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Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

Claybertrand

One Too Many
Messages
1,548
Hercules HB FQHH
Hercules Front Quarter Motorcycle? Jacket in Exceptional Vintage Condition sz 38 | eBay
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Very nice. You don't see that liner or that main zipper on these very often..........
 

Claybertrand

One Too Many
Messages
1,548
Essentially my dream jacket. It won’t stay in deal status for long. I have never seen one this pristine before. It’s way too small for me to wear or I’d go all in. Curious to see the fetch:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174759072778
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The East West designs are so head and shoulders above every other jacket maker in terms of pure artistic style. That is to take absolutely nothing away from any other maker vintage or modern. Some of these EW creations literally ARE art in leather form. I wonder what the inspiration was??? It seems only Oshwahkon out of NYC comes anywhere near the artistic design level as East West and I know they existed around the same time. It can't just be the late 60s era because many of the vintage makers were making jackets before and through this era. I think its a combination of the era, the locale, the "scene", the various abundant creativity enhancers available at the time and just the place and time American culture was in during those years.


These jackets have their own truly unique vibe and even though they were apparently only sized for anorexics and gnomes, I always take a long moment to study the details on these. ESPECIALLY the backs!!!! And this one, though mostly a relatively traditional design by East West standards, has a beautiful rear yoke and clean design.

Agreed this is pristine. The start price being in the low Peso range sets the stage for a very interesting auction indeed.

Alas, I would be remiss to not mention, in a worshiping tone, THAT COLLAR. It's just perfect.

Let's see where it goes!!!!!!!
 
Messages
17,511
Location
Chicago
The East West designs are so head and shoulders above every other jacket maker in terms of pure artistic style. That is to take absolutely nothing away from any other maker vintage or modern. Some of these EW creations literally ARE art in leather form. I wonder what the inspiration was??? It seems only Oshwahkon out of NYC comes anywhere near the artistic design level as East West and I know they existed around the same time. It can't just be the late 60s era because many of the vintage makers were making jackets before and through this era. I think its a combination of the era, the locale, the "scene", the various abundant creativity enhancers available at the time and just the place and time American culture was in during those years.


These jackets have their own truly unique vibe and even though they were apparently only sized for anorexics and gnomes, I always take a long moment to study the details on these. ESPECIALLY the backs!!!! And this one, though mostly a relatively traditional design by East West standards, has a beautiful rear yoke and clean design.

Agreed this is pristine. The start price being in the low Peso range sets the stage for a very interesting auction indeed.

Alas, I would be remiss to not mention, in a worshiping tone, THAT COLLAR. It's just perfect.

Let's see where it goes!!!!!!!
Perfect summation and my thoughts exactly. EW is the result of a mushroom boom. I have never seen a single one that I could wear. Every single one I’ve seen I have admired. They strike such a rare cord. They take the 30’s-40’s stylings and dose them and the result is just so unique and beautiful. I’m a fan of most every era in one way or the other. Something about these in the late 60’s-early 70’s just hits my high water mark.
 

Robbie79

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,163

tmitchell59

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,750
Location
Illinois

This looks to be the 1st edition of the post-war MC Classic. I actually bought this jacket the first listing, but had an issue with my paypal payment. The seller was new and we tried to work it out. He was very nice. I missed it on the re-load. I would have only resold it for more money, so glad someone got a great deal.
 

tmitchell59

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,750
Location
Illinois

Now thats rare, I never see that. The motorcycle jackets are rare but they pop up here an there. Looks gone now?

Here it is like new in Black. I've seen two others, one is in Japan the other sold years ago. This is the only half-belt I have seen from Taubers. Mine is late 40s. My favorite half-belt style

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mendelboaz

One Too Many
Messages
1,242
Location
The Netherlands
This looks to be the 1st edition of the post-war MC Classic. I actually bought this jacket the first listing, but had an issue with my paypal payment. The seller was new and we tried to work it out. He was very nice. I missed it on the re-load. I would have only resold it for more money, so glad someone got a great deal.

I'm glad someone snagged it up, the temptation was strong.
 

Claybertrand

One Too Many
Messages
1,548
Here it is like new in Black. I've seen two others, one is in Japan the other sold years ago. This is the only half-belt I have seen from Taubers. Mine is late 40s. My favorite half-belt style

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This is a Grail Jacket especially in this condition!!! I can't say I've seen one in better condition. Taubers is a brand I am always interested in. I don't own one ( although I MAY have an untagged one....) but I'd really like to. This one has an "action back" and, like a few jackets I have seen, it has the side cinches lower than the rear "belt". Although it looks a little off compared to those with the cinches aligned WITH the belt, for me, the cinches being lower makes for a more functional adjustment and a better fit look. One could tend to think that this is an evolution of the half belt of sorts, except that this look is also found on the early Hercules jackets as well.

Half belt evolution is interesting.
 

Claybertrand

One Too Many
Messages
1,548
EW is the result of a mushroom boom.

This conversation comes with the backdrop of me watching a few episodes of Amazons Grateful Dead docuseries "Long Strange Trip" this week............. and yes I'm sure that Psilocybin, Mescaline, LSD.....all contributed to an atmosphere of creativity particularly in San Francisco. Very interesting docu btw. I am not a Dead Head and the 60s are before my time so seeing the atmosphere back then and the huge influence of psychedelics on music and art is interesting in its own right. But seeing these "Merry Pranksters" and the way the Dead would dose unsuspecting people they didn't want pestering them is crazy. The abundance of psychedelics and their unbridled use in some circles is fascinating.

The larger point relating to East West being that this was the environment at the time and the epicenter of it all was San Francisco. It puts such an interesting twist in the rich history of Bay Area leather garment production. Products and makers in the area were spawned by the dry goods boom that supported the gold rush. When the era of Free Love, expression and psychedelic experimentation came through, East West looks to have taken the roots of leather production and grafted on this branch of creativity seemingly of form over function. Especially the more ornate jackets are truly pieces of art. Some look creatively like they came straight outta some Community College/Junior College Leatherworking Class but with expert craftmanship that a student would not possess at that level.

Perhaps if one does not exist already, these EW jackets need their own thread??????:rolleyes: It would be relatively sparse being these are not that prevalent and we should request/require that ALL available photos of subject jackets should be posted.
 
Messages
17,511
Location
Chicago
This conversation comes with the backdrop of me watching a few episodes of Amazons Grateful Dead docuseries "Long Strange Trip" this week............. and yes I'm sure that Psilocybin, Mescaline, LSD.....all contributed to an atmosphere of creativity particularly in San Francisco. Very interesting docu btw. I am not a Dead Head and the 60s are before my time so seeing the atmosphere back then and the huge influence of psychedelics on music and art is interesting in its own right. But seeing these "Merry Pranksters" and the way the Dead would dose unsuspecting people they didn't want pestering them is crazy. The abundance of psychedelics and their unbridled use in some circles is fascinating.

The larger point relating to East West being that this was the environment at the time and the epicenter of it all was San Francisco. It puts such an interesting twist in the rich history of Bay Area leather garment production. Products and makers in the area were spawned by the dry goods boom that supported the gold rush. When the era of Free Love, expression and psychedelic experimentation came through, East West looks to have taken the roots of leather production and grafted on this branch of creativity seemingly of form over function. Especially the more ornate jackets are truly pieces of art. Some look creatively like they came straight outta some Community College/Junior College Leatherworking Class but with expert craftmanship that a student would not possess at that level.

Perhaps if one does not exist already, these EW jackets need their own thread??????:rolleyes: It would be relatively sparse being these are not that prevalent and we should request/require that ALL available photos of subject jackets should be posted.
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/east-west-musical-instruments-company.90925/
Looks like Billy Bob has the black twin of the jacket I posted.
 
Messages
17,511
Location
Chicago
This conversation comes with the backdrop of me watching a few episodes of Amazons Grateful Dead docuseries "Long Strange Trip" this week............. and yes I'm sure that Psilocybin, Mescaline, LSD.....all contributed to an atmosphere of creativity particularly in San Francisco. Very interesting docu btw. I am not a Dead Head and the 60s are before my time so seeing the atmosphere back then and the huge influence of psychedelics on music and art is interesting in its own right. But seeing these "Merry Pranksters" and the way the Dead would dose unsuspecting people they didn't want pestering them is crazy. The abundance of psychedelics and their unbridled use in some circles is fascinating.

The larger point relating to East West being that this was the environment at the time and the epicenter of it all was San Francisco. It puts such an interesting twist in the rich history of Bay Area leather garment production. Products and makers in the area were spawned by the dry goods boom that supported the gold rush. When the era of Free Love, expression and psychedelic experimentation came through, East West looks to have taken the roots of leather production and grafted on this branch of creativity seemingly of form over function. Especially the more ornate jackets are truly pieces of art. Some look creatively like they came straight outta some Community College/Junior College Leatherworking Class but with expert craftmanship that a student would not possess at that level.

Perhaps if one does not exist already, these EW jackets need their own thread??????:rolleyes: It would be relatively sparse being these are not that prevalent and we should request/require that ALL available photos of subject jackets should be posted.
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/east-west-musical-instruments-company.90925/
Looks like Billy Bob has the black twin of the jacket I posted.
 

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