AL - Simmons Bilt!

[Sloan1874]

I thought that too. Also sits well within the IH Japanese ethos.

 

[hpalapdog]

I was surprised the Simmons Bilt name was still available to register. Quite a well known name in vintage jackets. I posted this scan from one of the Japanese magazines a couple of years ago.

 

[Otter]

Nice looking jacket, I wonder if those are concealed buttons on the top third of the windflap ?

 

[Monitor]

I was surprised the Simmons Bilt name was still available to register. Quite a well known name in vintage jackets. I posted this scan from one of the Japanese magazines a couple of years ago.

What a nice jacket!!

 

[IXL]

^^^^Easy, kid. You're getting out of jackets, remember?

 

[Big J]

I was surprised the Simmons Bilt name was still available to register. Quite a well known name in vintage jackets. I posted this scan from one of the Japanese magazines a couple of years ago.

So, will AL/SB be offering this jacket? I guess Aero didn't have a pattern for this one?

 

[navetsea]

weird button spacings looks real cool at this vintage state, I bet it would be more of an acquired taste brand new especially at premium price tag

 

[Sloan1874]

lol SB/AL have got their work cut out trying to copy the originals, as a. there aren't, as far as I'm aware, a huge number out there and from the looks of the 'Clayton', whoever is doing the patterns (possibly Johnny Minto) really doesn't have 'an eye' for it.

Original:


Copy:

 

[Sloan1874]

lol SB/AL have got their work cut out trying to copy the originals, as a. there aren't, as far as I'm aware, a huge number out there and from the looks of the 'Clayton', whoever is doing the patterns (possibly Johnny Minto) really doesn't have 'an eye' for it.

Original: View attachment 33460


Copy: View attachment 33461

 

[navetsea]

that has a disproportionally small neck hole.

 

[Sloan1874]

The back's miles off as well. The Clayton is basically a half-belt with a botched collar.

Clayton:

Original:

 

[Edward]

I was surprised the Simmons Bilt name was still available to register. Quite a well known name in vintage jackets. I posted this scan from one of the Japanese magazines a couple of years ago.

The short of it is that a historical trademark that has long fallen out of use may be claimed, registered per the relevant procedure, and used by anyone who does it first. They then legitimately own the mark and can protect it against all-comers. This is how a lot of companies now own their marks - Mosrite of California Guitars, for instance, is a Japanese company that has no connection whatever with the company set up and founded by Semi Moseley in the Sixties. The thing with trademarks is that in order to attract legal protection, they must be being used in good faith, so a mark which has lain dormant for years can come up for grabs. Of course, other consumer protection legislation comes into play too - they wouldn't be allowed to claim that they were the same company as the original, for example.

 

[hpalapdog]

I wonder how many people are actually working at the company ? A bunch of experienced machinists went back to Aero. Amanda left some time back AFAIK and the ex-honcho is detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure.

They do seem to have had trade contracts in the past. I quite liked this...

 

[pawineguy]

I wonder how many people are actually working at the company ? A bunch of experienced machinists went back to Aero. Amanda left some time back AFAIK and the ex-honcho is detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure.

They do seem to have had trade contracts in the past. I quite like this...

Made in ENGLAND???

 

[hpalapdog]

Must of run out of 'made in Great Britain' labels !
'British made' seems quote common on vintage jackets

 

[Stand By]

The label is a Nigel Cabourn label - a brand he has established that is synonymous with England. That's all it is. His order, his brand, his labels.
My ELC B-6 was ordered by JCB (they of the earth-moving/digger business - don't ask me to explain the why of it. I did ask ELC but the answer was rather opaque) and it has a JCB label in it. Their order; their label. That's business, I suppose.

 

[pawineguy]

The label is a Nigel Cabourn label - a brand he has established that is synonymous with England. That's all it is. His order, his brand, his labels.
My ELC B-6 was ordered by JCB (they of the earth-moving/digger business - don't ask me to explain the why of it. I did ask ELC but the answer was rather opaque) and it has a JCB label in it. Their order; their label. That's business, I suppose.

No, not really. The Brand Label saying "England" is fine of course, but there are laws governing "Made in ..." labels. Perhaps it was just a sample jacket and not actually for sale. No matter what brand is placed on an object, the label of origin has to be accurate.

 

[Sloan1874]

I don't get why their website is still carrying photographs which have the AL branding in the background. Surely it's not beyond them to re-shoot these jackets with a neutral backdrop, just in case they fancy changing their name again?
As far as the Made in England labels go, that sounds as if they've co-opted into NC's specific branding. You'd think it'd be easier to just leave it off the jackets for the sake of accuracy.

 

[navetsea]

what are those weird curving stitches on the back sleeves of that white jacket?

 

[Hide'n'seek]

I wonder how many people are actually working at the company ? A bunch of experienced machinists went back to Aero. Amanda left some time back AFAIK and the ex-honcho is detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure.


Just to clarify things, no workers that left Aero to go to Alexander have returned to Aero nor would they be welcome, they would be shown the door. We are far better of without them and to be honest they are all getting close to retirement age.
The experienced Aero machinists ( and other staff ) that returned are staff that could not work with Lauder but were happy to return once he had gone.