Original Indian Motorcycle Jackets

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

Fidelity made the Indian Ranger under their own name too, just without calling it "Indian Ranger".
There was a close connection between motorcycle sales and merch sales. Indian sold ca. 6500 motorcycles in 1946. Rising up to 11000 in 1948 and descending to 1000 two years later. Imagine contracts for jackets that were fullfilled but cancelled due to declining demands. What would a company like Fidelity do?

 

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

About Fidelity Company, I have my own thoughts. But you are right. I´m posting the history of Indian motorcycle jackets next.

Fidelity made the Indian Ranger under their own name too, just without calling it "Indian Ranger".

There was a close connection between motorcycle sales and merch sales. Indian sold ca. 6500 motorcycles in 1946. Rising up to 11000 in 1948 and descending to 1000 two years later. Imagine contracts for jackets that were fullfilled but cancelled due to declining demands. What would a company like Fidelity do?

 

[Aloysius]

Of course, but I think there is a little more to it than that. I would be very surprised if Indian originated the design, rather than requesting an existing design with some modifications/branding.

The Indian Ranger design, as much as I love it, wasn't that unique (except perhaps for its sleeve opening.) There are Fidelity and Sportclad jackets with the same patch/collar style. There are also Durable jackets that are quite similar to the "second gen" Indian jacket.

 

[JMax]

I do not believe Indian sold IRs spec’d like Fidelity IR. I’d guess that when the Indian contract was not renewed Fidelity continued making the IR to their specifications. A few Boston makers of the era used snaps on the belts and epaulettes.

 

[Aloysius]

I do not believe Indian sold IRs spec’d like Fidelity IR.

Correct, I haven't seen the snap style with the Indian label, but I think this lends credence to the idea that it was a generally existing model that Indian requested in a custom spec. (Much like 316 might do a Schott collab today, which has some differences from the baseline model.)

The second gen Indian jackets are even more generic (to be clear, I'm not using that word as a pejorative); they're essentially a Perfecto with vertical chest pocket.

 

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

Agree, but we will never know......

 

[tmitchell59]

Buco made jackets for Harley Davidson but also sold those jackets under their label.

Which Harley jackets did Buco Make?

 

[Aloysius]

Buco made jackets for Harley Davidson but also sold those jackets under their label.

Which Harley jackets did Buco Make?

I meant to say 'accessories', not jackets in particular. They made accessories, gloves, etc with Harley and Indian branding, while also producing those things under their own branding.

 

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

Came across this on etsy. No clue this is real or not.
View attachment 366842

Made some investigation on this unusual leather shirt. It is pictured in the 1959 Indian catalog as "Racing shirt". See pic.

 

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

Here is a timeline on Indian leather jackets for Motorcyclists. It is based on multiple Accessoires catalogs, that were published by the Indian Motocycle Company. Hopefully it helps to assign jacket models as this information is based on facts.
Pictures in the gallery are named with year of appearance.

The very first leather jacket I know was pictured in the 1928 catalog. A simple sport jacket with two attaches pockets.
I don´t have information on catalogs from 1928 to 1939. In the 1940 catalog was no leather jacket shown, just a cardigan like woolen one.
As Indian focused on military contracts, there was no merch for civilians. Indian launched their first civil motorcycle model in 1946. The Indian Chief, but it took 2 more years to bring out another accessoires catalog.

The most iconic leather jacket is the “Indian Ranger”.

Early models were sold probably from 1946 on, but they aren´t pictured in any prints I know. Not even in the monthly “Indian News”, a company owned magazine where sport results, tech info and Riders Club info were published. So there is still some mystic around this model. The design details are well-known and explained on the Aero webpage.
The female jacket was named “Rangerette” and was mirrowed to the male model.
In 1948 there were 3 versions of the Ranger jacket shown with some updated details. Of the DeLuxe version, you can´t find one single real picture online. These Ranger versions were in range for 5 years and last shown in the 1952 catalog. Indian closed their production in 1953 and the next merchandise catalog was published in 1957.
The only motorcycle jacket was just named “Black leather jacket”. Same in 1959. I gave close details on that period in previously posts.
All later jackets I do not connect to the Indian Motocycle Company in Springfield, Mass. USA.

 

[Aloysius]

Amazing post!

And 29" long is definitely a lot longer than we tend to think of such jackets being.

 

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

Amazing post!

And 29" long is definitely a lot longer than we tend to think of such jackets being.

Indeed. But the purpose was motorcycle riding. And the design protects very well from wind and rain. Just like modern motorcycle jackets.

 

[Aloysius]

Indeed. But the purpose was motorcycle riding. And the design protects very well from wind and rain. Just like modern motorcycle jackets.

Right, but we tend to think of jackets built for riding (as opposed to fashion) as being relatively short. 24" or less was the norm at that period for other brands.

 

[jonbuilder]

@Aloysius thank you for sharing a wealth of obscure vintage motorcycle jacket history. This is the most trilled I have been in a long time only second only to receiving a genuine historic MC jacket in good condition in a wearable size.
edit I have no idea how you real jacket historians tract down info like this.

 

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

Amazing post!

And 29" long is definitely a lot longer than we tend to think of such jackets being.

I measured my jacket. It is 26'' from collar hem to the bottom of the jacket. It´s like a UK40. Plus collar it´s 28''. I don´t know how they got to 29'' back then......

 

[jonbuilder]

If I understand somewhat correctly Fidelity made Indian Ranger jackets and there is not much difference between a Fidelity jacket design and an Indian ranger jacket design except the lable. When it comes to market price/collector desirability a label makes a huge difference

 

[Aloysius]

I measured my jacket. It is 26'' from collar hem to the bottom of the jacket. It´s like a UK40. Plus collar it´s 28''. I don´t know how they got to 29'' back then......

The repro Ranger I’m getting is 26”, which is an inch or two longer than the Schotts I’m looking at.

 

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

Here are some pics showing folks wearing Indian motorcycle jackets in the 1940s and 1950s.

If I understand somewhat correctly Fidelity made Indian Ranger jackets and there is not much difference between a Fidelity jacket design and an Indian ranger jacket design except the lable. When it comes to market price/collector desirability a label makes a huge difference

I don't think so. The main design is almost alike. Details like hardware, position of the belt and pockets and lining are different. Would be interesting to see a labelled Fidelity to compare to a Ranger. Anyone can help?

 

[Antique Indian Motocycles]

The repro Ranger I’m getting is 26”, which is an inch or two longer than the Schotts I’m looking at.

Indian jackets from 1957 to 1959 were 29'' long in the back. According to the catalog of that year. My 1959 is 26'' long. A 1940s Ranger is shorter. Repros have different measures due to modern style.

 

[JMax]

Here are some pics showing folks wearing Indian motorcycle jackets in the 1940s and 1950s.

I don't think so. The main design is almost alike. Details like hardware, position of the belt and pockets and lining are different. Would be interesting to see a labelled Fidelity to compare to a Ranger. Anyone can help?

Fidelity HH. I no longer have the steerhide version to also compare. I took a bunch of pics, let me know if you need another. This is an awesome jacket.