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Horween Chromexel Steer not dyed all the way through

FredS

One of the Regulars
Messages
148
Location
The Netherlands
LOCK 'ER DOWN HOSTS! lol

Good. Glad you came to your senses! That's how yer supposed to look. And I know for me (52) I don't have enough years left to get a jacket looking like that if I get a Lost Worlds model. Wear it, beat it, enjoy it. Good luck.

Thanks dude :) I can hardly wait now to receive my jacket
 

sshack

A-List Customer
Messages
384
Location
California
Joel, as far as I understand it Chromexcel is drum-dyed all the way through. Afterwards a thin top coating is applied that wears off easily, exposing the brown leather underneath. Totally different horse than only partially dyed leather with most of the hide left blue.

I think there's some confusion as to the CXL process. As I understand it, the raw hides are TANNED twice. Once in a chrome salt chemical bath. This will turn the raw hides into "wet blue hides." Then these blue hides will be tanned again-- this time in a vegetable style tanning brew. This vegetable tanning (containing bark extracts) will color the leather brown-- but this is not the main purpose. So basically, CXL is unique because the leather is tanned in twice, or in a hybrid chrome/vegetable process. There's also the "hot-stuffing" or impregnating the leather with oils... but that's another subject.

Anyway, the CXL leather is brownish before the separate dye process-- which is via hand rubbed aniline. I think this dye process is why we are all typing furiously today, lol. As I stated before, I think the quality of this dye process varies a lot. In my older CXL samples, both the black and browh FQHH could take a beating. The top grain would get scratched, but the dye color would still remain. In my newest FQHH sample (as well as my jacket), the top grain doesn't even need to be scratched, the black color fades much more easily. This is NOT patina-- this is simple color loss (as Andy from BK explained in another thread).
 

tonypaj

Practically Family
Messages
659
Location
Divonne les Bains, France
Maybe my single favorite jacket ever posted on here (apart from Simonc's herc!!!) is black steer. Horween? I dunno, looking at it it's maybe Connolly... but faded all to hell and all jackets should age so magnificently!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_dPDPWOrFx4/TjRHzRrU3PI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/yCuzRK2Q4UE/s640/IMG_1281.jpg

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii577/CaptainJackBones/IMG_1280.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LWMvmy5YBK8/TjRIRPsal5I/AAAAAAAAAaI/B0k0Q4sr9Bw/s640/IMG_1283.jpg

Connelly does not do anything like that, I have an old HWM in it, it's more like goat, plain black. My son has an old German jacket from 40s-50s, looks exactly like your pics. He did not believe me when I told him that it was black originally...
 

Highwaymanman

A-List Customer
Messages
360
Location
Nowhere
Connelly does not do anything like that, I have an old HWM in it, it's more like goat, plain black. My son has an old German jacket from 40s-50s, looks exactly like your pics. He did not believe me when I told him that it was black originally...

Can you post some pics, maybe? I love the way the (confirmed) Connolly jackets i've seen have aged and Aero are very high on them if you check the descriptions on the sale page. I've actually wondered which type of hide the pictured jacket was.... if you could predict that the color would fall out so beautifully you'd defo get one like it, know what I mean?

Anyway, FredS - I'm very glad I could play some small part in reassuring you. As has been said, get the fit right (my hint - think about whether you'll want to wear a sweater or just a shirt underneath, inform AL and let them do the rest) and I think you'll have a jacket you can really enjoy for a long time.
 

FredS

One of the Regulars
Messages
148
Location
The Netherlands
Really, what I'd make sure of at this point is the sizing. Your measurements and how you want it to fit. Convey that clearly to AL and you should be good.

Right...Here is what I sent Al as far as my measurements are concerned. Plus I told him that if he is unsure about anything to give me a shout.
Final Correct Measurements.jpg
Fred's arm circumference measurements.jpg
Back A.jpg

Thanks to everybody who chimed in with all kinds of helpful hints and comments :)
 
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wdw

One Too Many
Messages
1,260
Location
Edinburgh
What size did you ask for? It'll be interesting to see how the finished article compares to the specs, but at least they have a quick turnaround. I look forward to the pics and your thoughts, after all this heartache.
 

FredS

One of the Regulars
Messages
148
Location
The Netherlands
What size did you ask for? It'll be interesting to see how the finished article compares to the specs, but at least they have a quick turnaround. I look forward to the pics and your thoughts, after all this heartache.

According to my specs Will suggested a 46 for a basic size guide but of course it's being tailored and adjusted to my specs. Depending on the manufacturer I normally wear a 2XL or at times a XXL or a 56 in European size.
 

wdw

One Too Many
Messages
1,260
Location
Edinburgh
27" sleeves..yet only 25" body length..? How tall are you?

I've noticed on the Insurrection thread that many (most?) sleeve lengths seem cut for riding, as the guys seem to be bunching up when they pose. They look overly long when when just standing, and God knows I like long sleeves.
 

FredS

One of the Regulars
Messages
148
Location
The Netherlands
27" sleeves..yet only 25" body length..? How tall are you?

I am 6 foot or 182cm in my bare feet and weigh 198 pounds

I measured the back length of my old leather jacket which has just the right back length I like and it's 25 inches from the collar seam to the bottom of the jacket measured along the center of the back. That means the jacket will hang just above the top of the back pockets when I wear jeans.
 
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