So, I just received this in the mail today. I’ve been wanting a vintage wool jacket for a bit, and this one had some interesting features (and it was cheap!). Any ideas on how old it is? Half belt with an unusual shoulder seam design— I guess for more freedom of movement when hunting? Tag reads “Tuf-Tex” brand, made by Falls Woolen Mills, moisture-proofed with DuPont Aridex. Initial googling hasn’t yielded any info. Anybody seen this brand before? The fit is actually pretty good I think, except for slightly short sleeves (the case with almost every vintage jacket I find...)
Cool looking jacket. That back yoke/raglan sleeve/half belt combo is very cool. Dupont Aridex seems to have seen a big advertising push in the very early 1950s. So I might be inclined to put it around that time period. Great coat in any case.
I've tried to do a little research to narrow down the manufacturer and date of this super cool jacket.
It seems to have been made by the Chippewa Falls Woolen Mill Co., which was located in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. (I have a vintage Chippewa Falls wool shirt that is top shelf).
There was also a Cedar Falls Woolen Mill Co. that closed in 1945, but this manufacturer seems less likely.
I found newspaper advertisements for DuPont Aridex between 1936 and 1967. The first mention from 1936 is for a "Chippewa" woman's plaid wool jacket. Aridex was also widely used for car seat covers, mattresses, umbrellas, shower curtains, blankets, etc.
The Talon zipper appears to date from the mid-1930s, based on the visual guide posted at FL.
I couldn't find an ad for this specific jacket, but it's probably safe to say it dates circa 1936-1939.
Wow, you guys are fantastic! Thank you so much for the detailed info! I was thinking maybe Chippewa Falls myself, but didn’t know if they would have labeled it that way. Now that I know a little more about it, I’m even happier to have found it. Just wish people had longer arms like mine back in the 30’s...
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