Share your jacket patina/scar story

[Seb Lucas]

Hi Seb, yes the for sales page on here, eBay and Etsy etc account for a lot of jackets described as hardly worn, as new, perfect etc, and that can account for anything so as not to loose resale value which I personally see as not getting the full enjoyment from something. It looks as though resale value has almost been part of the original purchase plan. I remember a guy with a new Kawasaki street fighter style bike not wanting to take it over so many miles as his plan to sell it and get another bike. Also of a friend who buys books and gets rid of them as soon as they are read. I wished to look at one of his books but he took the dust jacket off and asked me not to open it too much as it may crease the spine, I declined to bother with it then.
As to jackets I rarely get rid of any, overall I tend to hang on to things until they have out lived their usefulness. In fact the only Aero Jacket I have sold/swapped was my Battersea Contract A2 that Aero now have back after 30+ years. A few other makes have come and gone but generally I keep them. My Eastman Roughwear is now wearing the cuffs and other wear points right through it looks like an original(so I have been told) except cleaner and that is around 18 years old also. I do try to spread my using of each item though I do use certain jackets for certain events be it sunny or rainy days.
As a lot of Aero advertising claims that these items are made to last a lifetime, I doubt I have enough life left to wear even one of them out.
Cheers seeya, J

I think you may be one of the only guys I've heard of who uses jackets like this - it's the theory but rarely done in practice.

I detest the look of a new jacket - I would consider giving my jacket to a friend for 3 years for break in and scuff up. To me there is nothing more clueless looking than a guy in a shiny new leather jacket.

The heirloom aspect of a jacket is marketing as far as I am concerned - in this era where artisan hand crafted stuff is really hot. The reality is people change shape, develop different tastes, move to warmer places, grow tired of a look, etc. Rare to keep a jacket for a lifetime, unless it is kept in a closet for decades, which is of course is how so many nice 70 year-old ones end up on ebay. I also find that jacket linings and cuffs wear out much quicker and need very expensive and hard to find replacement work (in Australia), which I don't bother with so the jacket goes to a thrift shop.

 

[rocketeer]

I think you may be one of the only guys I've heard of who uses jackets like this - it's the theory but rarely done in practice.

I detest the look of a new jacket - I would consider giving my jacket to a friend for 3 years for break in and scuff up. To me there is nothing more clueless looking than a guy in a shiny new leather jacket.

The heirloom aspect of a jacket is marketing as far as I am concerned - in this era where artisan hand crafted stuff is really hot. The reality is people change shape, develop different tastes, move to warmer places, grow tired of a look, etc. Rare to keep a jacket for a lifetime, unless it is kept in a closet for decades, which is of course is how so many nice 70 year-old ones end up on ebay. I also find that jacket linings and cuffs wear out much quicker and need very expensive and hard to find replacement work (in Australia), which I don't bother with so the jacket goes to a thrift shop.

I always buy new and wear my jacket or coat a lot during the first months of it's life, somehow I feel my jackets need me from day one and all that patina and creasing is from my own life.
My original Battersea A2 would tell you it's whole life if only it could speak. It is now in retirement at Aero and doubt it will be worn anymore, maybe by Ken or Denny, who knows but not in the way I used and abused it.
As to changing styles I now only have a really beat up early Eastman A2 that I do lots of things people say I should not do with it such as fix my BSA go Black Berry picking and wear in the rain, and my old favourite WWII Lucky 7 Seven which is a little tight now. I have decided to leave A2s for those with trimmer figures and I don't do reenactments though I still think the jackets are a superb design.
Now it's mainly civi button ups worn with a trilby/fedora for me though my last jacket was a Thunderbay, my Mrs said it suited me.
Clueless I must be because why do I need so many leather jackets etc, I must be like those women with 20 handbags and 40 pairs of shoes
Seeya, J.

 

[Edward Reed]

I always buy new and wear my jacket or coat a lot during the first months of it's life, somehow I feel my jackets need me from day one and all that patina and creasing is from my own life.
My original Battersea A2 would tell you it's whole life if only it could speak. It is now in retirement at Aero and doubt it will be worn anymore, maybe by Ken or Denny, who knows but not in the way I used and abused it.
As to changing styles I now only have a really beat up early Eastman A2 that I do lots of things people say I should not do with it such as fix my BSA go Black Berry picking and wear in the rain, and my old favourite WWII Lucky 7 Seven which is a little tight now. I have decided to leave A2s for those with trimmer figures and I don't do reenactments though I still think the jackets are a superb design.
Now it's mainly civi button ups worn with a trilby/fedora for me though my last jacket was a Thunderbay, my Mrs said it suited me.
Clueless I must be because why do I need so many leather jackets etc, I must be like those women with 20 handbags and 40 pairs of shoes
Seeya, J.

when it comes to spending big bucks on a quality repro A-2 from ELC, Aero or GW etc. the way I see it, one should wear it and wear the heck out of it! Thats what its for, its a jacket for crying out loud! I'm not about to spend $700 to $1300 US on a leather jacket and NOT wear it! its not a display item nor is it a financial investment. you will never get all your money back in reselling it. So I admire you wearing yours blackberry picking... thats what its for.. to wear and have fun in it. while its a bit of a fashion statement I think the more its worn and the more wear and patina it gets with use and age the better it looks. Original A-2's should be babied and displayed, not the repros!

 

[thor]

Had a run-in with this guy and he almost put a nick in my Lost Worlds leather jacket with his 6 inch incisors but the LW hide won out

 

[rocketeer]

when it comes to spending big bucks on a quality repro A-2 from ELC, Aero or GW etc. the way I see it, one should wear it and wear the heck out of it! Thats what its for, its a jacket for crying out loud! I'm not about to spend $700 to $1300 US on a leather jacket and NOT wear it! its not a display item nor is it a financial investment. you will never get all your money back in reselling it. So I admire you wearing yours blackberry picking... thats what its for.. to wear and have fun in it. while its a bit of a fashion statement I think the more its worn and the more wear and patina it gets with use and age the better it looks. Original A-2's should be babied and displayed, not the repros!

. I have one original A2 that I have had since 1983, I do wear it but it is a bit tight so don't usually wear it done up as the zip is quite fragile. When I have worn it I usually get comments from interested parties but it gets on my nerves if people want to see the table or lining etc, should they be wearing a repro I usually turn the conversation to their jacket. At flea markets, or car boot sales as we in England call them, I often make like the innocent, should someone ask about it I play with them and say I bought it for £15 from a stall selling house clearance, estate sale rubbish. "They have a lot of old junk from when mother died, it came from a wartime boyfriend" Then comes the £25 offer to which I decline and finish with a surprised tone "Oh! If it's worth a bit more I'll see what they go for on eBay" You can usually tell those with a real genuine interest and the chancers.
As to high end repro's, have you looked at Eastmans copycat A2s of various squadrons? Would you really pay over the top for a jacket representing someone else? What about the Hells Angels jacket, even the bike club would agree it's nothing to do with a motorcycle club but.......you never know what someone could say if you meet up. Eastman also do a B3 honouring General Patton. So when you go to an air show it becomes an 'I'm Spartacus' moment should a few more General Patton's meet up (yes I have posted this before).
Are these items for display or wearing? One of Eastmans latest at £2499 a fully hand painted replica of a 100th Bomb Group jacket "Chappel in the Flack", is bordering on display only as should you wear it and scrape a wall or whatever, what would that do to any resale value? To me it's a bit like inviting some art experts into my home and showing them my copy of the Mona Lisa.
A decent leather jacket, A2, B3, Highwayman etc can cost you the same as a Bespoke suite so why not wear it every day if need be.
Oh well that was a ramble not a rant so do what ever you wish as nowadays things such as A2s, Highwayman and Eastman's Californian can be worn as casual smart wear now, just don't wear bike jackets with trainers or sports shoes because in my opinion, and it is only my opinion, it looks sloppy.
Cheers, J.

 

[Gamma68]

Scarface Aero halfbelt. Sold it. Bought it back and it came “embroidered”. I fixed her up really nice (see second photo of sleeve). It’s probably my all time fav Aero (primo HWM is a close 2nd). The hide is beyond thunder dome. 11lbs. Laughs off a puny knife wound.
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That gash would have really bothered me. You did a great job in repairing it and blending it with the surrounding leather. Looks fab.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Tony that gash - even repaired - still bothers the heck out of me! Just glad it's not showing much now.

I was the one who had it while it got the mark, and it occurred in my move. Tony was real gentleman about it as it was missed by me shipping the jacket back to him. It appears to have occurred by the movers (who otherwise did a really good job with only 2 exceptions) and appears to have been from packing it incorrectly. It was too deep to have been a brush-up against something mark. Plus that is 4.5 oz (or thicker) Steerhide. Should not scar easily.

We worked it out but it's still a real frustration as it was found after the 90-day insurance claim policy had expired. The only other thing that wound up in an odd spot with the move was my garden tractor got driven through a muddy ditch - and came off the truck with dried mud all over it. That was an easy deal with a garden hose. But it had to make you wonder...