Sears Motorcylce Jacket History 1949-1963

[J Leather Investigater]

First project after the workshop construction. A post war Sears that Tim extensively posted here. Work in progress.

I applaud you regius your making progress, if you continue with it you could start your own company one day. Looks good.

 

[tmitchell59]

Wow! Impressive.

 

[JMax]

Wow! Impressive.

TM, what do you think about the wear on this collar? The beginning of the end? A few stitches need repair but nothing crazy, the collar gives me pause.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-50s-60...-/164661071184?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

 

[tmitchell59]

TM, what do you think about the wear on this collar? The beginning of the end? A few stitches need repair but nothing crazy, the collar gives me pause.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-50s-60...-/164661071184?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

The collar wear distracts but not the end of the jacket. Could well be the end for some buyers interest. That could make it affordable on an offer. This is an early model with the through belt and sewn on coin pocket, Made In California label. To me this is something a bit special in Hercules world.

I sold a standard attached belt near this size in excellent condition for around this same money last spring.

Make a good jacket if you get a good discount on the issues?

 

[JMax]

The collar wear distracts but not the end of the jacket. Could well be the end for some buyers interest. That could make it affordable on an offer. This is an early model with the through belt and sewn on coin pocket, Made In California label. To me this is something a bit special in Hercules world.

I sold a standard attached belt near this size in excellent condition for around this same money last spring.

Make a good jacket if you get a good discount on the issues?

Thank you sir. It felt like a good jacket but your confirmation is always welcome. It’s one of the Herc that always catches my eye. The asking price seems right, especially if he/she is willing to deal a tad. I’ll see what the seller says and go from there.

 

[TREEMAN]

Per @Claybertrand's suggestion, I'm adding these two racers that I had for a while.

First one up is this brilliant Sears racer, made in heavy, beautiful leather. Very natural grain, character and feel to it. I had this jacket long ago and, not knowing any better at the time, I thought it's just nice. Retrospectively, turns out it was one of the nicest hides I've seen on any jacket, surpassing most stuff sold today even for major money.

No label but I remember stumbling upon another one just like it, only with the Sears label, which is how I know.
Funny thing though but eBay used to be full of these Sears racers until a few years back when they suddenly disappeared. There are very few of these jackets getting listed nowadays, thought they still sell for peanuts.

This exact model in this exact form I haven't ever seen again. Like, not even once. I wish I kept it.

Anyway, this jacket featured a wide-ish, comfortable cut, it was long & heavily lined. True winter leather jacket. Very warm. I like to believe it must've been a winter version of their cafe racer style.

The entire jacket was built up to Vanson's standard and was definitely sturdier by many other old jackets, though I don't suppose it was entirely too old. 70's, I'd say?

The back looks like a Model A

 

[J Leather Investigater]

Thank you sir. It felt like a good jacket but your confirmation is always welcome. It’s one of the Herc that always catches my eye. The asking price seems right, especially if he/she is willing to deal a tad. I’ll see what the seller says and go from there.

Slide in their dm with intentions of sending a low offer, can't hurt you, an do it on the basis of having to repair that collar. The neck sweat is real

 

[J Leather Investigater]

First project after the workshop construction. A post war Sears that Tim extensively posted here. Work in progress.

Regius when you get some nice horsehide let me know, are you willing to take on a project?

 

[JMax]

Slide in their dm with intentions of sending a low offer, can't hurt you, an do it on the basis of having to repair that collar. The neck sweat is real

Not the DMs I normally try to slide into. I think your mention of neck sweat just convinced me not to make an offer lol. I will wait for a less greasy Herc (and I already have one).

 

[JMax]

My early Oakbrook in Steerhide. French seams throughout too, like the earlier models. (I don’t think I have posted it in this thread yet).

 

[Wildhorses]

The Sears Hercules I received recently, just conditioned a bit. Lovely MC jacket.

 

[Monitor]

The Sears Hercules I received recently, just conditioned a bit. Lovely MC jacket.

It's not lovely. It's the best cross zip jacket ever made, especially this early model.

 

[Wildhorses]

It was my grail. Some of these models with detachable belt should be redone today the way they were made in the 1950s. Maybe with one inch or two added at back, but nothing more. And not for $2000...

 

[Peacoat]

This is an important thread. As a reminder, if anyone wishes to view it after it has fallen off the first page, I have included a link in the Important Threads section sticky at the top of this page.

 

[ton312]

Not my jacket (sadly) but my personal favorite of the Herc M/C line. Halfbelt back, fixed front belt. This is the one repro companies should be rebuilding, the Buco’s have been done to death. Depending on the looks of Shawns black heavy hide I might have it done myself.

 

[Wildhorses]

Not my jacket (sadly) but my personal favorite of the Herc M/C line. Halfbelt back, fixed front belt. This is the one repro companies should be rebuilding, the Buco’s have been done to death. Depending on the looks of Shawns black heavy hide I might have it done myself.
View attachment 339801 View attachment 339802 View attachment 339803

A beauty. The half-belt is probably the reason it's not mass produced today. Did someone see some repro of this one or the other early Sears MC jackets, like BillKelso seems to do ?

 

[Claybertrand]

Not my jacket (sadly) but my personal favorite of the Herc M/C line. Halfbelt back, fixed front belt. This is the one repro companies should be rebuilding, the Buco’s have been done to death. Depending on the looks of Shawns black heavy hide I might have it done myself.
View attachment 339801 View attachment 339802 View attachment 339803

I agree. This Hercules is the perfect embodiment of LESS IS MORE. Just the D pocket up front. Absolutely nothing else going on. Though they are redone in seemingly a majority of Aeros and many other companies' repros, I still really like the scalloped rear yoke and the half belt back on this is simple, basic, and perfect. I prefer cross zips that do NOT have the lace up side adjustments and I don't think the Hercs had those.

 

[Wildhorses]

This jacket is an hybrid between a half-belt and a D-pocket. It has some strange looking with the half belt at back, and the 2 half belts attached at the bottom. That's why there is no big demand for a repro. That's the kind of jacket someone wants when they already have most of other existing jackets.
And there was no detachable fur collar on this early model.

 

[tmitchell59]

Just got this green guy out to take some pics. I already had an album with 130 pics! He will be going up for sale. size 38/40. I told myself if I found one that fit I would let this one go. I've found two that fit. One identical to this jacket and an early through belt.

This jacket is very much a 40s jacket and does not have the half-belt, no Made In California label.

 

[tmitchell59]

A mid 50s Hercules Horsehide and a late 40s.