Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

[Kubatu]

I'm a little confused, was the jacket made by a family member? the brand is called Michael LaMotta? and the owner of the jacket who died was Bobby LaMotta?

It’s a bit hard to make out, but the full tag says something like:

“Made expressly for:

Michael LaMotta

By Passaic Leather Coat Co.”

Passaic is the maker. They outfitted a number of police departments and probably were custom ordered, resulting in the name being on the jacket.

It is odd though that the name tag says Michael whereas the officers name was Robert. Not sure what is up with that.

 

[Leigh H]

It’s a bit hard to make out, but the full tag says something like:

“Made expressly for:

Michael LaMotta

By Passaic Leather Coat Co.”

Passaic is the maker. They outfitted a number of police departments and probably were custom ordered, resulting in the name being on the jacket.

It is odd though that the name tag says Michael whereas the officers name was Robert. Not sure what is up with that.

Ah i see, more than likely that the M in Robert M LaMotta is Michael.

 

[Mandarin]

Cheyenne sz 42 like new. Nice price.

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/b550850778?conversionType=search_suggest_history

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Cheyenne sz 42 like new. Nice price. View attachment 336791


https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/b550850778?conversionType=search_suggest_history

be careful on this one. There's been Cheyennes listed at like 3 or 4 different sizes with the same photos. I tried bidding on one a few months back and ended up losing, but then noticed the jacket got relisted at the price of the final bid. Almost like they were trying to set the market price. So either seller has a really good supply of these jackets at various sizes or there's some sort of game being played.

 

[Mandarin]

be careful on this one. There's been Cheyennes listed at like 3 or 4 different sizes with the same photos. I tried bidding on one a few months back and ended up losing, but then noticed the jacket got relisted at the price of the final bid. Almost like they were trying to set the market price. So either seller has a really good supply of these jackets at various sizes or there's some sort of game being played.

Good to know.

 

[JMax]

be careful on this one. There's been Cheyennes listed at like 3 or 4 different sizes with the same photos. I tried bidding on one a few months back and ended up losing, but then noticed the jacket got relisted at the price of the final bid. Almost like they were trying to set the market price. So either seller has a really good supply of these jackets at various sizes or there's some sort of game being played.

Nice bit of info.

This is one of those jackets that if you find it in your size, hit BIN. Not a jacket too often seen for sale, unlike the Maverick. And it has many things going for it, but foremost is that the CW that was used to make them is normally excellent. This is is a stellar price (assuming the seller is legit). I wish I had paid this for mine.

 

[tmitchell59]

So sadly, it appears a number of our local champions appear to be sitting this Trojan out. I don't recall seeing one hit the market before and my knowledge of the label comes mostly from LWs use of it. From the look of the Label, with the 'factory direct to you' language seems like it was a small shop as Terry has suggested. Maybe it was a moto gear only establishment??? We have speculated on the potential local USC connection but the Trojan moniker could just as well be coincidence.

I have no information on the Trojan company after doing some research. Trojan jackets do not show up for sale. I'm not even sure how many are in the jacket books. From the wool lining it is probably early post war production..

Interesting so little is know about a company that made an Iconic leather jacket.

I always seem to pull out this ladies coat to show I have a Trojan! Shows they made some very basic models and made jackets form other materials.

 

[Claybertrand]

These jackets being rare as they are---I wonder if they are actually really great quality jackets or if they are simply rare. Does the Lost Worlds use of the label tend to make it seem iconic in our eyes like how other makers replicate these old California Labels to brand their retro jacket designs?? Things can be rare because someone constructed them so meticulously that they could only make a few so they weren't mass produced. Or they could be rare because the company made them for 3 years then a fire burned down the factory! Sure rare is rare..... I just wonder if the rarity itself is the worth of these jackets, their actual construction, or maybe a little of both

 

[Moontanning]

Brooks size 42 $46 and seller accepting offers too.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/brooks-lea...-/384182219111?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

 

[Marc mndt]

Goatskin long halfbelt size 42

 

[Marc mndt]

Great patina, lots of issues.

 

[Marc mndt]

Japanese bomber jacket

 

[Marc mndt]

Albert richard

 

[Marc mndt]

Another albert Richard. Size 42 $199

 

[tmitchell59]

These jackets being rare as they are---I wonder if they are actually really great quality jackets or if they are simply rare. Does the Lost Worlds use of the label tend to make it seem iconic in our eyes like how other makers replicate these old California Labels to brand their retro jacket designs?? Things can be rare because someone constructed them so meticulously that they could only make a few so they weren't mass produced. Or they could be rare because the company made them for 3 years then a fire burned down the factory! Sure rare is rare..... I just wonder if the rarity itself is the worth of these jackets, their actual construction, or maybe a little of both

I had many of the same thoughts. I think we see fewer of them because fewer were made. The operation was probably short lived. California was ripe with leather makers north and south. Lot of competition. When new, it had to compete with all the West Coast makers big and small. Tough market. From that comes this jacket.

would the Cal Leather folks have any information?

 

[jonbuilder]

These jackets being rare as they are---I wonder if they are actually really great quality jackets or if they are simply rare. Does the Lost Worlds use of the label tend to make it seem iconic in our eyes like how other makers replicate these old California Labels to brand their retro jacket designs?? Things can be rare because someone constructed them so meticulously that they could only make a few so they weren't mass produced. Or they could be rare because the company made them for 3 years then a fire burned down the factory! Sure rare is rare..... I just wonder if the rarity itself is the worth of these jackets, their actual construction, or maybe a little of both

I purchased a white Trojan same model as the current Trojan in the discussion. The leather was flacking and spitting I did a return. I was not overly impressed with the construction of the jacket compared to California made leather MC jackets from the 50s

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Flacking and spitting? No manners whatsoever, heh !! LOL

 

[jonbuilder]

Flacking and spitting? No manners whatsoever, heh !! LOL

spelling has never been a strong point for me

 

[tmitchell59]

These jackets have the Admiral Byrd and the Montgomery Ward Windward label. I have one of these in black too small. I would love to have one that fit. There was a brown one on ebay/etsy for a long time. I think it was a 42.

This is the only Albert Richard labeled jacket I have seen in a motorcycle style.

This is from Art of Leather Jacket:

"The plan at that time was to have production moved to New York by 1954. Labels were changed in this period to read “Albert Richard by Drybak”

"Fried-Ostermann diversified out of gloves and into outerwear in the late 1920s with the formation of a new division of the company, called Albert Richard. The leather jackets, mackinaws, overcoats and sportswear produced by Albert Richard would soon come to eclipse the glove-making side of the company."

 

[tmitchell59]

This jacket could be another "break through" for my research. I have never seen this label on this style.

I know that Fried-Osterman made jackets with Sears labels. like this one below. I have the exact jacket with Sears Hercules label.

As I look at the Albert MC jacket I may be looking at one of the makers of the Sears Hercules MC jackets. This is a biggie for me!