Sears Motorcylce Jacket History 1949-1963

[jonbuilder]

It has both the half-belt on the back and the attached belt on the front, it is wool lined and has only the D map pocket and cigarette pocket, like the early Beck MC models. It looks like the side zip pocket was added a year later.

The earliest example of this single D-pocket motorcycle design is the Scott jacket from 1928 made under the Perfecto label. I believe this was the first jacket Scott produced under the label
Nothing to do with Sears, just MC jacket design history

 

[Blackadder]

I like the look/style of this jacket as you pictured much better than the catalog shot. I've never seen this style in the Wild. I would like to have it too. Most Fraternity prep were smaller sizes.

what size did the seller indicate?

I just bought one and posted that on jackets coming thread.

 

[stringer]

Terry, it was adv. as a med.

I like the look/style of this jacket as you pictured much better than the catalog shot. I've never seen this style in the Wild. I would like to have it too. Most Fraternity prep were smaller sizes.

what size did the seller indicate?

I sent you pm

 

[Yamahana]

My modest addition to the thread classic Oakbrook D-pocket

Whoever made these for Sears got it right, can’t beat the fit, love to wear this one

 

[Marc mndt]

Whoever made these for Sears got it right, can’t beat the fit, love to wear this one

Perfect fit indeed!

 

[JMax]

My modest addition to the thread classic Oakbrook D-pocket
View attachment 390028 View attachment 390029 View attachment 390030 View attachment 390031 View attachment 390032 View attachment 390033
Whoever made these for Sears got it right, can’t beat the fit, love to wear this one
View attachment 390034

Looks amazing. The hide too. I agree, the pattern on pretty much every Sear D pocket is tops. Tough to beat for how it looks and feels when worn. Across many body types too.

 

[Yamahana]

Tough to beat for how it looks and feels when worn. Across many body types too.

Yes, I’d also have to agree.. i believe this particular one on display is often referred to as…. “THE STUD”

 

[JMax]

Yes, I’d also have to agree.. i believe this particular one on display is often referred to as…. “THE STUD”
View attachment 390073

“I’m the stuff men are made of” is going in my work signature block.

 

[tmitchell59]

Old Jackets Rule on Old guys!

 

[Yamahana]

“I’m the stuff men are made of” is going in my work signature block.

In your case as an FLEO/Secret Agent man it’s probably true, I’m just pretending

 

[Yamahana]

Old Jackets Rule on Old guys!

Amen there Hermano Mitchell, that’s what my pickup sticker been saying for a few years now.

 

[JMax]

In your case as an FLEO/Secret Agent man it’s probably true, I’m just pretending

I can talk to people and generate reports with the best of ‘em.

 

[Blackadder]

I just bought one and posted that on jackets coming thread.
View attachment 387143

Just arrived. So it is a steerhide.

 

[tmitchell59]

Just arrived. So it is a steerhide.
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Love it!!!

 

[tmitchell59]

These are the earliest Sears Motorcylce jackets to date. The absence of a front pocket and large check plaid lining distinguishes it from the next generation which includes the front pocket and much smaller, more standard buffalo plaid lining in Red, Green, Black. Each of these variations do appear to be made by the same maker. The zippers on the No Pocket are mid-late 40s as also found on the earliest of the "standard catalog jacket", again they appear to be made by the same maker. It just seems to me the scarce No Pockets, were short lived and quickly replaced with the Catalog edition. The Wool lined jackets were replaced with Nylon lined around 1950/51. Each generation of the Sears Wool lined are scarce and probably made in small numbers.

I have not identified the maker of these jackets as yet. The small rivets on the belt loops is one identifier I am using.

The jacket below is from an ebay ad. If the jacket appears here in the future I hope it is shared with us.

I also have this jacket with no Hercules label, so this confirms my suspicions about the origins of my unlabeled jacket and it's relationship with the early Sears jackets. This is a common 40s Hercules label.

I was just made aware of Schott using the pocketless front and just posted a Schott built Beck with no pocket. Although I'm not sure of the age of the Beck, I'm guessing it is mid-late 40s like this Hercules. I will have to look more into the Schott.

I don't think these particular jackets have been noted in any of the jacket books. They are an important piece in Motorcycle Jacket history.

Mine absent the Hercules label

 

[Blackadder]

Schott claims that the jacket came out as the first motorcycle jacket in 1928 hence the model number for the reproduction Schott 1928HH. I think I saw some drawings and spec sheets online with the year 1928 but I can't recall where. What I have doubt about is whether Beck existed back in 1928. May be it was first designed as in-house project or custom work and Beck saw one later (perhaps much much later) and decided to put in an order for full production.

 

[tmitchell59]

The No pocket front design seems so odd when I heard Schott had done this I went to investigate. Seems a lead to follow. I did find a Beck no pocket from the same time as this Hercules. I looked for the riveted belt loop on the Beck; I didn't see them so I moved on. I will look more closely.

 

[tmitchell59]

This is my favorite Sears Catalog page. I recall it is from a special edition catalog of 1948. Found and posted by other than me. I thank them again. Not only the first appearance to date of the motorcycle jacket, check out the only appearance of the Black Cowhide Cowboy jackets


1948 Special edition

!949 Sears full catalog-Motorcycle jacket is available with front pocket, Wool lined, riveted loops. Also note upper left hand corner for the "older" label, 1940s label.

 

[Blackadder]

This is my favorite Sears Catalog page. I recall it is from a special edition catalog of 1948. Found and posted by other than me. I thank them again. Not only the first appearance to date of the motorcycle jacket, check out the only appearance of the Black Cowhide Cowboy jackets


1948 Special edition
View attachment 397222

!949 Sears full catalog-Motorcycle jacket is available with front pocket, Wool lined, riveted loops. Also note upper left hand corner for the "older" label, 1940s label.

View attachment 397223

The cossack jacket is a halfbelt and not the 30s cossack jacket that many are familiar with today.

 

[Marc mndt]

I was just made aware of Schott using the pocketless front and just posted a Schott built Beck with no pocket. Although I'm not sure of the age of the Beck, I'm guessing it is mid-late 40s like this Hercules. I will have to look more into the Schott.

The mid-late 40s Beck-333 indeed came with a d-pocket and no handwarmer pocket, but apart from that I see more differences than similarities. Grommets on the coin pocket, rollerbuckle on the belt, different back design, different epaulet shape etc.