French cycling jacket aka luftwaffe jake

[Fastuni]

Interesting combination of civilian and quasi-military stuff here.

 

[Metatron]

In 'Despair' the character played by Bogarde is imitating the style of a tramp that he thinks looks identical to him, hence the 'new' leather jacket in the first photo. Do you think that it is an original or a a repro from the 1970s? Not that there weren't any big collars in the 1930s, but I find this particular one suspicious.

 

[Fastuni]

I think it is a 1970's jacket. The collar plus the fact that it shows no significant signs of use, the rather unusual color (at least the existing evidence of French cycling jackets are overwhelmingly darker/reddish brown leather) and the fact that it is a 70's movie.

 

[Don Tomaso]

Agreed - I'd like to see a close-up of those... I'm fascinated by well-made repairs. I think it's the idea that something is worth repairing, and not part of the contemporary disposable society that appeals.

That's what I try to find nowadays, items that are made to be repaired at a time, like Goodyear-welted shoes, Aero-jackets, quaslity shirts, the works.

 

[LeFonque]

Some amazing photos in this thread.
Thanks for the posts.

 

[majormajor]

Some amazing photos in this thread.
Thanks for the posts.

+1

Some excellent jackets in this thread. Big thanks

 

[eggleman]

Some of these designs could have come straight off the Hell-Boy set

 

[esteban68]

great thread!

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Bump.

Do you have more pictures, Charlie? Anyone?

 

[Edward]

Some of these designs could have come straight off the Hell-Boy set

Yes! Some of the resistance folks remind me a lot of BPRD bits and pieces!

Also puts me in mind of (although a later time period) some of the kit in use in Ireland during the 1919-1921 War of Independence, and later by the anti-treaty side in 1922-23. Similar situations in that you're looking at individuals and organisations putting together what is available against an enemy who is running the stat,e as opposed to a clash of states. I know armies throughout history have often learned from their enemy and adapted their kit accordingly. It would be fascinating to find out whether and what they learned and adapted in response to what these civilian resistance groups used. I imagine the latter must have been quite creative of necessity in terms of equipment as much as tactics.

 

[tropicalbob]

Thanks very much for the photos. With all due respect, though, I find the idea of a French Resistance "look" kind of comical. Be kind of a giveaway for the Germans.

 

[Edward]

lol Good point!

 

[Ranbro]

Not to mention a photograph of a "cell" if captured would mean the end... not very smart trade craft in that line of work.

 

[tropicalbob]

Perhaps Monty Python could have worked up a bit around this idea.

 

[Stearmen]

Thanks very much for the photos. With all due respect, though, I find the idea of a French Resistance "look" kind of comical. Be kind of a giveaway for the Germans.

[video=youtube;rB-SVvrS4wg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB-SVvrS4wg[/video]

 

[Two Types]

"I find the idea of a French Resistance "look" kind of comical. Be kind of a giveaway for the Germans."

Except that the 'look' is just the casual/workwear of the period combined with guns and ammo. In reality, what is being described as the 'French resistance look' is just the casual fashion for young men in France in the 1940s.

"Not to mention a photograph of a "cell" if captured would mean the end... not very smart trade craft in that line of work."

I assume that most of the photos would have been taken in the latter period, when the resistance were fighting openly, often alongside regular Allied forces (hence the wearing of armbands etc to identify them).

 

[Fastuni]

A Dutch specimen with German OPTI-Zippers, ca. Sz. 42/44.

Offered in Classifieds:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/thre...acket-cyclist-luftwaffe-1930-40s-sz-42.84611/

 

[Buco]

Here are some examples ive had in the past

 

[Buco]

 

[PADDY]

Don't forget the gorgeous fabric variants in cycling jackets from France, Germany, Netherlands... Etc when cycling was a popular pastime in the 30s.