How Old do You Think This Stanley Blacker Blazer is?

[Retro Spectator]

The other day, I picked up this tan/gold/mustard Stanley Blacker sport coat at the Thrift store for $5. So far, I have been loving this jacket, despite it missing a button on the right sleeve (I find this gives it character though.)

I have been wondering, when do you think this jacket is from? I have done some research on the labels, and it seems that the little "The Worlds Best Wool" label means it's 1964 and later. The store, the Florence Shop of Bergenfield NJ, that Stanley Blacker made it for seems to have closed in 1985. That would mean that this jacket is between 1964 and 1985.

It appears Stanley Blacker has redesigned their logo in the mid to late 1970s. This jacket seems to have the earlier logo. I know that the 1970s had massive lapels. This jacket has mid to small lapels which are about 3" wide. The jacket is not fully lined. Only the shoulders, the sides, and the arms are lined. The lower back is not lined. The buttons look sort of 60s-esque. The jacket has large patch pockets. The little button hole for lapel pins and flowers is not sealed, but rather, is like a normal button hole, and can have things stuck through it with ease.

I'm guessing this jacket is mid 60s. But it might even be late 60s. I could be wrong though.

Pictures.

Being worn.

Labels.

Interior.

Buttons.

 

[Fastuni]

Early 80's is my estimation.

 

[Retro Spectator]

While it may be 80s, the Stanley Blacker tag seems to be the older one. Here are two other Stanley Blacker jackets. Also, the jacket I have has very little padding on the shoulders. I though 80s had large shoulder pads, but I could be wrong. One thing to note on my jacket is that the sides are very squarely cut. Another interesting thing, is that there is no button-able interior pocket.


Also, here is a Stanley Blacker ad, from a website called The Ivy League Look. The ad is from 1965. The jacket in the ad has a similar boxy cut, and it also features similar patch pockets.

The following links are what seem to show that it has the older Stanley Blacker label on it, possibly pointing it to an earlier date. However, I could be wrong.

Here is one on Etsy called 1980s by the person who put it up. It has a different logo, with a different font.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/233042...search_query=stanley blacker&ref=sr_gallery_7

Another one marked 1980s on Etsy. Also with different logo.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/246516...search_query=stanley blacker&ref=sr_gallery_6

Yet another Etsy Stanley Blacker marked 1980s. This one is similar looking to mine, but I can't see the lining. It had a different logo, and it also seems to have bigger shoulder pads.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/208871...earch_query=stanley blacker&ref=sr_gallery_14

Here is an Etsy Stanley Blacker marked 1970s. It has the same label as my jacket, but it has massive lapels. It is also lined exactly the same.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/224296...earch_query=stanley blacker&ref=sr_gallery_17

Here is another Stanley Blacker on Etsy, marked 1970s, with a different, yet similar logo. This logo has the same lowercase font, but it is in the color of the one marked 1980s.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/177802508/70s-42-l-stanley-blacker-fine-wool-plaid?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=stanley%20blacker&ref=sr_gallery_22

Here is another Stanley Blacker jacket on Etsy, market 1970s. This jacket has the same buttons, but it has a different logo. I could be wrong, but it seems that this jacket may be from the time that the logo changed.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/246722...query=1980s stanley blacker&ref=sr_gallery_20

Here is another Stanley Blacker on Etsy, marked 1970s, which looks very similar to mine, but it has slightly larger lapels. Unfortunately, the seller did not take any pictures of the labels. This jacket is marked summer, but my jacket is more of mid weight.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/233688...earch_query=stanley blacker&ref=sr_gallery_37

Here is a Stanley Blacker jacket on Etsy, marked 1980s, with brass buttons. However, the brass buttons on this jacket have a different logo on them.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/186411...search_query=stanley blacker&ref=sr_gallery_9

Here is yet another Stanley Blacker jacket on Etsy, marked 1980s. This one has a different label, but it was made for a store.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/232525...search_query=stanley blacker&ref=sr_gallery_1

Here is a Stanley Blacker jacket on Ebay which is exactly the same as mine (but it was made for a different store.) In these pictures, you can see that the jacket has a very square cut, but the shoulders are not heavily padded. Perhaps the Lord and Taylor logo can be dated.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stanley-Bla...Coat-Jacket-/191686431498?hash=item2ca166d30a

 

[Mathematicus]

I think button stance is too low to be a mid-60s coat; also, the coat seems fairly on the long side, which is uncommon for 60s ones. Obviously I can be wrong, it's often really difficult to date precisely a garment.

Just thinking... Did 60s coats usually carry a material label? Italian examples didn't have such labels until late 70s.

 

[Retro Spectator]

I just found two jackets on Rusty Zipper. Both claim to be 1960s. Neither are Stanley Blacker though. These jackets have similar details though (patch pockets, squareish sides.)

http://www.rustyzipper.com/shop.cfm?viewpartnum=280485-A17736

http://www.rustyzipper.com/shop.cfm?viewpartnum=280482-A17733

 

[Seb Lucas]

Looks very 1982 to me. I was there.

 

[Retro Spectator]

While it could be 80s, one thing is odd with this jacket. The one I have appears to have the older Stanley Blacker logo.

Here is a similar Stanley Blacker jacket, with the same Woolmark logo (but on a black background.) This one has what seems to be the newer Stanley Blacker logo. It seems to be lined the same way as my jacket too. The lapels look slightly larger on this jacket though.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/173731055/1980s-stanley-blacker-for-woodard-tweed

 

[Mathematicus]

Labels are not always a secure way to date. It could be that some old labels were used until they finished the stock.
I think, either if the jacket is 80s or 60s, that if it's nice and fits well, the dating it's not so important!

 

[Retro Spectator]

Labels are not always a secure way to date. It could be that some old labels were used until they finished the stock.
I think, either if the jacket is 80s or 60s, that if it's nice and fits well, the dating it's not so important!

True. It's not the age that matters, it's that you like it is what matters.

Edit: I just found what seems to be a very heavily damaged ACTWU label. That means that the jacket is from between 1976 to 1985. I guess it is early 80s. That doesn't matter. I still like the jacket.

 

[Seb Lucas]

As stated earlier - labels are not always accurate. I used to buy leather jackets which were made by a company that used 1960's label stock into the 1980's.

 

[Retro Spectator]

What are some details of 50s and 60s jackets which are easy to find, other than having the older Union tags inside?

 

[Burma Schave]

Wow....

 

[Mathematicus]

If you mean the "narrow cut" coats, here are some elements that MAY appear (alone or togheter) in a such coat:
- fairly small lapels;
- roundish (but small) lapels;
- slight boxy cut;
- higher button stance;
- small patterns in fabric.
Shoulder construction depends from maker to maker; many jackets had minimal padding, but some had substantial pads.

 

[Patrick Hall]

Classic 1960s Ivy style jackets also tend to lack front darts, which this jacket has. Given that the jacket gestures towards the classic Ivy look with the double patch pockets, it's quite likely that it would also have been dartless if it was made in the 60's. Also, the vent can be a good indicator - it's height, size, and whether or not it is a hook vent.

 

[Guttersnipe]

The registered "Wookmark" was not introduced until 1964. In 1971 a registered "Woolblend" mark was also introduced, at which point a lot of manufactures began adding "100% Pure Wool" text. Before '71, the Woolmark text usually reads something along the lines of "Pure Wool", "Virgin Wool" or "Pure Virgin Wool".

Citation.

 

[brendanm720]

I'd agree early 80's.

For interest, the woolmark logo tags first appeared in 1964. Sometimes it helps me with dating when something looks old (but isn't.)

ETA: ...and I should have looked at page 2. Guttersnipe beat me to it!

 

[Retro Spectator]

This Stanley Blacker jacket I just found on eBay must be from the 60s. It has a logo which I haven't seen before.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stanley-Blacker-Blazer-40R-Camel-Hair-Mens-Three-Button-Vented-Macys-USA-Lined-/301518161192?hash=item4633e20528


Edit: I wound up getting this jacket. I've never seen a jacket with this label before, and I have never seen a jacket with camel patterned lining.

Edit2: Now that I look at it, this Stanley Blacker jacket I got today seems to be from the late 50s or early 60s, but I could be wrong. It has a very high button stance (the top button appears to be even with the top pocket), and the camel hair font looks 50s.