Himel Brothers Leather Co.

[John Lever]

It is cool and several people in the past have asked me about it, usually assistants in clothes shops. I bought it from ebay new with tags for £450[ $700 ?] a few years ago. That's about the most I would pay for a Levis jacket.

Levis make the same jacket but now with a cotton lining and out of sheep leather. At $950 that's expensive for what is I suppose a mass produced item when compared to Goodwear or Himmel Bros who have completely different economies of scale.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

John, that's the first Menlo I've seen that I've liked. Was it an early model? The ones I've seen have been made of rather flimsy hide, and almost all pre-distressed and quite ugly, tbh.

bk

 

[HoosierDaddy]

(Normal Person): ..." Hey!..That's a fabulous great looking jacket,HD"!!! Excitedly..."You just don't see them made like that anymore in hide like that...in a style like that"!!! "Where'd you get something like that"?? "Off a sale page you say"!! "Great!!...How much"???..."WHAT"?? "WHAT"!! (Normal Person again): ..."Gulp"..."Are you freakin kidding ME"!!
Remember?
HD

 

[bretron]

What you mean is, you choose not to buy. That's fine. But no maker has to justify anything to any of us. This crops up loads on FL, and it's kind of a 'sour grapes' thing.

Basically, how much would it cost you to produce a jacket like this? Find out!

No sour grapes meant at all. I would kill for one of Himel's Avro d pockets, but can in no way justify it when a John Chapman or Diamond Dave, who both run operations similar to DH (including source materials), sell their jackets for around $1200. Heres to hoping a used one, size 42, comes up on the used market with my name on it (one sold on eBay about 2mos back for $750, but I slept in the day it sold )

 

[Dr H]

That's the one that I'm badgering you about when you tire of it, John! Love that Menlo!

 

[bretron]

John those pics should be centerfold in the Patina smutt pages!

 

[ButteMT61]

John those pics should be centerfold in the Patina smutt pages!

lol

 

[John Lever]

John those pics should be centerfold in the Patina smutt pages!

It came like that when new. The jacket was oil washed and hand buffed with newspaper to give that dirty shine.

 

[Ishmael]

@John Lever, thanks for posting the pic. Awesome jacket!

No sour grapes meant at all. I would kill for one of Himel's Avro d pockets, but can in no way justify it when a John Chapman or Diamond Dave, who both run operations similar to DH (including source materials), sell their jackets for around $1200. Heres to hoping a used one, size 42, comes up on the used market with my name on it (one sold on eBay about 2mos back for $750, but I slept in the day it sold )

But will John Chapman or Diamond Dave make you an Avro d pocket? I'm asking seriously. I don't know anything about these operations. JC has been mentioned several times on here as an alternative to DH. However, when I went and looked at his lineup, it was mostly A-2s. It seems hard to say JC is an alternative to DH, if he doesn't do a similar jacket. Perhaps part of the "extra" cost that goes into a DH is in the area of R&D. And perhaps that's why the Avro d pocket and Heron stand out amidst all the A-2s? You guys will laugh, but I'm only planning on getting one leather jacket. Figure I should get the one I want (as long as within my means).

 

[bretron]

I agree whole heartedly to get what you want. I think weve all done it where we want one thing, but because of the cost end up with something else, but are never totally satisfied because it wasn't what we really really wanted...

But trust that whatever you end up with you'll be eyeing your next jacket about ten minutes into wearing it:lol:

 

[handymike]

That Heron sure is unique and a beauty!
I noticed a couple of days ago that Mojo1975 posted that Insurrection is getting something similar sometime in the near future...If I understand correctly, but I'm not sure who'll make them. Any ideas?

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l584/Mojo032075/Early1920sUtilityJacket1.jpg

I also saw a beautiful A1 on Eastman's site in the civilian section: "Thunderbird Field A1".

 

[Ishmael]

I agree whole heartedly to get what you want. I think weve all done it where we want one thing, but because of the cost end up with something else, but are never totally satisfied because it wasn't what we really really wanted...

But trust that whatever you end up with you'll be eyeing your next jacket about ten minutes into wearing it:lol:

Yes, I know. But isn't amazing how I can convince myself that I only need one. LoL.

 

[Ishmael]

That Heron sure is unique and a beauty!
I noticed a couple of days ago that Mojo1975 posted that Insurrection is getting something similar (from Aero?) sometime in the near future...If I understand correctly.

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l584/Mojo032075/Early1920sUtilityJacket1.jpg

Very interesting. Can you please link to where he posted that info?

Edit: Found it: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?64880-Insurrection-Aero-stock.../page5

 

[handymike]

Very interesting. Can you please link to where he posted that info?

last page of the Insurrection stock thread (pg5)

 

[Ishmael]

Thanks. Think the odds are high that Insurrection is getting in some Himel Brothers' Herons?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

You guys will laugh, but I'm only planning on getting one leather jacket. Figure I should get the one I want (as long as within my means).

Well..I do gotta chuckle just a little bit,Ishmael..:whistling
..but certainly..you should get exactly what you want. However..it does seem that 'exactly' can send many of us on a journey of sorts. Thankfully..I have found exactly what I want..after a few years and purchases..but I finally got there!
That jacket you tried on in Japan is very nice..ya know

HD

 

[ButteMT61]

Well..I do gotta chuckle just a little bit,Ishmael..:whistling ..but certainly..you should get exactly what you want. However..it does seem that 'exactly' can send many of us on a journey of sorts. Thankfully..I have found exactly what I want..after a few years and purchases..but I finally got there! That jacket you tried on in Japan is very nice..ya know HD

Yeah, but it's so cheap

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Yeah, but it's so cheap

...And going on a jacket journey..ain't so cheap..my friend..lol

 

[767fo]

Yeah, but it's so cheap

You made your point very clear and many times Unless he is asking you for a loan let him enjoy his purchase. Thanks

 

[Ishmael]

Laugh away HD, I'm actually chuckling alongside. I'm sure I'll want another. But not comprising will (slightly) alleviate that, I hope. The jackets I'm looking here are all wonderful (but not cheap Butte LoL), and will probably be the one I bring home. But, since I was offered a Himel on loan, I figure I'd better check it out.