two black rollers that worked together. One printed at 100% and the other printed at about 50%. This further varied the pattern.

For whatever reason very, very few camouflage patterns use this technique. Some of the Swiss Leibermuster variants and Spanish Amoeba did. But as far as I can recall no other patterns used the two part black process. I'm sure there is a significant manufacturing expense to it.

The moleskin type uniform was probably just made for the fun of it. The shelter halves are easily found and cheap. Even now that is true. Which makes them a good source of cheap materials for fantasy items. I got my stuff from a guy who stopped collecting in the mid 1990s, so it had to be have been made before then.

Steve

[panzerwerk]

What A great custom Parka , really great score !!

[Ron P]

Size huge! I guess it's about a 50-52 metric but it's cut very generous in the chest, similar to a smock or the Bundeswehr splittertarn jacket.

I would like to own it!

[BWilhelm]

I just noticed tonight that Amoebentarn is used in the opening scene of Kelly's Heroes too. I've watched that film many times but never noticed it before.