Johnson Leather - jacket

[buler]

Hi all. I'm debating between an Aero Highwayman and a Johnson Leather custom. Hoping that fatdutchman could update us with how his custom Johnson is doing. Pics would be great! Also saw that Jack Miranda has both the Aero and a Johnson. Maybe Jack could reply and give a comparison opinion. Also would love to hear from anyone else that could give a review of their Johnson jacket. Pics are always a help.

Thanks in advance.

Bill

 

[jack miranda]

Johnson Leathers here in San Francisco

does beautiful work. A couple of years ago, I took them a completely trashed Hercules from the late 40's/early 50's and had them build me a new one in black horsehide. I was persuaded to go with a supple horse, not FQHH. They did a first quality job and the jacket is a beauty. I did not know horse could be as soft and supple as this puppy is.

A few months later when I was in the neighborhood, I visited Aero and let them build their version of a Hercules for me in brown horsehide. (That adventure is chronicled elsewhere). This is a much stiffer horse, with a different look, and obviously, a different feel.

Bottom line: both companies do exceptional work. You will not be disappointed either way. Aero is, well, Aero, 'nough said; Johnson is an under-utilized West Coast treasure.

I will post pictures on Saturday so you can see them and compare visually for yourself. The next couple of days here at work are hectic for me, and I need to get some pictures of the Johnson Herc.

 

[buler]

Thanks Jack. The more pictures, the better. Appreciate you taking the time.

 

[jack miranda]

Hi, buler. Buler? Buler? Sorry, I couldn't resist...

Here are a series of pictures of a Johnson Hercules and an Aero Hercules. The Johnson is an exact reproduction in black horsehide of a cordovan Sears Hercules circa 1950 (?). The lining is different, so is the color, obviously, and the front zipper is larger than the original. But, the configuration of pockets is the same. I cannot recall whether the 'action back' is original or not. I think so. The hide is incredibly supple and soft for horse. Alan, at Johnson's told me other manufacturers are not keen on it, so he pretty much gets the run each year. Same place as all the other jacket makers, I think in your neck of the woods. Wisconsin? Minnesota? Somebody in the Lounge will correct me, I'm sure.

The Aero was custom made for me at the factory. The lining I picked out from a wall of fabric rolls in the basement--great fun. The map pocket on the left side is matched by a zipper pocket on the right side interior. Will thought it would look cool. He was right. As you can see from the label, this is a FQHH, heavy and stiff. A year and a half of wear have just begun to break it in satisfactorily.

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking. Enjoy, buler. First the Johnson:
http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/41378/2495160130104585873S425x425Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/42945/2680676480104585873S425x425Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/43513/2199174950104585873S425x425Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/43593/2454727980104585873S425x425Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/43696/2570727130104585873S425x425Q85.jpg

Now, the Aero:
http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/27611/2031475680104585873S425x425Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/41822/2443054110104585873S425x425Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/42336/2601178590104585873S425x425Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/32118/2973351900104585873S425x425Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/41121/2141417350104585873S425x425Q85.jpg

The OG (old geezer) wearing the jacket is not George Clooney. Tis moi. But, thanks. I hope the pics help. I'm still working on my pic uploading skills, so you get links, not direct photos. Rats.

 

[buler]

Thanks for taking the time to get those pics to me Jack! Both look great. I had a great discussion with Alan at Johnson today and he is sending me a test jacket for sizing. I'll probably go with horsehide (all supplied by Horween in Chicago to Johnson, Aero, etc.).

Bill

 

[feltfan]

Just click on the mountain icon and use the same URLs

I'll go photograph my Johnson now. Er, jacket.

 

[feltfan]

Let me show you my Johnson

I bought this jacket at least 12 years ago. It has held up well,
though I am thinking of seeing just how good that lifetime warrantee
is, since there are a few things that need attention after many
years of hard wear (sleeve zippers, holes in lining, etc). I treated
this cow or steer jacket with mink oil, as Johnson recommended,
until the company that made the mink oil they recommend went
out of business. I have since applied Pecard's once, and I like
the result.

Yeah, I dumped it on some dirty laundry and snapped. Sorry
no pix wearing it.

No, this is not walrus leather:

All-in-all, a quality product that has given me years of use.
HTH.

 

[buler]

Thanks Feltfan, great jacket! What kind of hide is it? Alan is sending me a "test" jacket to get sizing right. Can't wait to have my own.

 

[feltfan]

Like I said, cow or steer. It's been a long time.
It was one of their heaviest, but I think they had
one heavier that they reserved for their motorcycle
cop jackets. I lifted one of those and found it
remarkably heavy.

At the time I bought a Johnson because I knew people
who had them and they looked good for years. Nice leather.
But now I have seen a lot of leather jackets and I realize
what a great resource they are. Really one of the best
jackets in the country, if you get the right thing from them.
They used to have a 20% off sale at the end of each year.
Not sure if they still do.

 

[Fatdutchman]

Here's my Johnson jacket. Taken a couple of weeks ago.

Alan at Johnson is absolutely wonderful to work with. He'll go out of his way to make sure everything is right.

For those interested, my total bill was something like $650, which is a LOT of money for me, especially for an article of clothing, but if you wanna dance, you gotta pay the piper. The basic jacket was $365, horsehide added $100, and fitting and modifications were on top of that.

Oh, and I can actually raise my arms in it, without the bottom of the jacket rising up to my armpits!!!

 

[Peacoat]

Nice jacket; I have two JL jackets, and they are top of the line. But I especially like the tree in the background. Maybe not a German tree, but still a very nice tree.

 

[trapp]

Peacoat, any chance you could post some pictures of your two JL jackets?

I live very close to JL (talked about my visit in another thread) and will likely get a jacket made by them someday soon.

 

[AviatorBRZ]

"Let me show you my Johnson"

Wait! don't wanna see this. LOL

Despite the joke, all nice jackets.

 

[Peacoat]

Peacoat, any chance you could post some pictures of your two JL jackets?

I live very close to JL (talked about my visit in another thread) and will likely get a jacket made by them someday soon.

I keep planning on having my wife take some pictures, but the thought usually eludes me. I can't seem to get my camera, my wife, my Johnson and myself in the same place at the same time.

 

[buler]

Saw this thread referenced in a recent post. Realized I never added my own jacket. Here is the thread on my first (won't be my last) Johnson jacket -> BulerJohnsonJacket

B

 

[Grayland]

Saw this thread referenced in a recent post. Realized I never added my own jacket. Here is the thread on my first (won't be my last) Johnson jacket -> BulerJohnsonJacket

B

Love the grain on that naked cowhide, but you look a lot better in your avatar than when you modeled your jacket.