Rainbow Country Single Rider

[Will Zach]

^^
They are not better than top of the line modern YKK or Riri. They are better than modern repros.

 

[Monitor]

If you don't mind, can someone say a few things about why vintage Talon NOS are better then regular modern zippers? I know they're more rare/valuable... but not sure why. Do they function better? Sorry for being lazy, I bet I could find it w/ enough googling. But sometimes people like to talk about this stuff and I'm willing to read/listen!

Them just zippers. As good as any good YKK.

 

[Canuck Panda]

This is a NOS Talon I've got from Photo2u, very high quality. See the pin is fully checked by the first teeth. This prevents the zip from undoing from the bottom. The repro Talons are not as good. That pin is usually too long (or the socket is too shallow) and not fully checked by the first teeth, and under stress the zip will undo from the bottom.

YKK, Riri and all other modern zips don't really have this problem. Not all NOS Talons are equal either. Some are just crappy like the repro Talons. I have those too. Unfortunately. Very costly repairs.

The Hookless from Rainbow Country is bullet proof, they use their own puller on the hookless teeths. But their repro Talon also sucks, I have it on their HWYMan, and I wished they just stayed with their Hookless. I've posted a pic somewhere I forgot the thread.

 

[Jischwar]

Who are the "Cal MFG" zippers made by?

 

[Jischwar]

Here's a picture for reference

 

[Canuck Panda]

That's Rainbow Country's own zip pull. It's basically a copy of the chocolate bar shape Talon pull but with their own name on it (California Mfg).

 

[Jischwar]

That's Rainbow Country's own zip pull. It's basically a copy of the chocolate bar shape Talon pull but with their own name on it (California Mfg).

Oh cool, thanks for the info. It can be a little tricky to get it started since the leather of the jacket kind of covers non-zipper side.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Oh cool, thanks for the info. It can be a little tricky to get it started since the leather of the jacket kind of covers non-zipper side.

some candle wax on the teeth helps but in general these repro Talons just aren't very good. But they have that look that customers ask for.

Rainbow country uses a lot of Hookless zips too. Look for those. They're better. Like this:

 

[Jischwar]

some candle wax on the teeth helps but in general these repro Talons just aren't very good. But they have that look that customers ask for.

Rainbow country uses a lot of Hookless zips too. Look for those. They're better. Like this:

View attachment 469010

Is that a Hercules?

 

[Canuck Panda]

Is that a Hercules?

Yup. RC did a great job on this one. Fit quite slim with the high arm holes but everything seems to work, just like a tailored blazer.

 

[Jischwar]

Yup. RC did a great job on this one. Fit quite slim with the high arm holes but everything seems to work, just like a tailored blazer.

Okay, cool. I pre-ordered one so glad it'll have that hookless zipper

 

[Jasonissm]

Anyone know anything about this Rainbow Country D-Pocket? I believe 2015 or before, but this is my first time seeing this pattern and I am in love with it. I really wish they didn't discontinue it, it kind of reminds me of a Freewheelers Speed Demon with a D-pocket. This in their red brown/tobacco brown or dark seal horsehide would be the dream!

 

[Marc mndt]

Anyone know anything about this Rainbow Country D-Pocket? I believe 2015 or before, but this is my first time seeing this pattern and I am in love with it. I really wish they didn't discontinue it, it kind of reminds me of a Freewheelers Speed Demon with a D-pocket. This in their red brown/tobacco brown or dark seal horsehide would be the dream!
View attachment 472864 View attachment 472863

Here's the original

Similar

 

[Jaime]

God I love it! What a design.

If there was an AI app for jacket designs it would be based off Marc's archive I'm sure

 

[Marc mndt]

There's one on grailed, size 36. It has been sitting there for a while.

 

[Damon141]

Anyone know anything about this Rainbow Country D-Pocket? I believe 2015 or before, but this is my first time seeing this pattern and I am in love with it. I really wish they didn't discontinue it, it kind of reminds me of a Freewheelers Speed Demon with a D-pocket. This in their red brown/tobacco brown or dark seal horsehide would be the dream!
View attachment 472864 View attachment 472863

Does anyone know if this is Shinki or horsehide?

Looks like some bull hide or bison for some reason. Very natural

 

[photo2u]

This is a NOS Talon I've got from Photo2u, very high quality. See the pin is fully checked by the first teeth. This prevents the zip from undoing from the bottom. The repro Talons are not as good. That pin is usually too long (or the socket is too shallow) and not fully checked by the first teeth, and under stress the zip will undo from the bottom.
View attachment 468994

YKK, Riri and all other modern zips don't really have this problem. Not all NOS Talons are equal either. Some are just crappy like the repro Talons. I have those too. Unfortunately. Very costly repairs.

The Hookless from Rainbow Country is bullet proof, they use their own puller on the hookless teeths. But their repro Talon also sucks, I have it on their HWYMan, and I wished they just stayed with their Hookless. I've posted a pic somewhere I forgot the thread.

Canuck, Please share with us. It is great info you share because to me, weak zips is a deal breaker in a high end repro. However, There is still hope. If you need a good replacement. Some talons can still be found at a relatively low price. Some eBay sellers do not know the real value of some zippers and if you are in the right place at the right time, a deal can be made. In most cases, you are golden if you get pre-60s zippers. That is true for most makers.

 

[Jasonissm]

Does anyone know if this is Shinki or horsehide?

Looks like some bull hide or bison for some reason. Very natural

According to the owner it's the buffalo leather. It's been used before in collaborations with Mushman's
Buffalo: http://shop.mushmans.com/?pid=159875068

Although to me it actually looks closer to their "Russet Brown Steerhide" they used previously: http://shop.mushmans.com/?pid=136793553

Here's the original

View attachment 472881

Similar

View attachment 472882

Thank you for sharing Marc, nothing does beat the original. a really phenomenal pattern. I also noticed on the second example there is a separate panel just on the right shoulder, does this have a purpose or is it a repair or similar?

Also do you have any examples of the back design?

Such a great pattern!

 

[Blackadder]

According to the owner it's the buffalo leather. It's been used before in collaborations with Mushman's
Buffalo: http://shop.mushmans.com/?pid=159875068

Although to me it actually looks closer to their "Russet Brown Steerhide" they used previously: http://shop.mushmans.com/?pid=136793553

Thank you for sharing Marc, nothing does beat the original. a really phenomenal pattern. I also noticed on the second example there is a separate panel just on the right shoulder, does this have a purpose or is it a repair or similar?

Also do you have any examples of the back design?

Such a great pattern!

Yes it's buffalo. I have seen one a few years ago at Americaya 610. That one was an old stock on sale. They aren't very popular.

 

[Jasonissm]

BOOTLEGGERS ブートレガーズ レザーダウンベスト... - ヤフオク!

●ブートレガーズのレザー製ダウンベストです。 ●当時の直営店のファーザーザンパラダイス限定で少量発売されたモデルです。●各サイズ1,2着程しか作成されていないので、滅多に見る事が無いと思います。店頭にも、殆ど並びませんでした。 ●20年近く前に発売されて、発売当時に購入しました。 ●レインボーカントリーとのコラボ別注モデルです。 ●黒いボディーはヌバックレザーが使用されて、切り返しの白い部分は表革のツルツルしたレザーが使用されています。 ●黒と白のコンビ色なので、アウトドア感は無く、黒白コンビのライダース

page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp

Very interesting item. Collaboration item between Bootleggers (now Freewheelers) and Rainbow Country with co-branding tags. I haven't seen any other items in collaboration between the two companies although heard a lot about how they're made by the same factory.