Bill Kelso Duke in Victory HH

[tmitchell59]

I bought this Bill Kelso Duke a month ago from the classifieds. I admired the Duke on their website and took the opportunity to own one. I had no contact with BK since this was not a new sale. The original owner received it in February this year. The jacket is pictured on their Facebook page. It is the Victory Horsehide.
I like the reproduction Monarch label and the union label. The plain brown lining is also very vintage. I have two vintage Monarch HH jackets. I also live in Illinois so have a kinship with Milwaukee and the Midwestern US.
I really didn’t understand the Duke (escape from NY) reference until after I bought it.
I like the style. I have an Alexander and Johnson in similar style. The cut and fit of the jacket are near perfect for me. The jacket is sized 44 with no special sizing. The jacket is very comfortable to wear and has a slimming effect even when zipped. I am not a fan of buttoned cuffs. The cuffs on this jacket are large even when buttoned and do not tighten. I may look at another set of buttons to have a tighter fit. I have the same loose cuffs on my LW suburban.
The Victory HH is special. In hand it is obvious that is a high end leather product. It is very soft and pliable and would take no breaking in. The jacket is not a light weight. Weighs in at 6 pounds. The same weight as my LW Suburban. A nice weight and feel. The aroma is absolutely intoxicating.
The side straps function well and stay put.
The workmanship is nice, but not LW or Aero quality. I’m not all that picky, but some of the stitching just stands out especially with the thread color.
All in all it is fine jacket and is getting worn. I had trouble adjusting to brown and shiney. I have black and more satin or old and vintage.
I included a video of an Aero Café racer I sold. It was very heavy CXL in dark brown. Best I can do in comparison.


[video=youtube;LdUlbtZmIWc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LdUlbtZmIWc[/video]

 

[tmitchell59]

Could not put both video on the same page.

Aero Cafe racer.

[video=youtube;x7IklGqUYBU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x7IklGqUYBU[/video]

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I like the funky pocket config on the Kelso jacket, and the lapels.

 

[tmitchell59]

Here is a link to some screen shots for close up look at the Victory HH.

 

[tmitchell59]

I like the funky pocket config on the Kelso jacket, and the lapels.

Funky is a good word to describe the Duke, even with the Funky stitching it works.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

what's funky about the stitching? (never mind, I just read your first post).

 

[zhz]

Looks really nice. VH looks really good.

 

[Monitor]

The Duke jacket is absolutely awesome! All the cool details; action back, asymmetrical styling, unique pocket placement... And man, look at the leather on the sleeves! I don't know, looking at those pictures I can see why BK is so proud of his product.

Tmitchell, Aero Cafe Racer video is set to private, can't see it, and I'd love to.

 

[tmitchell59]

Original Monarch and The Duke




Johnson leather, Duke, Alexander

 

[Superfluous]

The jacket looks great! So does the Victory HH.

The workmanship is nice, but not LW or Aero quality. I’m not all that picky, but some of the stitching just stands out especially with the thread color.

This is surprising and disappointing.

 

[erikb02809]

I'm the original owner, and I think it looks great on you. The jacket's body length and sleeve length are perfect - I'd guess it was tailored for you if I didn't know better. :thumb:

 

[tmitchell59]

The Duke jacket is absolutely awesome! All the cool details; action back, asymmetrical styling, unique pocket placement... And man, look at the leather on the sleeves! I don't know, looking at those pictures I can see why BK is so proud of his product.

Tmitchell, Aero Cafe Racer video is set to private, can't see it, and I'd love to.

Sorry and thanks, I made it public.

 

[tmitchell59]

The jacket looks great! So does the Victory HH.



This is surprising and disappointing.

I just got a brand new LW "Test" jacket (posted in another thread) that is very heavy, thick HH and there is no funky stitching. So in comparison the Duke is funky, but nothing I can't live with.

 

[Sloan1874]

I hear BK are collaborating with American Classics in Covent Garden to produce a jacket exclusive to them.

 

[ProteinNerd]

I'm really liking the videos of the jackets, hope this is the start of the new standard instead of photos.

Nice jacket btw...very interested that you say the quality isn't as good as the Aero. I've never seen one in person but with all the "hype" over the leather....

 

[zhz]

I think the guy in American Classics has a good relation with BK.
BTW, do you happen what kind of jacket is it?

I hear BK are collaborating with American Classics in Covent Garden to produce a jacket exclusive to them.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Do you have a close-up pic of the "funky" stitching? I'm not quite picturing what you mean.

I just got a brand new LW "Test" jacket (posted in another thread) that is very heavy, thick HH and there is no funky stitching. So in comparison the Duke is funky, but nothing I can't live with.

 

[tmitchell59]

I'm really liking the videos of the jackets, hope this is the start of the new standard instead of photos.

Nice jacket btw...very interested that you say the quality isn't as good as the Aero. I've never seen one in person but with all the "hype" over the leather....

Interesting you are the first to comment on the videos. the videos just show more and you can do screen shots. With youtube they are easy to post. Not sure why it isn't used more.

The Duke is fine. The leather is rather nice.

 

[Sloan1874]

I think the guy in American Classics has a good relation with BK.
BTW, do you happen what kind of jacket is it?

'fraid not. Just heard about the partnership while I was gabbing in one of vintage shops on Brick Lane.

 

[morrison2951]

BK is definitely on my radar.