German Leather Jacket Resource

[ukali1066]

Here's my German cycling jacket bought last week for £35, the boffins on here have dated it using the zips and buckle to 1949 at the earliest.

The zips are all made by ZIPP and press studs by PRYM

I've gave it a couple of coats of PECARDS antique leather creme and it's looking slick.

I'm not sure if it's cow or horsehide, it's very sturdy leather

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Here is my German jacket.


I originally thought it to be a U boat jacket but this now seems unlikely.

It has a DRP nurberg zip.


Anyone know what the label says?


I like it so much I am now thinking of an Aero Barnstormer or even a Wested ‘Das Boot’.

Cheerio

 

[Baron Kurtz]

What makes it unlikely to be a U-Boat jacket? (Not suggesting that it's likely that it is, i'm just interested in what features make you think it it unlikely. I agree, BTW.).

Welcome to the DRP N?ºrnberg club! That's a ZIPP brand zipper, is it?

bk

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Hi Baron

I posted pictures on the forum before and learned that official u boat jackets were grey (see ‘das boot’ thread) and from pictures I have seen they seem a bit longer too. Although I am told some of the crew did wear their own non issue jackets so it still could be?
This style of jacket was popular in Germany from the 30s to 40s and there is no evidence that this jacket was worn on a u boat.

Although the ‘Wested U Boat Jacket’ made for Das Boot looks exactly the same.

But anyway it’s a great old jacket!

Oh and yes the inner pocket zip is marked ‘zipp’ with a tiny lightning through it.

James

 

[bobbyball]

A FANTASTIC FIND

Although it is not my normal thing (I collect AAF and USAAF jackets) I was working yesterday and decided to drive over to Portobello market late afternoon to have a look around.

In the clothes section near Westbourne Grove I saw the most fantastic full length German overcoat. It looks to be hardly worn and is in the most sumptuously soft dark brown leather - possibly horsehide. It is very heavy but extremely pliable and soft if this makes sense.

The lining is heavy satin and the sleeves are a heavy linen material with a jersey fabric at the bottom which has snaps on the wrist area.

The coat has two labels: One at the centre in the back which reads:

Erich Kleinmann Lederbekleidung, Essen

The other near one of the inner breast vertical pockets reads:

Hafa Leder-kleidung

Both are exquisitely embroidered in a script

The belt is the typical double buckle arrangement with the Zutos buckles which just say Zutos PATENT

This coat could be pre-war or early 40s but I am not sure. It is vastly superior in construction to most I have seen. There is absolutely no wear and the buckles show no tarnishing. What leads to believe this may be an early coat is the sumptuous satin lining, the labelling and the buckles which are completely covered in leather and stitched around each edge. There is no DDR on the Zutos stamp.

The best bit is I asked the price and was told £65. I took a good interest in it and then asked what his best price would be and he said £50 so I grabbed it.

I know this sounds like sacrilege but I may have it shortened. What is the opinion of the fora? Should I leave it as is? The coat is not desparately long but I might get more wear from it if it was shortened to just above the knee.

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Hi Bobbyball,

Before you get the scissors out put in on and post some pictures

I would like to see the said item so as to give an opinion.

James.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Depends how many inches you need to trim off it. If you need to shorten it crazily, buy a shorter jacket and pass this one on. The jacket is designed proportionally. It will look silly if you chop too much out of the skirt. Honestly.

I think i know the jacket you're talking about. He's had it for a while and it's a beauty. (Is it the stall with a lot of French gear?) I recall a distinct feeling of 50s about it. The softness of the leather being one of the main indicators. I recall the Gutos PATENT throwing me for a loop. pre war would almost certainly be marked DRP (Deutscher Reichspatent). And post war probably DBP (Deutcher Bundes Patent). I'm drifting towards the conclusion that that particular (probably motoring) jacket is from the immediately postwar era before they got their act together with the DBP stampings.

But then, we may be talking about completely different jackets. Any zips on it?

bk

 

[bobbyball]

Baron,

I think we are talking about the same coat!

There are no zips on the inner pockets. They are just finished off with a rolled/piped leather. Thanks for the info on the buckles.

I will try to post some pics but never have any luck doing this. It doesn’t really matter about the exact dates – it is really a stunning coat that has absolutely no wear on it.

The vent at the back is interesting in as far as it has a hidden button closure (one button) and the inside of the vent is thick leather either side. All the seams inside are rolled and finished in a covering of satin.

The inner adjusting strip of leather with snaps looks to have been moved slightly to make the coat fasten tighter.

The woven labels are very intricate and the linen lining on the inner left breast pocket has four stamped numbers – I’ll check these tonight and get back to you.

I won’t alter the coat – after all it would be terrible to destroy such a mint example.

 

[renor27]

hello all

I have a short jacket double breasted in the same green as the one in the very first post for this thread.
Mine hangs down just to the top of my thighs
Sorry no zippers all bottoms has the same interesting inner belt to keep it tight to your waist. the arms are a tad short lots of leather there to let it out
Have no idea who made it got it on E-Bay for $50.
It is cut very tight in the body but is fun to wear nothing else like it in town.
David

 

[jacethebace]

Here's mine- German military motorcycle trench?

I bought this while living in Germany. The tag has a shop name & address-has anyone seen the same? "Walter Lederbekleidung, Muenchen 2, Rindermarkt 2"

Pretty good condition, missing my belt too..

 

[taggers]

"The inner adjusting strip of leather with snaps looks to have been moved slightly to make the coat fasten tighter."

Anyone got any pictures of this? My Wested could do with something like that, I feel.

 

[Dinerman]

I just won this coat. It's a bit battered, but looks like it's all still there.

hafa leder kleidung

Label from a different coat in better condition

 

[Dinerman]

And my BWS

 

[Dinerman]

Any guesses as to date on the brown one? What kind of leather are these generally made from?

 

[Dinerman]

This sold for a bit under $30

 

[Dinerman]

REWAG Lederbekleidung

 

[Dinerman]

The Rewag in the flesh.

 

[Dinerman]

 

[draggin]

Does Anyone have one of these long coats with the leg straps, for motorcycle use? That's my next purchase!

 

[guygardner]

German Overcoat Missing Belts

Just got this coat on ebay. From what I've seen on Fedora Lounge, I'm guessing this is a postwar German coat. What do you guys think?

German Coat

It's also missing the inner and outer belt. Has anyone replaced a belt on these coats before? Any idea where I could find one?