1960s Beck 999 Motorcycle Jacket Size 44

[pgoat]

Up for sale is a vintage Motorcycle Jacket by Beck. 1960s era Model 999 as seen in the Rin Tanaka book. Black Leather with black quilted lining; rear waist area is lowered with three belt loops. Nice tea core patina showing at edges, and the sort of creasing that only comes with decades of love.

Features the usual zippers for a double rider bike jacket, including two hip pockets, one chest pocket and sleeve cuffs, with a large heavy duty Talon main zipper. Chrome snaps on the lower lapel and front coin pocket. One inner chest pocket. Pocket bags are all in excellent shape, nice soft white flannel.

Condition is very good. Notable signs of wear include:

• Numerous small scuffs at neck and cuff areas, normal moderate wear for jacket of this vintage.
• Tiny signs of tears on inner sleeve lining at cuff edges.
• Missing teeth on one sleeve cuff zipper; zipper still functions.
• One side pocket zipper is missing its pull (the chain pull is off the zipper but I have it and will include with the jacket).
• Original lapel stars are missing (obviously, replacements are widely available).

There is no size label, but I have an identical Beck 999 labeled clearly size 42 and this one is much roomier. I would say it fits true to size for a 44; although it does have a slight vintage style fit, nice roomy shoulders, then narrowing at the chest and staying more straight down through the waist, rather than a "V" taper.

Thanks to the adjustable side laces I can zip this jacket easily, with just a little snugness around the armpit area. The shoulder vents work wonderfully when reaching forward. Given this and the shorter front & longer rear, I think this jacket would work superbly on a motorcycle.

I would say this jacket is a true 44 but the sleeves are on the long side imo. Perfect if you'll be riding a bike, or if you are tall and usually opt for a 44 Long. The sleeves are way too long for me; since I'm not riding currently and found a 42 that fits me a little better (vertically, anyway - my stomach is another story!) I figured this one should go to someone taller or on a bike who will enjoy it.

Please see measurements below (in Inches/mm):

Chest, pit-to-pit, zipped: 23.5/600
Waist (laces loose): 20/510
Shoulder-to-Shoulder seams, at top across back: 20.5/525
Sleeve, straight down outside, from top center shoulder seam to cuff: 25.75/655
Sleeve from center of neck (like dress shirt): 36/918
Hem (without Collar): 26/660

More photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/44195255@N04/albums/72157709125151402 - for reference, I am 172 cm (Just under 5'8"), weight around 220 lbs/100 kg. I normally take a 42 jacket and my dress shirts are neck size 17, exact sleeve size is 34. I'm typically between a Medium and Large in tops.

Price is $400 plus shipping.

 

[pgoat]

Bump on a cloudy, hazy NYC morning...

 

[pgoat]

Another weekend Bump.

 

[pgoat]

Happy Labor Day! This one's still available!

 

[pgoat]

Jacket weather is here, and this needs a new home. Price drop to $375 plus shipping.

 

[pgoat]

Hump Day Bump

 

[pgoat]

Final Price drop to $350, I guess if it doesn't sell I'm just gonna live with the too-long sleeves...

I replaced the fabric laces in the side vents with some black leather laces I found - looks much better that way.

Please let me know if any issues viewing pics - I know Flickr is often wonky.

 

[pgoat]

I will add a few more pics tonight, I had photos showing some wear to the edges of the inner lining that have vanished from Flickr for some mysterious reason. Good thing I checked that album link!

 

[jonbuilder]

For someone looking for this style and size, I don't know how you could go work with this jacket

 

[pgoat]

Thanks Jon! Yes, I found a 42 and it is really snug on me right now as I have not been exercising as much as I should be (some injuries to deal with the past several months), but the length is right. I once owned a 60s era Schott one star (613?) size 42, and it looked and fit just like that one. The 42 is roughly the same condition and I paid about the same for both (a hair under $400) - just looking to recoup my outlay here since this one is too long on me.

I couldn't find my old photos so I took some fresh ones of the liner and the sleeve ends. Very minor wear for this vintage, but I wanted to make sure to show as much as possible for anyone interested. They'll be in the same Flickr album as linked above in Post #1.

 

[pgoat]

Here's the album again: https://www.flickr.com/photos/44195255@N04/albums/72157709125151402/with/48951635673/

Basically as the added pics show, there are

• two extremely tiny slits in the lining at the edge of one sleeve cuff.
• The aforementioned normal wear to the edges of the neck and cuff leather.
• Some insulation filling showing through the black quilted lining at the neck area
• Filling showing through the lining at three smaller spots along the lower edge of the hem (Much of the inner waist area is lined with steerhide).
• A tiny pinhole area of wear on the right quilted lining - might have been made by someone wearing keys on a belt, or something else rubbing.

If you need additional photos of anything specific, please just ask.

 

[pgoat]

bump

 

[pgoat]

Chilly Hump Day Bump!