FREE TO GOOD HOME! Vintage Vanson Marauder, c. 42/44.

[tweedydon]

I've just benefitted from the terrific generosity of Fiver64, who's sending me--free!--his Indy jacket that he offered yesterday.

Not only will this actually fit me and my orangutan arms, but it'll mean a lot to me--yesterday I heard that one of our dogs, Twylight, will be coming home after being in the ICU for a week. (She had a really rare parasitic infection and almost died last Sunday.) So, this will now be the Twy jacket!

Inspired by Fiver64, I'm offering the same deal as he did on my Vanson Marauder--just send me $20 towards shipping and it's yours! (USA only, I'm afraid!)

2020 has been a hard year, and this will, I hope, make things just a little bit better.

Details on the Vanson below!

 

[tweedydon]

VINTAGE VANSON MARAUDER MOTORCYCLE JACKET



An American classic!

Tagged 44. Measurements:

Chest: 22
Sleeve (measured straight to end of leather): 24
Sleeve (measured to end of slightly protruding storm cuff): 24.5
Sleeve: (measured like a shirt): 34 3/4
Length: (bottom of collar): 24

Founded in 1974, Vanson was named after the contracted names of the two original partners, one of whom (Van der Sleesen) still runs the company today.

Vanson was founded to replace the leather jackets that had formerly been produced in England. Stifled by the British economic climate the original leatherworks were having trouble producing much of anything. Sleeson bought the designs and moved their production to Thayer Street, Boston, where he produced and sold leathers from 1975 to 1988.

In 1987 Vanson moved its main production to Falls River, Mass., a traditional (but declining) garment town.

Vanson quickly developed a reputation for providing some of the toughest riding leathers on the market, as well as for leading the field in safety technology, such as perforated leather and hard armour. They also were willing to service their leathers in the case of crash damage, meaning that a Vanson suit could last for years even though repeated spills.

This jacket shows just why Vanson are so respected.

Inspired by the "Windward" motorcycle jacket that was produced by Montgomery Ward in the 1940s--and that is now regarded as one of the classic American bike styles--Vanson's "Marauder" is a classic bike jacket--good looking, sturdy, and utterly functional.

Cut from seriously heavy leather (I believe that this is Vanson's competition weight hide) this jacket is just starting to develop some very nice grain.

It features two deep zippered D-pockets on the front, both of which have shallow side-entry hand-warmer pockets. The jacket has stitched epaulettes, a small collar that is designed not to flap up from wind while riding at speed, and storm cuffs which extend slightly beyond the leather of the sleeve. It has two small areas of elastication at the sides on the waist hem--these ensure a nice snug fit at the waist without the need for a belt which could scratch your tank! This jacket also features an interior leather strip
at the hem of the waist to protect the lining.

It is fully lined and has two deep interior pockets.

The jacket closes by a heavy-duty Vanson zipper that works very well indeed. All of the zippers and pulls are original. PLEASE NOTE that the zipper pull snapped in half, and is a bit hard to use as it is. But this is an easy fix!

This jacket has the original Marauder nametag on the front chest.

It was, of course, Made in the USA.

This jacket is in Very Good/Excellent condition. It is breaking in nicely, with no scuffs or damage at all. It is also developing some very nice graining, especially near the waist. It does have fading in the lining down the center spine and across the shoulders, but otherwise you wouldn't guess that this is a vintage item unless you know Vanson's history well.

 

[Guppy]

Very generous of you. Whoever claims it will be very lucky indeed!

 

[Apollo1218]

Very Cool! Merry Christmas

 

[AeroFan_07]

Very nice offer! Merry Christmas to you and all!

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Yesssss!!! There IS still good in this world. No matter how crazy the news makes it seem.

God bless!

 

[Fiver64]

The big old karma ball is alive and rolling! Awesome jacket. Can’t beat a classic Vanson for sheer “dude-ability.”

 

[Monitor]

This is extremely generous and nice!!!

 

[jonbuilder]

I would like to take the jacket and besides paying the shipping cost I will ship you fee a goatskin navy issued G1. The G1 is size 42 was issued to my son in law's grandfather who never wore it. I have a WWII G1 I prefer to wear.

 

[mtrlr]

Very nice of you, hope it will find a good home.

 

[tweedydon]

Now claimed! I also have an Australian suede jacket that's free, too, also listed on the Classifieds.

 

[Fiver64]

I would like to take the jacket and besides paying the shipping cost I will ship you fee a goatskin navy issued G1. The G1 is size 42 was issued to my son in law's grandfather who never wore it. I have a WWII G1 I prefer to wear.

In the words of Oddball.....”so many positive waves!’

 

[Bahabp100]

In the words of Oddball.....”so many positive waves!’

“Pay it forward”

 

[pgoat]

 

[jonbuilder]

For the records