Photos of cool jackets owned by others (non-brand specific)

[steve u]

Their's a nice Himel pullover on ebay..(don't know how to link) steve

 

[Monitor]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Himel-Bros-Leather-Jacket-40/142909549588

Huh, might end up being a bargain.

 

[Edward]

Never heard of this brand! I really like the 617. The gold quilted liner is really striking.
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Yes, that's the other one I have my eye on. Whereas the 59 model does originally go back to the fifties, this design was first introduced in 1970, though it's very much something that could have existed as early as the 50s.... the earliest, though I'm sure not the first, British lancer-front Perfecto-influenced style I know a confirmed date for was the Lewis Bronx, 1956. The Bronx (the name was a bit of a deliberate nod to the NYC based Schott) was given a leather-covered buckle for the front belt as the Brit bikers often liked to ride leant forward, flat over the tank as distinct from the more upright US style, and a Schott style buckle risks scratching the tank. By 1958, when Lewis introduced the Lightning, they had come up with the idea of the side-buckles, a standard for British bike jackets right through their heyday in the 60 and 70s and into the decline years for the industry in the eighties.

Goldtop originally was one of the many, many names on the British bike leather scene. I'm not currently clear whether they were pitched at the cheaper end of the market a la Mascot, or higher end like rivals Rivett's of Leytonstone (who produced the Highwayman brand, and were possibly the first to make the traditional rocker shirt collar / straight zip jacket, certainly beating Lewis by some years, the Corsair and Dominator not hitting the market until c.1962). Like Mascot, the brand is not in the hands of the original owners. Goldtop was originally founded in 1951, then disappeared as far as I am aware in the middle eighties. The current owners spent quite some time acquiring the TMs and getting things set up. They are a limited range, though I suspect they might expand gradually. Interestingly, according to this article - https://motorbikewriter.com/traditional-goldtop-brand-revived/ - the gold lining is not an original feature, but a new idea or the reduxed brand to help distinguish it from other retro brands. It's a good idea, I think - the red which almost became industry standard at a time does tend somewhat now to make jackets look like a Lewis knock-off, particularly with Lewis still being the biggest name in specifically repops of bike leathers from the heyday of the British bike industry. Given that they're selling for £300-£330 (£375ish for a custom version - I think mostly this is for different leathers, odd measurements and such, though their custom page does show a 617 with a mandarin collar; I think their flat-tracker would look rather nice with the shirt collar from the 59), I wouldn't expect UK manufacture, though reviews seem to suggest they've not skimped on quality. A very serviceable bike-ready jacket in a more classic style. I'm also intrigued by their gloves; none of them seem to have CE certification or such features as of yet, though perhaps that will come now they've done the jackets). I'm also tempted by the longer, belted model. I'm always in two minds about those in leather (big fan of the waxed cotton alternative), but the brown one looks really nice.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Himel-Bros-Leather-Jacket-40/142909549588

Huh, might end up being a bargain.

I can see that being possible; I think this is a particular design that will appeal to a more speciality market than one of their halfbelts, say.

 

[red devil]

I wouldn't expect UK manufacture, though reviews seem to suggest they've not skimped on quality.

I can confirm that they are not made in the UK, although the owner did not want to reveal the country of manufacture. He did say that making them in the UK would make the goods too pricey, but he also confirmed focusing on quality. I have their padded gloves and they are quite good.

 

[Edward]

I can confirm that they are not made in the UK, although the owner did not want to reveal the country of manufacture. He did say that making them in the UK would make the goods too pricey, but he also confirmed focusing on quality. I have their padded gloves and they are quite good.

Yes, I wouldn't expect anything much lower than £500 to £600 would be made in the UK these days. Wonder why they didn't want to reveal it? In case prejudice stops people buying? India or Pakistan seems the most likely these days. It's going to be interesting to see what happens if/when the EU finally puts through its labelling rules on country of origin.

 

[Carlos840]

Yes, I wouldn't expect anything much lower than £500 to £600 would be made in the UK these days. Wonder why they didn't want to reveal it? In case prejudice stops people buying? India or Pakistan seems the most likely these days. It's going to be interesting to see what happens if/when the EU finally puts through its labelling rules on country of origin.

I think not saying is worst! I would consider buying a jacket made in India or Pakistan if the price is right, but i wouldn't buy anything from a company that refuses to say where it manufactures its products.
If you are that ashamed of where you stuff comes from why keep having it made there other than because it is cheap?

Edit: just had them on the phone, the jackets are made in China, he was really insistent on the fact that they only used top quality products, Swiss zippers, Japanese snaps, German buckles, and that everything is warrantied one year (weird considering EU standard is 2 years).

Personally i find it a bit cheeky that they use an old British brand name, use England in their name, plaster their website with classic British bikes, play the whole "since 1951" thing, but get all their stuff made in China.

 

[red devil]

It's going to be interesting to see what happens if/when the EU finally puts through its labelling rules on country of origin.

I was wondering about that, it's the first time that I had someone refuse to reveal country of manufacture

just had them on the phone, the jackets are made in China

I was thinking it must be Pakistan, as they do quite a bit of leather work. He must have realised that not revealing the country of manufacturing is indeed worse

 

[Carlos840]

I was wondering about that, it's the first time that I had someone refuse to reveal country of manufacture



I was thinking it must be Pakistan, as they do quite a bit of leather work. He must have realised that not revealing the country of manufacturing is indeed worse

His spiel was "it isn't where they are made that is important, but what they are made of".
mmmmeeeeh... not sure i completely agree.
I would think people who are into the "heritage scene" are probably more worried about provenance than your average top shop customer.

 

[Edward]

I can see it both ways. I've certainly encountered an awful lot of ill-founded snobbery about Chinese manufactured goods (ironic, given that 90% of it I've seen online, types on Chinese-made technology...). I can imagine there are folks who would still buy 'made in the UK' for location of manufacture alone. It is definitely a delicate balance with the marketing - though they're far from the first UK business to outsource to the far east. The one that always amused me most are "Burns of London" guitars - a company which for the last twenty odd years at least has been based in Wales, while manufacturing in the Far East. Of course, this doesn't guarantee a bad product as such: "Mosrite of Calfornia" guitars have been built in Japan for over twenty years by a company with no connection whatever to the original, and truth be told they are vastly superior instruments and more consistent in the QC. (I'd say the same of Gretsch as well).

I'm completely on board with the notion that a company should be legally obliged to disclose place of manufacture. I don't think it will always hurt sales - certainly, the press reviews of the GoldTop stuff are very positive, and that's from people using them as intended, on motorcycles rather than as 'costume' - though granted there are people who still get funny about those things. There's at least one well known brand in this niche which has never confirmed where its jackets are made - could well also be China.

 

[red devil]

It's a delicate issue, we use a lot of items made in China, especially all kinds of appliances and electronics. But it is true that we do not associate products made there with long term use... Not that those do not exist but they are likely not the priority of the factories there.
I guess "made in China" is still associated with "expendable" and/or "disposable"

 

[Mich486]

They can make the most praised smartphones in the world I’m sure they can make fine jackets too. Still a long way to go though before made in China becomes a trademark of quality (if it ever will).

I can understand why some firms do not publicise it especially for a newcomer on the market like Goldtop (well established brands can do it much more easily). It certainly would be welcome though some regulation forcing a clear disclosure of the country of manufacture.


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[handymike]

Ok, This might be new GRAIL territory...

Perhaps it's time to email Theodoros...

 

[ton312]

might be

???
IS!!!! Is. Is. Is.
I've never seen anything like it.

 

[Edward]

It's a delicate issue, we use a lot of items made in China, especially all kinds of appliances and electronics. But it is true that we do not associate products made there with long term use... Not that those do not exist but they are likely not the priority of the factories there.
I guess "made in China" is still associated with "expendable" and/or "disposable"

It's a debate that has been gone over many times over the years on TFL, but suffice it to say here that the Chinese can produce any product to an equivalent quality of anywhere else in the world, given the resources and the spec. The reality, however, is that the mainstream West wants it More and Cheaper, so not only do many products ordered by Western companies and intended for the Western market go to China for cheaper labour, they also often drop the spec, working with cheaper components and materials. (Usually by design - if your budget range is too good, who will buy the top line stuff?) The West viewed Japan the same way back in the seventies, though even today the very best the Japanese make for the domestic market is often never seen elsewhere.

 

[Gamma68]

 

[handymike]

What is this?

 

[Gamma68]

What is this?
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Found it on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/345721708880734113/

 

[Graemsay]

LVC Safari Jacket, which is a cross between a Type III and a Norfolk jacket. It's a cousin of the Zig Zag leather I posted a few weeks ago, but the design is better resolved. More details and pictures at Heddels, Levi's, and Canoe Club.

 

[Gamma68]

Don't know what this is, but I like:

Thedi:

Buco J-31, which is awesome. Just ￥550,000＋TAX

 

[Bushman]

Whichever bomber Spielberg is wearing here on the set of The Lost World in 1996: