Montgomery Ward (Windward) Motorcycle Jacket History 1947-1963

[JMax]

here is is again Wolf/Windward in Steerhide

Wolf must have been making steer jackets for Wards bc the HH jackets are different—

 

[Marc mndt]

From the 56 spring / summer catalog

 

[tmitchell59]

Wolf must have been making steer jackets for Wards bc the HH jackets are different

There are 3 different jackets in this thread all probably made by different makers. Sears used various suppliers too.

The back on this one has me thinking California Sportswear

 

[JMax]

There are 3 different jackets in this thread all probably made by different makers. Sears used various suppliers too.

The back on this one has me thinking California Sportswear

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Agreed. Here are my three Sears. Top one is the HH, middle is the CSC Steer, both D patch pockets. Bottom is the Oakbrook Satin Twill.

 

[tmitchell59]

I'm thinking this is the first Cafe Racer styled jacket I have seen with the Windward or Brent label. I didn't even look through this thread before proclaiming that.

I'm seeing the Brent label as the Oakbrook label from Sears. Brent replacing the Montgomery Ward Windward label in the early 60s the same as Oakbrook replacing the Hercules label around the same time.

I don't recall either Hercules or Windward labeled Cafe Racers. Let me know if I missed something.

 

[regius]

I may be jumping the line here, have we got to the late 60s yet? Halfbelt? Here’s my only Ward left. A NOS condition (when I got it) long HB.

 

[Will Zach]

Here's what came in today. HH is great quality, substantial but not stiff. Lining is NOS condition, original I think. Brown color is tough to capture correctly; the fit pics are closer to the actual color. Really, really nice HH. The elastics in the waistband still work after 70 years. Big front drop. Not a huge fan of the big front patch pockets, but this old girl is staying, out of respect to old-time quality and workmanship.

 

[regius]

man

Here's what came in today. HH is great quality, substantial but not stiff. Lining is NOS condition, original I think. Brown color is tough to capture correctly; the fit pics are closer to the actual color. Really, really nice HH. The elastics in the waistband still work after 70 years. Big front drop. Not a huge fan of the big front patch pockets, but this old girl is staying, out of respect to old-time quality and workmanship.

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man, that's a beauty, totally new old stock, where did you find it?

 

[Will Zach]

^^

@ton312 posted it in the Finds section. Needless to say, he has an eye for quality, I just do what he says...

 

[ton312]

Here's what came in today. HH is great quality, substantial but not stiff. Lining is NOS condition, original I think. Brown color is tough to capture correctly; the fit pics are closer to the actual color. Really, really nice HH. The elastics in the waistband still work after 70 years. Big front drop. Not a huge fan of the big front patch pockets, but this old girl is staying, out of respect to old-time quality and workmanship.

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Nailed to the ground perfect. Another example of why the originals are simply untouchable. Perfect!!!

 

[tmitchell59]

Yes, nice hearty California Horsehide. No doubt a product of California Sportswear Co. You see this heavy hide on the West Coast Utility jackets in this Style. My recent Taubers is the same heavy Horsehide, made for work,. All Weather Garments are seen in this leather. The color is outstanding.

Has the square shoulder box look so popular on these 50s Vintage jackets.

 

[tmitchell59]

 

[EAC]

Another styled and made in California example (from ebay), more of an aviator style, with the half-belt and side adjusters. Very similar, but not identical, to the ones posted by Wildhorses and tmitchell59:

 

[EAC]

Thrashed kid's jacket:

 

[EAC]

A killer ponyhide 30s example (from the vintageleatherjackets blog), again an aviator and this timw pre-1947, but I think it belongs here in this thread; styled and made in California:

 

[EAC]

Another aviator, same model as above, but in better condition (photo are worse quality, though):

 

[EAC]

Another oldie, 30s ponyhide with grommet zipper:

Again, since this is not strictly pertinent to the thread (this is a 30s sport jacket, not a 1947-1963 motorcycle one), let me know if it should be moved elsewhere.

 

[EAC]

Ok, I might be derailing the thread...

40s/50s horsehide Windward sport jacket:

At least they are all black cross-zips...

 

[EAC]

Another 40s variation, probably used by a biker:

 

[EAC]

Ok, this time a real MC jacket.

Styled and made in California 40s piece, from ebay:

Very similar to the jacket tmitchell59 posted earlier in this thread, but the back is different, and the ebay one is labeled:

It looks like this model went through a similar evolution in back design as the Hercules MC jackets: from a half-belt + belt combination to a studded kidney panel. No real surprise, since they were both made in California.