Schott Perfecto "Star" Symbolism

[jpk_NJ]

Just curious as to what the "official" symbolism is behind the metal star on Perfecto's? Also, given my recent vintage 70's perfecto pickup (courtesy Jmax's find's and deals post!), would it be considered sacrilege or drop the jacket value if I removed them? Jacket is a slightly small 44 but not quite my ideal 42 so this might end up released back into the wild...

 

[Carlos840]

From the old adverts i have seen the stars and tabs where just inspired by military ranks.
If you look at the Rin Tanaka books there are a few 40 and 50s adverts referencing "military style" when talking about them.
I think it was probably just a cool post WW2 thing when the US army was still seen as a positive thing.
The Vietnam war is maybe a reason why they got rid of them later on...

 

[jpk_NJ]

Ah, that could also be why Im kind of not sure about keeping them on the jacket. Reminds me too much of my old military school / army uniform shoulder boards. I would never wear rank in public on a jacket, just screams "toolbag" . But maybe the perfecto star is considered cool...

 

[navetsea]

Brigadier General of two wheels

 

[El Marro]

Ah, that could also be why Im kind of not sure about keeping them on the jacket. Reminds me too much of my old military school / army uniform shoulder boards. I would never wear rank in public on a jacket, just screams "toolbag" . But maybe the perfecto star is considered cool...

I don’t think of a military uniform when I see a Schott Perfecto and I wouldn’t worry about other people making this connection.

 

[Peacoat]

I don’t think of a military uniform when I see a Schott Perfecto and I wouldn’t worry about other people making this connection.

Nor would I remove the star. Leave it original.

 

[Edward]

From the old adverts i have seen the stars and tabs where just inspired by military ranks.
If you look at the Rin Tanaka books there are a few 40 and 50s adverts referencing "military style" when talking about them.
I think it was probably just a cool post WW2 thing when the US army was still seen as a positive thing.
The Vietnam war is maybe a reason why they got rid of them later on...

THe Stars first appeared on the 613 in the late forties; I'm not sure if they were ever on the 618 or no, but Schott dropped them by the early fifties. The story goes that the original purpose - style aside - was to mark out the Schott jackets against others on the rail. The legend is that Schott stopped doing them because - and her the story varies - those jackets would be singled out by thieves, or the stars stolen off the jacket by thieves who then put them on their own (non Schott) jackets. Whether that's true, who knows, but the era in which they disappeared wasthat of the Forgotten War (Korea), not Vietnam, so I doubt it was any sort of concern about "looking too military".

I don’t think of a military uniform when I see a Schott Perfecto and I wouldn’t worry about other people making this connection.

Nor me. I can't imagine anyone does nowadays.

 

[RockSolid]

When i think "one star" i think of Marlon Brando, never realised it might come from military ranks but to be honest it does not bother me

 

[AeroFan_07]

Find out all you ever wanted to know - go directly to the source:
https://www.schottnyc.com/products/...MIzenPlv7t6wIVT9bACh24wg3CEAQYAiABEgJ_A_D_BwE

I also provided a review of a more recent Shott One Star book, I was not overaly impressed with it, really did not give much history: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/schott-one-star-in-nyc-book-review.98794/

 

[jpk_NJ]

Good info thanks. Guess I’ll try living with them on the jacket and see if they grow on me. These were the pin in type so it’s not like I’ll have glue damage if I decide to pull them off. Will post a fit pic soon and see if the lounge thinks it’s too big to keep for a casual wear jacket

 

[Monitor]

As a side note, while I had a number of 613's, all were always missing stars. I actually believed I'll never find a used (cheap) 613 with stars and now suddenly I have two. I like the stars, they're cool. People notice them and ask if I've added 'em too even tho I'm so used to this detail I forget it exists.

 

[navetsea]

Find out all you ever wanted to know - go directly to the source:
https://www.schottnyc.com/products/...MIzenPlv7t6wIVT9bACh24wg3CEAQYAiABEgJ_A_D_BwE

I also provided a review of a more recent Shott One Star book, I was not overaly impressed with it, really did not give much history: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/schott-one-star-in-nyc-book-review.98794/

so you gave it one star on the review?

 

[AeroFan_07]

so you gave it one star on the review?

Perfect One Star rating!