Cal leather made of Rubber!

[Monitor]

Hah! I thought it looked really weird yesterday when you first posted and the cracks in the collar suggested that it isn't leather it but I didn't think Cal ever did a rubber jacket. Buco used to do it, too, once they moved production overseas. I think these were mostly coming from Japan? Not sure...

It looks (and fits) exactly the same as mine sans shoulder gussets. Lol Cal Rubbers. But it fits you great! Quite a find. At least you don't need to bother cleaning that one. Why bother with conditioners and stuff??? Toss it in the bathtub, done deal.

 

[Gamma68]

Very interesting jacket. Unique and distinctive.

It looks phenomenal now. How comfortable is it to wear? Is it a solid rubber or is it a coated fabric? Very curious. I can't imagine it's comfortable or breathes...

I was thinking the same, that a rubber cafe racer must trap heat and be very uncomfortable to wear. What is your experience, @tmitchell59 ?

Also, except for the sleeve zip placement, I was just thinking the Himel Kensington design looks a lot like the Cal Rubbers, err, Leathers.

 

[Gamma68]

Why bother with conditioners and stuff??? Toss it in the bathtub, done deal.

My understanding is rubber still needs conditioning or it can eventually succumb to dry rot. Maybe that's what happened with the cracking around the collar.

Still, this jacket looks really cool and you'd never know it was rubber just going by the photos.

 

[Edward]

Quite the transformation.

In terms of the rubber / vinyl / pleather thing.... A lot of the big names in British bike leathers did at least one or two models in this sort of thing, typically priced significantly cheaper than their mainline. Lewis did one or two - one called The Bomber, if memory serves. Belstaff did a Trialmaster and matching trousers affair, marketed as a rain suit. Mascot, who priced all their leather jackets a the budget end, saved some money by making the undersides of all the collars on their leather jackets out of vinyl (not a practice picked up by the repro jackets, they're all leather). Not a surprise that American manufacturers did the same thing, but this is the first one I've seen. I don't get the impression they survived the way leather did, on either side of the Atlantic.

 

[tmitchell59]

I do recall seeing an Excelled in man made and others on ebay and one Japanese CR locally. I do recall seeing pre 60s jackets proudly advertising an alternative material, it may have been Goodyear or Firestone labeled. Yes, and a Sears Fieldmaster.

The Talon zippers say late 50s early 60s. The Diamond pulls don't show up in the 60s, seemingly replaced with the Tear drop pulls. Of course they may have been using accumulated stock.

60s seems like a good time to experiment with materials. Interesting to hear about other makers that experimented with alternative materials. I have not done a search on Naugahyde. I know the name, but don't know much about it. Seems that came on the the 50s/60s?

I have a tear under one arm which exposed the backing material. Looks like the backing of a tire.

Here is the Grain.

No sleeve creasing.

 

[Monitor]

Well, it's a nicer print than many that I've seen. Sudco was also made in Japan, right?

Here's the Buco...

And here's, um... This.

 

[tmitchell59]

Sudco was also made in Japan, right?

That may be the Japanese brand I saw locally. It was a CR in shiny black material.

Seems they always look new!

 

[ton312]

Before there was Shinki...there was pure vegan leather baby

 

[Monitor]

...man, you really have to be careful with these. You could easily be thinking you're getting a brand new old stock CR by these photos, and perhaps even wonder if it's maybe HH.

And then you get a rubber jacket.

Well, at least you don't have to worry about rain.

 

[Carlos840]

Rayon satin twill

...man, you really have to be careful with these. You could easily be thinking you're getting a brand new old stock CR by these photos, and perhaps even wonder if it's maybe HH.

And then you get a rubber jacket.

Well, at least you don't have to worry about rain.

You're going to be sweating so much inside of it, you will be wet anyway!

 

[ton312]

If you've ever wrapped your arm or leg in Saran Wrap, I'd imagine wearing one of these is about the same.

 

[Just Jim]

If you've ever wrapped your arm or leg in Saran Wrap, I'd imagine wearing one of these is about the same.

Yeah, pretty much. I had one when I was a kid. Miserably hot, uncomfortably steamy, and when I laid the bike down and hit the gravel, it shredded where it didn't evaporate. Since then, I haven't been able to look at a CR and not think "cheap naugahyde".

(On the bright side, the remains of the jacket were easily ignited. There was lots of pretty-colored flames and dark smoke.)

 

[Seb Lucas]

Is it rubber? Looks like vinyl, like the faux leather they use to cover seating in a old style diner booth. My understanding is this stuff needs plastiziser and minimal sun to prevent cracking.

 

[nick123]

Just don’t get caught without a leather in your pocket...

 

[Jwag]

 

[Monitor]

Just don’t get caught without a leather in your pocket...

Lol! I get it! Took me a whole day but I got it!

 

[navetsea]

this is the CR you wear in the swimming pool.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Interesting for sure! Seems all that's old is new again, just look through any department store at all the imitation "leather" jackets - 100% made of vinyl or rubber! Seems it was not just a 2018 thing after all....

Surprising it's lasted this long...