Cal-Leather

[ton312]

View attachment 105125 Greetings All:
So i should keep this one??? Right?
Crappy photo but.
Be well. Bowen

Yes you should!

 

[technovox]

It's been my experience in hunting for vintage Cal Leather jackets that the cafe racers are super hard to find...especially the ones with shoulder and elbow padding. For every 30 or 40 Cal Leather CHP jackets, maybe one cafe racer comes along. And the racing shirts are even more rare.
I've been to the Cal Leather shop in Ventura several times over the years, and met with Gwen, and yes, it is a very small operation. Consequently, I've found that if one orders one of their custom jackets, then be prepared to wait- it can take a while...a long while. But Gwen is extremely passionate about the Cal Leather history... and she is exceptionally talented and very knowledgeable about their jackets.

 

[El Marro]

View attachment 105125 Greetings All:
So i should keep this one??? Right?
Crappy photo but.
Be well. Bowen

That one is a keeper for sure! Great fit on you with or without the top hat!

 

[Peter Bowden]

Spotted one on Etsy for circa £87!Don't shoot me!

 

[JMax]

Perfect time to bump this old thread. I just won this six panel racer by Cal Leathers and I should have it next week:
View attachment 105117
View attachment 105118

Seller said it was from the 1960's and it looks like it's in pretty decent shape. This is my first vintage mc jacket and I can't wait to get it!

I was eyeballing it. Great score man. Fingers crossed it is as cool as it looks when it arrives.

 

[ksozay]

Like TechnoV, I've worked with Gwen over the past 4 years now and she's been a pleasure to get to know, do business with. I have a Cal collection of jackets that is getting a bit out of hand... Anyone out there looking for a Cal jacket, let me know, I might be willing to sell a few. I can also help folks sort out the order process at Cal. It's a small operation but those of us that love Gwen, are always willing to pitch in a volunteer a hand.

 

[ksozay]

Perfect time to bump this old thread. I just won this six panel racer by Cal Leathers and I should have it next week:
View attachment 105117
View attachment 105118

Seller said it was from the 1960's and it looks like it's in pretty decent shape. This is my first vintage mc jacket and I can't wait to get it!

Hey EM,

I have one exactly like it and it is from the 60s. One of their early 6 panel CR that came with optional shoulder and elbow padding. Mine is also unlined. I had Gwen at CL give mine a good once over and she added the Cal Label back. At the time, Gwen and I agreed to leave it unlined, just something about the raw feeling of the jacket in it's original state. After wearing mine a bit, I'm seriously considering asking Gwen to line it. Wear it and see what you think but the lining gives it some weight and ease of movement that unlined leather doesn't as it tends to hang up on your clothing. Still, it's an amazing jacket and the weight is much lighter than I expected. Makes for a great off bike wearing jacket.

 

[El Marro]

Hey EM,

I have one exactly like it and it is from the 60s. One of their early 6 panel CR that came with optional shoulder and elbow padding. Mine is also unlined. I had Gwen at CL give mine a good once over and she added the Cal Label back. At the time, Gwen and I agreed to leave it unlined, just something about the raw feeling of the jacket in it's original state. After wearing mine a bit, I'm seriously considering asking Gwen to line it. Wear it and see what you think but the lining gives it some weight and ease of movement that unlined leather doesn't as it tends to hang up on your clothing. Still, it's an amazing jacket and the weight is much lighter than I expected. Makes for a great off bike wearing jacket.

This will be my first unlined leather jacket, so I guess I will have to see how I like it. Good to know that the folks at Cal can add a lining if I decide to go that way.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Greetings All:
Thought i might follow up on my earlier post of this CL Cross Zip. It’s my first and has led me to others. It was so dry and stiff upon arrival i was afraid to even move it. About 3 Pecards later it has presented very well and gained a pound or two. Tried to show some grain shots. Think i’ll call it Angus.
Be well. Bowen

 

[JMax]

View attachment 107348 View attachment 107350 View attachment 107352 View attachment 107353 View attachment 107354 Greetings All:
Thought i might follow up on my earlier post of this CL Cross Zip. It’s my first and has led me to others. It was so dry and stiff upon arrival i was afraid to even move it. About 3 Pecards later it has presented very well and gained a pound or two. Tried to show some grain shots. Think i’ll call it Angus.
Be well. Bowen

Stunning jacket.

 

[Powerband]

That cross-zip goes great with you and the Velvet Underground. A beauty.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

That cross-zip goes great with you and the Velvet Underground. A beauty.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Greetings Powerband et al:
Ha ha. Thanks man. Yeah, Lou Reed could do a cross-zip no sweat!
Be well. Bowen

 

[ksozay]

View attachment 107348 View attachment 107350 View attachment 107352 View attachment 107353 View attachment 107354 Greetings All:
Thought i might follow up on my earlier post of this CL Cross Zip. It’s my first and has led me to others. It was so dry and stiff upon arrival i was afraid to even move it. About 3 Pecards later it has presented very well and gained a pound or two. Tried to show some grain shots. Think i’ll call it Angus.
Be well. Bowen

That is Cal's "LAPD" jacket. Their original design. Really nice condition on that one!

 

[tropicalbob]

View attachment 107348 View attachment 107350 View attachment 107352 View attachment 107353 View attachment 107354 Greetings All:
Thought i might follow up on my earlier post of this CL Cross Zip. It’s my first and has led me to others. It was so dry and stiff upon arrival i was afraid to even move it. About 3 Pecards later it has presented very well and gained a pound or two. Tried to show some grain shots. Think i’ll call it Angus.
Be well. Bowen

One of my favorite combos: a black hat with a black leather jacket. BTW, there's a great biography of Reed that came out recently by Anthony DeCurtis. Honest, well written book.

 

[ton312]

View attachment 107348 View attachment 107350 View attachment 107352 View attachment 107353 View attachment 107354 Greetings All:
Thought i might follow up on my earlier post of this CL Cross Zip. It’s my first and has led me to others. It was so dry and stiff upon arrival i was afraid to even move it. About 3 Pecards later it has presented very well and gained a pound or two. Tried to show some grain shots. Think i’ll call it Angus.
Be well. Bowen

Perfect fit!

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

One of my favorite combos: a black hat with a black leather jacket. BTW, there's a great biography of Reed that came out recently by Anthony DeCurtis. Honest, well written book.

Greetings all:
Thanks Bob, black on black, i agree. Just not all black. The Goth thing kinda soured me on that. All black, only a few can pull off..Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, a few others like Lou Reed. Now he was a dark poignant musician...but man some of his songs brought to life some dark stuff back in the life then.
Be well and thanks. Bowen

 

[Monitor]

View attachment 107348 View attachment 107350 View attachment 107352 View attachment 107353 View attachment 107354 Greetings All:
Thought i might follow up on my earlier post of this CL Cross Zip. It’s my first and has led me to others. It was so dry and stiff upon arrival i was afraid to even move it. About 3 Pecards later it has presented very well and gained a pound or two. Tried to show some grain shots. Think i’ll call it Angus.
Be well. Bowen

Holy God that's beautiful...

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Holy God that's beautiful...

Greetings Monitor et al:
I wanna thank everyone for all the kind words and likes on my Cal Leather posts. I appreciate them all.
Monitor, thanks i agree. I really like that jacket. Sad to say i have an exact twin to it, brown, pristine, with the mouton collar but it’s too small. If only another inch on the sleeves i’d wear the s**t outta it! Arggh
Be well all. Bowen

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Bumping this thread just so it doesn’t get lost.
B

 

[JMax]

Adding a photo to help keep it from getting lost