Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

[Leather Walker]

Thanks for the reminder! I got it.

Anytime, Terry!

 

[tmitchell59]

I keep coming back to this jacket. Who is Maco? Anyone know? Sellers calls it Horsehide, look like it could be. very interesting jacket with a high price tag


https://www.ebay.com/itm/124948324854

 

[Leather Walker]

Excelled flight jacket, 46R, 1st bid $10 eBay

 

[JMax]

Oakbrook

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-60...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

 

[JMax]

Cal Craft $70

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ca...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

 

[Carlos840]

Hercules with belt size 42 $218 obo

View attachment 368220

Do you know when that jacket was made? (i would guess 60s/70s)
I'm surprised to see the dreadded zig zag stitching on the underside of the collar.
To me that was a cost cutting measure that i would expect on a 90s/2000 jacket, not on a Hercules...
It appears they started doing that earlier than i thought.

 

[Marc mndt]

Do you know when that jacket was made? (i would guess 60s/70s)
I'm surprised to see the dreadded zig zag stitching on the underside of the collar.

Judging by the design I assumed it was 50s. I didn't see the zigzag stitching, that's pretty ugly indeed.

Maybe @tmitchell59 has an idea about the age of this jacket.

 

[Leather Walker]

Taylor's Leatherwear, 48L, opening bid $75: eBay

 

[AeroFan_07]

^^ That is one of the nicest Taylor's I have seen. Still made in USA, and the back is awesome. It would be too large for me at a 48L however. I still feel like Taylor's are very nice products overall, just not to Vanson/Cal Leathers/Langlitz level.

 

[EAC]

@Carlos840 I'd say early 50s:

picture from the 1951 Sears F/W catalog.

 

[handymike]

These jackets are great, a transitional cut. They fit nicely with slimmer sleeves- as opposed to the boxier 50s designs that are common.

 

[Claybertrand]

^^ That is one of the nicest Taylor's I have seen. Still made in USA, and the back is awesome. It would be too large for me at a 48L however. I still feel like Taylor's are very nice products overall, just not to Vanson/Cal Leathers/Langlitz level.

I would say that Taylor's jackets are definitely well made. Unlike Aero, Vanson, Eastman, Goodwear, Lost Worlds etc. Taylor IS A UNIFORM COMPANY. They're in the business of making Police Jackets making them in the style of numerous large metro police departments. These jackets are entirely utilitarian unlike the makers I mentioned who are ALL making jackets for aesthetics and fashion above all else (save for Vanson making Moto gear) and yes, I suppose some of the militaria reproduction COULD sorta fall under this but let's face it, no one is wearing a Eastman Luftwaffe to fly bi planes and shoot down allied bombers.

SO while Taylor concentrates on usefulness in the field, they do not seek out Vicenza or Shinki horsehide and try to match panels based on grain etc. They don't have steerhide tanned with roses. They don't have 3 year waiting lists. What they DO make are jackets made to hammer nails all day on the job in some of the coldest/harshest weather in the country for a profession that is largely out in that weather. Well made but way more institutional than the repro jackets. I have an older (late 70s - 80s???) Taylor. Its one of the heaviest jackets I have handled including the Aero Longshoreman (that i need to list). Its hide is very stiff sturdy leather almost bordering on vinyl in character. It seems literally bullet proof. The zipper construction is made for extremely heavy use.

All of this is not to judge these Taylor jackets---but to properly categorize them. The company has a rich history (I believe Appalachian became Taylor) and they continue to make quality products. But they are not reproduction makers for the fashion forward gent. When evaluating a Taylor, do so with the understanding that unless you are a cop buying it for the line of duty, you are attempting to squeeze a modern police jacket into a fashion purpose which of course CAN be done but be advised these are not the same as the 70 year old police jackets from the 50s that are seen today as cool vintage fashion.

Its like trying to put commercial stoves in your house. They seem to do the same thing and you think it could work but they really are just not made for that purpose and you will not be able to do it 99% of the time. These are made to be solid police jackets. If you can make em work for fashion, more power to you.

Again, I am not denigrating these in any way. They are what they are is all. Just an evaluation for those who see these and are interested. They are generally a bargain when I see what they are going for.

 

[tmitchell59]

Maybe @tmitchell59 has an idea about the age of this jacket.

I agree with the above; early 1950s. I would add that is very likely made my Appalachian. It has the 50s Sears label, the other tags looks like Appalachian Tanned and Tailored.

Sears used several different makers in the 1950s so quality changed with each supplier. The same suppliers were also making jackets for other retailers including the other catalog companies.

 

[AeroFan_07]

I would say that Taylor's jackets are definitely well made. Unlike Aero, Vanson, Eastman, Goodwear, Lost Worlds etc. Taylor IS A UNIFORM COMPANY. They're in the business of making Police Jackets making them in the style of numerous large metro police departments. These jackets are entirely utilitarian unlike the makers I mentioned who are ALL making jackets for aesthetics and fashion above all else (save for Vanson making Moto gear) and yes, I suppose some of the militaria reproduction COULD sorta fall under this but let's face it, no one is wearing a Eastman Luftwaffe to fly bi planes and shoot down allied bombers.

SO while Taylor concentrates on usefulness in the field, they do not seek out Vicenza or Shinki horsehide and try to match panels based on grain etc. They don't have steerhide tanned with roses. They don't have 3 year waiting lists. What they DO make are jackets made to hammer nails all day on the job in some of the coldest/harshest weather in the country for a profession that is largely out in that weather. Well made but way more institutional than the repro jackets. I have an older (late 70s - 80s???) Taylor. Its one of the heaviest jackets I have handled including the Aero Longshoreman (that i need to list). Its hide is very stiff sturdy leather almost bordering on vinyl in character. It seems literally bullet proof. The zipper construction is made for extremely heavy use.

All of this is not to judge these Taylor jackets---but to properly categorize them. The company has a rich history (I believe Appalachian became Taylor) and they continue to make quality products. But they are not reproduction makers for the fashion forward gent. When evaluating a Taylor, do so with the understanding that unless you are a cop buying it for the line of duty, you are attempting to squeeze a modern police jacket into a fashion purpose which of course CAN be done but be advised these are not the same as the 70 year old police jackets from the 50s that are seen today as cool vintage fashion.

Its like trying to put commercial stoves in your house. They seem to do the same thing and you think it could work but they really are just not made for that purpose and you will not be able to do it 99% of the time. These are made to be solid police jackets. If you can make em work for fashion, more power to you.

Again, I am not denigrating these in any way. They are what they are is all. Just an evaluation for those who see these and are interested. They are generally a bargain when I see what they are going for.

Correct indeed. I have owned a couple of thier jacket bought out of vintage/resale shops and this is very true.

It's been quite a while since I last visited thier website, but it at least used to be that the photos were intentionally black & white, and they really did not focus upon retail sales. Alas, many/most of thier modes are not made in the United States anymore.

i like the idea of jackets being "tools" and "hardware" for a specific task. This to me is a positive aspect.

 

[Frank Castle]

I keep coming back to this jacket. Who is Maco? Anyone know? Sellers calls it Horsehide, look like it could be. very interesting jacket with a high price tag

It says Maco, but man, it sure looks like a Bates.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/124948324854

 

[tmitchell59]

Bates, OK. I will have to do some searching. I like the complete look of the jacket plus the leather looks quite nice, does have a horsehide look.

Did Bate do unlined in this style?

Thanks

 

[Will Zach]

Don't know about unlined, but my 60's Bates has similar underarm footballs with vents.

 

[Boyo]

Taylor's Leatherwear, 48L, opening bid $75: eBay

@Bluechel ??

 

[Kubatu]

Bates was my first thought too. They often had unlined jackets, too. The vents at the armpits are a bit more uncommon, but I have had some Bates jackets with those present as well. However, the back design doesn't match any Bates I've seen. Bates' jackets usually have either a straight line or a more gentle arc, like below.

Compared with...

 

[Coriu]

...more of a find 1960's Langlitz Leathers...if we have a "Jim" out there, this could be tempting
https://www.ebay.com/itm/384445729008?hash=item5982c048f0:g:dNQAAOSweIdhCit1