Cal-Leathers Shop Visit, Ventura CA.

[technovox]

And another vintage padded CL Cafe...I was going to sell it off, but glad it's still around.

 

[technovox]

This classic CL CHP is like wearing armor...

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

yep, shout out to Gwen. I'm bringing her 2 or 3 jackets next week for some zipper replacements and other touch ups. She did a great job with my Cal saving the Talon head side and only needing to replace the male side after finding a perfect match with the teeth.

 

[navetsea]

Good to see Cal Leather getting some attention. Long overdue. Gwen is a miracle worker when it comes to repairing the CL vintage jackets...and such a wealth of archival info. The trip to her shop in Ventura is well worth the effort. I hope they get more business.

Here's a CL Cafe that Gwen resurrected years ago. It was a complete basketcase and she brought it back...still one of my favorite jackets.

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I want to save the picture, turn out I already saved it before

 

[AeroFan_07]

This all makes me want my old "size 44" Cal back.

Really awesome write-up of the store and your findings there. Nice to see it's history still in the making out there!

 

[BobJ]

Good to see Cal Leather getting some attention. Long overdue. Gwen is a miracle worker when it comes to repairing the CL vintage jackets...and such a wealth of archival info. The trip to her shop in Ventura is well worth the effort. I hope they get more business.

Here's a CL Cafe that Gwen resurrected years ago. It was a complete basketcase and she brought it back ..still one of my favorite jackets.


What are those "buttonholes" at the end of the sleeves for -
Glove/gauntlet buttons? Thumbs? Flowers?
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[JMax]

Found some pics of a Cal I used to own...

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Found some pics of a Cal I used to own...

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damn that's nice. Is that teacore? Think I'm seeing some brown.

I might head down to the shop today or tomorrow. I got 3 jackets that need zipper fixes and Schott was super nice to send me a brand new Talon zipper so I can fix my 641xx. So pumped.

 

[JMax]

damn that's nice. Is that teacore? Think I'm seeing some brown.

I might head down to the shop today or tomorrow. I got 3 jackets that need zipper fixes and Schott was super nice to send me a brand new Talon zipper so I can fix my 641xx. So pumped.

Yep. Many of the older Cals had the teacore stuff going on. I also had a late 50s Langlitz that was teacore heaven.

Take more pictures please. Such cool stuff. About 10 years ago I had a bunch of work up the coast of Cali. I would land in LA and then drive a few hours north. I never stopped at Cal. Can you believe it?!? I'd zip right past them on the 101.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Yep. Many of the older Cals had the teacore stuff going on. I also had a late 50s Langlitz that was teacore heaven.

Take more pictures please. Such cool stuff. About 10 years ago I had a bunch of work up the coast of Cali. I would land in LA and then drive a few hours north. I never stopped at Cal. Can you believe it?!? I'd zip right past them on the 101.

right on. Yeah, kind of rainy here. I might go tomorrow or next week. Depends on when Gwen is there. I've got a couple repairs that can go in a few directions, so want to get her advice on how best to handle.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Yep. Many of the older Cals had the teacore stuff going on. I also had a late 50s Langlitz that was teacore heaven.

Take more pictures please. Such cool stuff. About 10 years ago I had a bunch of work up the coast of Cali. I would land in LA and then drive a few hours north. I never stopped at Cal. Can you believe it?!? I'd zip right past them on the 101.

btw, on the teacore. Is it black fading to brown and then to gray? Or black to gray to brown? Or black to brown all the way through?

 

[JMax]

btw, on the teacore. Is it black fading to brown and then to gray? Or black to gray to brown? Or black to brown all the way through?

Black to brown all the way through. There was no gray on that puppy. It was super nice.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Black to brown all the way through. There was no gray on that puppy. It was super nice.

I just won this one. Hoping it's a Cal stairway to teacore heaven. Looks like it's got the good stuff. Those diamond pulls make it what, a 60's model? All Talon zips, no issues with the male pin. One of the pull tabs is replaced with leather strip, but I got a spare I can swap in. And it's a little longer, like 26 at the point of the tail. If it's everything I want it to be, and a mutton collar I already have fits, I might sell one or two of my other Cals. Starting to get ridiculous LOL.

 

[AeroFan_07]

^^ Nah I would not say rediculious, just typical for FL - Outerwear.

Now if you decide to become a part-time employee with them, that may be another story...

Nice catch on that jacket, it looks awesome!

 

[JMax]

I just won this one. Hoping it's a Cal stairway to teacore heaven. Looks like it's got the good stuff. Those diamond pulls make it what, a 60's model? All Talon zips, no issues with the male pin. One of the pull tabs is replaced with leather strip, but I got a spare I can swap in. And it's a little longer, like 26 at the point of the tail. If it's everything I want it to be, and a mutton collar I already have fits, I might sell one or two of my other Cals. Starting to get ridiculous LOL.

I saw that one. Sweeeet.

I always think of diamond pulls as 40s and 50s. Out of curiosity, how is the diamond pull and chain attached to the zip, with a little thicker, round attachment?

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

^^ Nah I would not say rediculious, just typical for FL - Outerwear.

Now if you decide to become a part-time employee with them, that may be another story...

Nice catch on that jacket, it looks awesome!

LOL, I'm almost better off just buying a stake in the company and getting first dibs at any jackets that never get picked up.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

I saw that one. Sweeeet.

I always think of diamond pulls as 40s and 50s. Out of curiosity, how is the diamond pull and chain attached to the zip, with a little thicker, round attachment?

I just patched one on my Schott 618 (round one, not the diamond). It's a round loop that attached to the zipper head in a little gap in the head on each side. I think when they assemble the head, they lay in the pull. I didn't want to take everything apart, so I cut a small slice into the loop, fit it in best I could, and then pinched it tight. It's not as secure as original, but it's more ornamental since I never use the pockets, so should last a while.

The diamond spare I have is in the mail. I'll let you know when I get it, but I'm assuming it's the same kind of thing.

I'm really hoping the jacket isn't deceptively large. The 26 inch length is really throwing me. The ptp seemed to be about 23 from the photo, but it's always hard to tell how taut the jacket is. The bottom seems to be 19ish, so I'm guessing it's a 44 Long just based on other ones I have as reference. But there was nothing in the pocket noting the size. If it's a little big, you know you'll be getting a PM from me LOL.

 

[JMax]

I just patched one on my Schott 618 (round one, not the diamond). It's a round loop that attached to the zipper head in a little gap in the head on each side. I think when they assemble the head, they lay in the pull. I didn't want to take everything apart, so I cut a small slice into the loop, fit it in best I could, and then pinched it tight. It's not as secure as original, but it's more ornamental since I never use the pockets, so should last a while.

The diamond spare I have is in the mail. I'll let you know when I get it, but I'm assuming it's the same kind of thing.

I'm really hoping the jacket isn't deceptively large. The 26 inch length is really throwing me. The ptp seemed to be about 23 from the photo, but it's always hard to tell how taut the jacket is. The bottom seems to be 19ish, so I'm guessing it's a 44 Long just based on other ones I have as reference. But there was nothing in the pocket noting the size. If it's a little big, you know you'll be getting a PM from me LOL.

Round loop, got it. Thanks.

I’m watching a few Cals, spread out across eBay and Etsy. I can’t get enough of them.

 

[Chevalier]

Cal did a fantastic job re-lining this Star Glove jacket I found in Sacramento. I think it is likely a retired CHP jacket from a long way back. I really like the fit, especially for a vintage find.

 

[Chevalier]

Thanks for this thread, too! I never got to tour the shop when I brought in my jacket last year due to the lockdown. It was nice to do a virtual visit via this post.