Aussie raincoats

By JW

Dear Lorraine,

I have enjoyed your club for a number of years particularly the references to Australian rubber raincoats of which I also have fond memories. The letters and stories have been wonderfully written.

But, unlike the German Klepper raincoats and the English and Scottish mackintoshes there have been almost no images on the web featuring the Aussie raincoats - the Hardie "Reversible" and "Robin", the Bramac, the NARM (North Australian Rubber Mills) and the Dunlop.

My concern is that it is only the over 50 year olds who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s who now remember them. To younger people they are practically unknown. This is a great pity as they looked absolutely fantastic and I believe that with a little active promotion a demand may be created that will encourage somebody to again produce them, perhaps yourself!

They were all simple, cheaply made raincoats and everyone wore them. They were very popular. In fact an adversement for the Hardie Reversible referred to the raincoat as the "ever popular" Hardie Reversible.

I have attached a number of images which I hope you will consider includng in a new "Aussie Raincoats" section in the hope that other Australians will also send in images. You will probably see that I have created false backgrounds and imaginary "virtual" people by combining hair, sunglasses and various facial features.

If anyone is feeling embarrassed at sending in photos you can forward them on to me and I can give them the same 'anonymous' treatment so that nobody will recognise people or places.

I hope you enjoy the attached images. The first set are of a Bramac reversible black rubber to navy blue cotton raincoat. I will include with all the images the manufacturer's tag. Next I will send Hardie and NARM. Unfortunately I don't have a Dunlop so I'm hoping someone else can come up with an image or even an acual raincoat that I can photograph. I can colourise black and white photos.

Cheers,

JW