Montgomery Ward (Windward) Motorcycle Jacket History 1947-1963

[tmitchell59]

This will cover the Three Amigos of the Catalog World

Post WWII was the Motorcycle jacket boom (The Golden Age). Young men coming out the service looking for some fun take to the open road. Riding Gear had been produced since the invent of the Motorcycle. Regional Shops all over the country were producing riding wear for Civilian and Police work long before 1947. The huge amount of interest post war increased the need for more jackets. The Three catalog giants, Sears-JC Penney-Montgomery Ward filled the retail need. The Sears catalog began offering MC jackets c.1948. They were the leader and through the 1950s would outsell the other catalogs. The Catalog stores brought MC jacket into the mainstream.

I want to replicate the Sears MC History Thread that has been so successful in putting together a very accurate chronology and cataloging of the various models.

The Sears thread replicated the Sears catalog pages for those years. I do not have access to either Wards or JC Penney catalog pages as I had with Sears. Even with all the pages I had, two Missing Links were found by members here from sources I had not seen.

I hoping we can duplicate the community effort again.

 

[tmitchell59]

This is a mystery effort. Just not that aware of post war Windward MC jackets. I just collected some pics. I do have one Windward jacket.

MW used this Windward label post war and throughout the 1940s

This is the common/standard 1950s Windward label. Earliest have the nylon mention.

This is an uncommon label. Sears also used a leather tag briefly c. 1950. I would place the Windward in this time frame. They are short lived.

The Windward label move to Brent. There are various Brent label. Not sure of the change date. This is the transitional label

 

[tmitchell59]

This is the earlist MW post war MC jacket I have seen. Has the rarely seen leather tag with Nylon lining c.1951

I have not examined these pictures in detail, it does look like very nice leather.

 

[tmitchell59]

 

[tmitchell59]

 

[tmitchell59]

 

[JMax]

Both you posted just above are still for sale on eBay! Always tempting me.

Here is my lone Windward. Marc now owns the awesome Brent.

Typical 50s Steerhide variant label. Mismatched panels. Some look like the right front with the ridges. Some a typical, juicy Steer grain from the era, and others have the LW stretch marks. Really cool jacket.

 

[tmitchell59]

Both you posted just above are still for sale on eBay! Always tempting me.

Yes, I just lifted those from ebay today since I don't really have any achieved.

Your jacket and the Brent are both fine examples as I would expect from you.

As we go along we need to work to identity makers. There were only so many. Penney and Ward production would have been much smaller than Sears. In my experience Ward and Penney quality was often a bit above Sears.


This guy amazes me. easy to date with that leather tag. Top quality leather, just jumps out. I love that color of lining. That color sticks in my mind. Grais? HD?

 

[tmitchell59]

This simple Spot work sure looks familiar, I know there are Hercs and HDs similar, will have to further investigate.

The Windward jackets are very big on the Stars! An interesting tidbit.

 

[JMax]

The lining is special. I can’t place it. Grais did seem to use a darker red but not this deep into wine. I need to jump into the Midwest makers and see what I see.

 

[Peacoat]

This is another great thread by Terry. I have put a link to this thread in the Important Threads section at the top of the page.

Thanks again, Terry, for your contributions. PC

 

[tmitchell59]

This is another great thread by Terry. I have put a link to this thread in the Important Threads section at the top of the page.

Thanks again, Terry, for your contributions. PC

I anticipate this history will be much shorter, I'm hoping we can fill in the jackets as we see them in the Wild. Many less jacket than the Sears thread.

Thanks for your consideration!

 

[tmitchell59]

Not much action on the Wards jackets. They just don't show up.

In the ad for this jacket the seller says he owner bought the jacket in the late 1960s. Helps identify this label.

 

[tmitchell59]

Don't know if the white rabbits foot is original. Sears used these too. This is the jacket that was bought new in the late 60s.

 

[tmitchell59]

Another with the same late 60s label as the jacket above.

 

[tmitchell59]

 

[JMax]

Not much action on the Wards jackets. They just don't show up.

In the ad for this jacket the seller says he owner bought the jacket in the late 1960s. Helps identify this label.

View attachment 378742

All the info I have found online indicates that the labels with MWs scripted in this way are first seen in the 70s. I guess maybe really late 60s is not impossible, but I see these labels and think 70s earliest.

Edit- plus the cig pocket flap is shaped in this manner from here on out. The Windwards and Brent’s are different.

 

[tmitchell59]

I guess maybe really late 60s is not impossible, but I see these labels and think 70s earliest.

It is a clue. I have not made much of an effort to research Wards and Penney labels past 1960. I guess that is what we are doing now.

I'm hoping there are some people with Wards, Penney catalogs or other advertising.

 

[tmitchell59]

Just saw this. Do not recall a MC jacket with this Windward label? This label would pre-date the Leather label on jacket above.

Remember Montgomery Ward also used a "made in California" label on cross zip jackets. I'm not quite sure where to place them, but had not figured them in the mix. I knew I was missing something!!

 

[Yamahana]

My contribution to the Montgomery Ward MC jacket thread

This Two Star has got some pretty decent leather also. Lots of grain and creases