Schott 60's Cafe Racer Review - The Unsung Hero

[ton312]

@ton312
22' ptp but it felt bigger. I guess it's the gussets.
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I must’ve missed this in the jacket o’ the day thread but that looks damn good to me!

 

[ProteinNerd]

@Marc mndt why on earth would you have sold that!? It looked like it fit you really well.

 

[ton312]

@Marc mndt why on earth would you have sold that!? It looked like it fit you really well.

Well in his defense he didn’t sell it. Even better, he gave it away! It was a festivus miracle for monitor. And how the hell are ya PN? Haven’t heard or seen ya in awhile.

 

[Marc mndt]

@Marc mndt why on earth would you have sold that!? It looked like it fit you really well.

I didn't I just put it under Monitor's Christmas tree.

 

[Claybertrand]

I didn't I just put it under Monitor's Christmas tree.

Mark, to clarify, you classily placed this garment at the foot of Monitor's Festivus Pole right after completing the Festivus AIRING OF GRIEVANCES but before you engaged in the FESTIVUS FEATS OF STRENGTH!!!!!!!!!!

Really cool thing you did man and Monitor sooo loves this jacket.

 

[TREEMAN]

That is nice.............

 

[Marc mndt]

 

[Rgcards]

it's gorgeous. I bought the brown version yesterday from a TFL member after a long search. I'll post some pics in a handful of days when it shows up. Hoping they used the same stuff on the brown versions than what they used here because that is gorgeous. And hoping a size 42 is the right size because the measurements are really weird on these (i.e. 44 has same ptp but different shoulder and bottom).

There's a 44 brown selling on Ebay as well for about $350. The price that Marc got was just crazy for something like that.

Link to ebay auction? please?

 

[Seb Lucas]

Really bloody nice. Is the Schott Cafe 1 and 641XX a reimagining of this pattern?

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Looks awesome. As has been stated, the stitching does look denser and neater than most or any other Schotts that I have seen. The leather also looks sort of grey-ish. Is that just the lighting or is it actually that interesting grey color?

 

[Claybertrand]

Really bloody nice. Is the Schott Cafe 1 and 641XX a reimagining of this pattern?

Seb, I think you're onto something but I think perhaps you have it backward. I read from Gail on the Schott Forum that the older Cafes are actually taken off of the older 641 patterns which seemed odd to me as I thought these CRs like Monitors PRE DATED the 641----but that's what she said. I think she was speaking more in relation to the pattern vintage though. Its known that Schott has undergone Pattern updates from time to time and I think she was maybe saying more that they were came from the same SIZING of the old 641s and hence would run smaller than tagged.

I can't say if design aspects were influenced or copied. I thought 641s and 141s were pretty much the same design wise but were different materials with the 141 being Naked Cow and the 641s Steer/Horse. And as I said, I thought both of these came well after Monitor's.

I may be missing the true call of your question man but I just read this Schott tidbit yesterday so I wanted to post whilst it's still fresh in my feeble mind!!! Sorry for any confusion

 

[navetsea]

2 slant pockets, grains, what's not to love, extra good karma for @Marc mndt and congrats to @Monitor

 

[Seb Lucas]

Seb, I think you're onto something but I think perhaps you have it backward. I read from Gail on the Schott Forum that the older Cafes are actually taken off of the older 641 patterns which seemed odd to me as I thought these CRs like Monitors PRE DATED the 641----but that's what she said. I think she was speaking more in relation to the pattern vintage though. Its known that Schott has undergone Pattern updates from time to time and I think she was maybe saying more that they were came from the same SIZING of the old 641s and hence would run smaller than tagged.

I can't say if design aspects were influenced or copied. I thought 641s and 141s were pretty much the same design wise but were different materials with the 141 being Naked Cow and the 641s Steer/Horse. And as I said, I thought both of these came well after Monitor's.

I may be missing the true call of your question man but I just read this Schott tidbit yesterday so I wanted to post whilst it's still fresh in my feeble mind!!! Sorry for any confusion

Thanks. My question was are the current 641XX (not the standard 641 which looks different) and the CAF1, archive patterns that reproduce this earlier jacket from the 1960's? Actually I think the CAF1 was a copy of a Beck jacket made by Schott. I had a 641XX (Japanese market only) and it was the same pattern as this. Size 44 fit like a 42. But I suspect it was a little wider in the middle and hem. I wonder why I sold it.

 

[red devil]

Wow! This is a really good story!

 

[ProteinNerd]

I didn't I just put it under Monitor's Christmas tree.

 

[warrior-poet]

Alongside the Perfecto, this jacket has always been my favorite number by Schott - Or at least I thought it would be, having only seen photos of it. Well, I had a repro of a sort, which is said to have been based on this model but the original has possibly been the only racer that has eluded me until now.

Well, thanks to @Marc mndt who made this Christmas one of the best ones ever, I am happy to report that I can confirm my theory that this is possibly the best vintage cafe racer jacket that I have thus far handled.

Truth be told, there isn't really much for me to review. Racers are very simple jackets & if you've seen one, you pretty much know all there is to so I'll just stick to some of the things that I found particularly impressive.

First thing that surprised me is how crazy comfortable the jacket is. The gussets are so good, the jacket enters Langlitz comfort territory. Much, much better reach & range of motion than the Perfecto, let alone most other jackets.

Secondly, I was shocked by how heavy the leather is! We're talking Vanson Comp. Weight grade hide here. It's very different in texture and pliability of course but as far as weight goes, it's right there. I've NEVER seen something like this on a Perfecto but honestly, the entire jacket feels like an entirely different level from what Schott usually does.
I don't think this goes for all of these jackets. Some indeed look flimsy and plasticy but this isn't the case with the jacket that I got.

Which brings me to stitching. You may know how stitching isn't my primary concern, not by a long shot, but that's another thing that just jumped right at me when I first examined the jacket - It's made well. Like really, really well.
Stitching is robot-like in precision & very dense. It simply stands out & that's something we don't often see on vtg jackets.
Leather panels are superbly matched as well & cut perfectly well. Outstanding looking jacket.

Other than that, can't think of anything else noteworthy of pointing out, except for the fact that the entire jacket just works. To me personally, it's miles ahead of any other CR, except for Bates and Cal but it even kind of towers over those in workmanship and material. With the thick, quilted liner, it's the purest day to day leather jacket I have handled thus far.

Aaand on to the pics. Click for full size view.

Great review, gorgeous jacket! Quintessential cafe... Good vibes all around.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Here is the evil twin brother in brown. Monitor pretty much said it all. Simplistic design, well built, very comfortable even though I thought was going to be tight at 22 ptp. Mine is a size 42 with some room to spare and I think I could fit into a 40 with the traditional second skin fit of a CR. The sleeve length is vintage so probably could use another inch there. And the body length is longer with the front drop than what I was expecting. The jacket sits at attention when zipped up, creates these creases on the neck, but I hit it with some conditioner and hoping everything settles in some.

 

[Monitor]

Here is the evil twin brother in brown. Monitor pretty much said it all. Simplistic design, well built, very comfortable even though I thought was going to be tight at 22 ptp. Mine is a size 42 with some room to spare and I think I could fit into a 40 with the traditional second skin fit of a CR. The sleeve length is vintage so probably could use another inch there. And the body length is longer with the front drop than what I was expecting. The jacket sits at attention when zipped up, creates these creases on the neck, but I hit it with some conditioner and hoping everything settles in some.

Excellent! But mine doesn't have a wind flap. Now my sadness knows no limits.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

wait what???? Uh oh, different model. Mine has the white/brown label compared to the usual black/blue catcus label I see. Like I said, evil twin brother. Also, yours has branded wrist zips (ESKO I think I saw), mine are unbranded, but has the same glorious talon main zip. Although I bet your leather is better than this one. It's good, but heavy top coat. Or maybe that's a difference in black/brown on how it's processed. Showing some grain and soft, but nothing dreamy by any means.

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Interesting. Thurston Bros has some of these. they all have the flaps. Check if yours was cut out.