Block Bilt / H & L Block Appreciation Thread

[jeo]

My Block Aviator, Interior changed.

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Gorgeous! One of my favorites of yours. What makes you say Block is the maker?

 

[tmitchell59]

Gorgeous! One of my favorites of yours. What makes you say Block is the maker?

Somewhere here @Mysteryo posted the same jacket with a label. I recall it was a Block. I may be confused. It is a cool Aviator.

 

[jeo]

Somewhere here @Mysteryo posted the same jacket with a label. I recall it was a Block. I may be confused. It is a cool Aviator.

One of the coolest for sure.

The only other one I’ve seen that is exactly like yours had a Windward label and a leather label and same buckle with grommets I’ve seen on a bunch of Fried Osterman jackets.

 

[tmitchell59]

One of the coolest for sure.

The only other one I’ve seen that is exactly like yours had a Windward label and a leather label and same buckle with grommets I’ve seen on a bunch of Fried Osterman jackets.

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That's it! Sorry for the confusion. Looks like they did try to imitate the original lining. I'm not home. But I believe the zipper was changed.

 

[Marc mndt]

Here's my 30s Block Bilt

 

[semolina_pilchard]

Here's my 30s Block Bilt

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Stunning!

 

[Marc mndt]

Newspaper clipping August 16 1927

 

[Marc mndt]

 

[jeo]

 

[handymike]

What a beauty, that collar is dangerously nice!

 

[semolina_pilchard]

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Love the lining on this one as well

 

[jeo]

 

[jeo]

 

[semolina_pilchard]

@jeo I just logged in to post the black one! Absolutely stunning jacket.

The Cossack is the one that I bought from eBay from a guy in LA but returned due to fit and a couple of other issues. Has the exact same fold line across the back.

Both very cool jackets.

 

[jeo]

 

[Jasonissm]

The front looks very ordinary but I like the back design on this one. It has pleats as well as split back with gussets, looks quite short in the back with a longer front drop. I found the shape of the top panel of the back pretty interesting haven't observed it on other jackets, arching upward toward the center.

40s goatskin?

 

[tmitchell59]

I honestly think Block Bilt made some of the best styles I’ve ever seen in leather jackets. And this was in the 1930s!

Block jackets are some of the best 30s jackets made during the Golden Years. Note how they are advertised. They were selling style.

The Bay area as a whole were producing the most interesting designs. They used garment leather which was lighter weight, probably with a focus on west coast weather.

Bay area makers like Ralphs-Pugh were also advertised throughout the West. Retailers often had products by several California makers.

California makers were protective of their origins. There were lawsuits in the 30s which challenged the use of made in California or references to California in the product style made by producers outside of California. Thus you seen; "made in California" and others "made in the West" for products made in California.

The largest California maker was California Sportswear in Los Angeles. They were advertised through out the country. Their history is well documented by their large array of jackets produced from the 30s through the !970s. A good run for a company that was primarily a leather garment maker.