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Aero leather water resistance

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,081
Location
London, UK
When I first read the name 'Schott' I guessed it was pronounced Scott simply because we spell School and pronounce scool.

Can't argue with your logic! I automaically pronounced it 'Shot', but that's the Germanic blood from several generations ago coming out...

Yes they sell mall jackets, or is it that they sell jackets in shopping malls. Schott sell a variaty of styles, traditional and new, to various customer bases. I have not seen their Perfecto styles in malls though, only in specialist bike gear stores.

They do get a bad rap. I think the UK pricing puts them at about the right place in the market, more or less - about 2/3 of the price of an Aero or a Lewis. In the US, where they're signifricantly cheaper afaik, they're a real bargain.

Thanks for clearing that up :D so 'naked leather' is what is known in the leather world as analine leather, premium quality full grain leather & either left undyed or dyed with soluble dyes. They are the best leathers available but are fragile, particually to staining & fading.
Now, who is this Schott ? :rolleyes:

Uhm.... "best" and "fragile, particularly to staining & fading"?

They make fantastic jackets, but Brando did not wear a Schott in The Wild One - despite that nonsense on the Wikipedia, about it being a 618. I've also been saying 'scott', until I saw this: https://www.schottnyc.com/forum/
'You call the scotts' didn't make much sense to me. lol

Yes, it has long been claimed that Brando wore a 618 midified to look like a 613 (with the additoin of stars on the shoulder, which was the key difference), but it's definitely in dispute. You'll find a thread on here somewhere wherein I posted a link to another forum where they discussed it. Somebody claimed to know exactly what it was, but didn't for whatever reason want to say. I doubt it was anything particularly special, in reality.... (in and of itself as a jacket; in cinematic history terms, it's almost invaluable).

Pff, Schott's been padding their resume since forever; Brando, Dean, Fonda (Easy Rider), Springsteen, Jett, Vicious... All lies! They are right about the Ramones and Kenny Rogers, though. XD

il_570xN.793080208_ipcv.jpg

Did you ever find any confirmation as to what Vicious' jacket was? Ten years later, a Schott seems likely, given his hero-worship of DeeDee Ramone, but it certainly took them several years to all settle on the Perfecto style as 'the' Ramones Jacket - don't know if they were wearing Schott, specifically, any of them until at least the early 80s. Joey certainly spent a large chunk of the late 70s in various Lewis jackets. As previously discussed, the claim that a Perfecto is "the" Vicious Sex PIstols jacket in style, if nothing else, is spurious anyhow, as he didn't have it until he reached the US. The far more active Pistols leather was the Dominator; the Perfecto image owes more to a couple of classic photos taken during the US tour (including the one used on the cover of the posthumously released Sid Sings) and The Great Rock and Roll Swindle than reality.
 

Fanch

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,490
Location
Texas
It is my impression that the Horween chrome tanned FQHH used by Aero is at least highly rain resistant. For those whose FQHH jackets soak through, perhaps the breach occurs at the seams rather than soaking through the hide that as I recall is packed with waxes. [huh] I have a couple of oil skin Filson jackets that I re-wax periodically, primarily at the seams. Any comments now that this thread is hopefully back on track?
 
Messages
16,842
Yes, it has long been claimed that Brando wore a 618 midified to look like a 613 (with the additoin of stars on the shoulder, which was the key difference), but it's definitely in dispute. You'll find a thread on here somewhere wherein I posted a link to another forum where they discussed it. Somebody claimed to know exactly what it was, but didn't for whatever reason want to say. I doubt it was anything particularly special, in reality.... (in and of itself as a jacket; in cinematic history terms, it's almost invaluable).

From what I read, Brando's jacket was made by a now defunct leather jacket manufacturing company called Durable, and apparently, this is something that has been long suspected and well known among Japanese collectors - just that people who are in the know tend not to talk about it as they're afraid that releasing this bit of information in the wild would have a huge impact on any future sales of these jackets, as their value would undoubtedly skyrocket. Rightfully so as the effects of these speculations has already affected the prices of the jackets appearing on eBay, to some extent...

Related theory is that Schott at some point acquired the Durable company and possibly continued to produce the jacket by using the patterns originally made by Durable, which would make their claim that Brando wears a Schott Perfecto in The Wild One somewhat credible - at least in the legal context.

All I know is that trying to find one of those Durable brand jackets on eBay is certainly not an easy task. XD

Did you ever find any confirmation as to what Vicious' jacket was? Ten years later, a Schott seems likely, given his hero-worship of DeeDee Ramone, but it certainly took them several years to all settle on the Perfecto style as 'the' Ramones Jacket - don't know if they were wearing Schott, specifically, any of them until at least the early 80s.

Nope, but I've done some serious research on Vicious' US Tour Perfecto jacket and I am fairly certain that Schott never produced the exact same take on the style - and if they did, they didn't stick by it for too long. I would bet my money on Sears.

. As previously discussed, the claim that a Perfecto is "the" Vicious Sex PIstols jacket in style, if nothing else, is spurious anyhow, as he didn't have it until he reached the US. The far more active Pistols leather was the Dominator; the Perfecto image owes more to a couple of classic photos taken during the US tour (including the one used on the cover of the posthumously released Sid Sings) and The Great Rock and Roll Swindle than reality.

Agreed. Vicious' jacket will always be a LL Dominator. :)
 
Last edited:

tblay

One of the Regulars
Messages
167
Location
Bmore
It is my impression that the Horween chrome tanned FQHH used by Aero is at least highly rain resistant. For those whose FQHH jackets soak through, perhaps the breach occurs at the seams rather than soaking through the hide that as I recall is packed with waxes. [huh] I have a couple of oil skin Filson jackets that I re-wax periodically, primarily at the seams. Any comments now that this thread is hopefully back on track?

I still don't understand the OP's concern. FQHH is quite resistant to water, which is confirmed by the testaments of lots of folks on the forum, including many people in this thread. If the OP wants a different hide, he can simply apply Pecard's, Obenauff's, or one of the other multitude of leather waxing/conditioning products that helps repel water. OP can order whatever kind of hide he wants without worrying about this problem. There is a solution either way.

Want something immediately water resistant? Get FQHH. Want a different type of hide? Get x and treat it after taking delivery.
 

technovox

One Too Many
Messages
1,241
Location
San Francisco
While we're on the subject- has anyone had any experience with wearing Aero's new Italian Vicenza leather in the rain? Or Shinki?
 
Last edited:

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,944
Location
London
While we're on the subject- has anyone had any experience with wearing Aero's new Italian Vicenza leather in the rain? Or Shinki?

I have worn my DD Shinki in the rain, and it's fine. It does water stain a little if you let big drop dry but it doesnt soak through.
I usually use my hand brush off most of the water once i get home, and leave it to dry naturally.
 

Dav

One Too Many
Messages
1,706
Location
Somerset, England
Perhaps I should elaborate as I seem to be the only person to have got wet in a FQHH jacket. The day that it occurred I had to spend around three hours in heavy rain moving fire wood, the whole time bending and lifting whilst large drops of water poured down on me from the trees, the wet breached at the shoulders, inner elbows and middle of back. The back was from bending over I assume, but I didn't look to see if it had come through the seem as I was rather wet at the time. For normal dog walking purposes I find the jackets to be perfectly adequate in water resistance.
 

Lean'n'mean

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,087
Location
Cloud-cuckoo-land
Uhm.... "best" and "fragile, particularly to staining & fading"? .

I can understand your confusion & it may sound like a contradiction but good quality analine leathers are considered as the finest available. Since the grain surface isn't corrected by abrassion, dyes, embossing or protective coatings, only premium hides, with as few blemishes possible are selected for this treatment. What you have is a near perfect leather which is finished in the most natural way possible. But there are always disadvantages & because the leather's surface isn't protected nor strong chemical unsoluble dyes used, the leather does remain somewhat vulnerable..........if you have dogs or kids in the house, best to avoid analine & stick semi-analine, the next best thing.
 

Lean'n'mean

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,087
Location
Cloud-cuckoo-land
My Aero FQHH Barnstormer laughs at the rain:





Bought in 2008, still going strong. Pics are from last year.

Beautiful, the coating has lasted a long time but I can see a few places where the water isn't beading but soaking in, so prehaps it's time to think about reproofing it ..:rolleyes:
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,944
Location
London
Perhaps I should elaborate as I seem to be the only person to have got wet in a FQHH jacket. The day that it occurred I had to spend around three hours in heavy rain moving fire wood, the whole time bending and lifting whilst large drops of water poured down on me from the trees, the wet breached at the shoulders, inner elbows and middle of back. The back was from bending over I assume, but I didn't look to see if it had come through the seem as I was rather wet at the time. For normal dog walking purposes I find the jackets to be perfectly adequate in water resistance.

You must be the only man on this forum who wears an Aero jacket to move logs around in the rain! Well played sir, well playd...
We must add that to the list of things to do to speed up break in!
 

MJCR

One of the Regulars
Messages
174
Location
Lancashire, UK.
I often go out in my Barnstormer in the rain. It does soak in a bit in places, as commentated on above, especially where there are heavy creases in the leather (arms etc.) but it's never penetrated all the way through to the extent that I was getting soaked. I have used a tiny bit of Obenauf's in key areas like the cuffs, which have become a little battered, but it's a tank. It laughs at the snow, doesn't care about the rain. I once worked in outdoor clothing and equipment retail and did the official Gore-Tex course. Average time for a new jacket to remain properly waterproof when being used in adventurous conditions - 24 hours. That was 15 plus years ago, and I'm sure the tech is better now, but I have no issues with I FQHH in the rain.
 

pawineguy

One Too Many
Messages
1,974
Location
Bucks County, PA
I can understand your confusion & it may sound like a contradiction but good quality analine leathers are considered as the finest available. Since the grain surface isn't corrected by abrassion, dyes, embossing or protective coatings, only premium hides, with as few blemishes possible are selected for this treatment. What you have is a near perfect leather which is finished in the most natural way possible. But there are always disadvantages & because the leather's surface isn't protected nor strong chemical unsoluble dyes used, the leather does remain somewhat vulnerable..........if you have dogs or kids in the house, best to avoid analine & stick semi-analine, the next best thing.

This is not correct. For example, aniline leathers are used all the time for shoe manufacture, and they can resist water, dirt, etc... People get too caught up in the "aniline" part of leather production, which only has to do with the type of dyes used. Much more important to the durability of the leather is the process prior to the dye application. Hot stuffed, heavily waxed infused leathers are very durable even with aniline dye.
 

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