Show us your vintage half-belts

[Maverickson]

Hi John,

No, the original buyer for that Monarch goathide Half Belt still has that jacket.

The one you were referring to was a Monarch AN-J-3A. It did not fit the buyer. I listed it and it resold in 3 hours. I've going to be building another one of those here shortly.

Cheers, Dave

 

[Maverickson]

Hi All,

I have just completed the restoration of the pre War era Monarch half belt jacket that spawned my reproduction posted last year. This particular model was Monarch's 1st generation to use a zipper. It is a real favorite of mine.

The jacket had been highly modified & near a basket case when first received. Originally it was chocolate brown in color. That original brown color was dyed black long ago. When I received it the collar had been modified to resemble a Cafe' Racer and all the original belts had been removed.

The jacket's hide is very thick and heavy. So much so that when worn it feels like I'm wearing body armor. Long before I received this jacket it had been in what looked like a Motorcycle accident. This jacket obviously had saved the rider from a terrible case of road rash which resulted in the near destruction of it's original back panel.

It took a good year to source the materials needed to make this happen. In addition, I attached as many bells & whistles as I could possibly find. All tailor made to fit my frame & am pleased with the results.











Wanted to thank Terry Mitchell for alerting me to this jacket being available for purchase. I could not have made this happen otherwise.

Enjoy!

Cheers, Dave

That example of the original late 1930s Monarch half belt I started with.



Then what was to become a goat hide Monarch half belt.







This jacket is sweet.

Cheers, Dave

 

[handymike]

Fantastic!!!!!

 

[tmitchell59]

Hi All,

I have just completed the restoration of the pre War era Monarch half belt jacket that spawned my reproduction posted last year. This particular model was Monarch's 1st generation to use a zipper. It is a real favorite of mine.

The jacket has been highly modified & near a basket case when first received. Originally it was chocolate brown in color. That original brown color was dyed black long ago. When I received it the collar had been modified to resemble a Cafe' Racer and all the original belts had been removed.

The jacket's hide is very thick and heavy. So much so that when worn it feels like I'm wearing body armor. Long before I received this jacket it had been in what looked like a Motorcycle accident. This jacket obviously had saved the rider from a terrible case of road rash which resulted in the near destruction of it's original back panel.

It took me a good year to source the materials to make this happen. I attached as many bells & whistles as I could possibly find. All tailor made to fit my frame & am pleased with the results.











Wanted to thank Terry Mitchell for alerting me to this jacket being available for purchase. I could not have made this happen otherwise.

Enjoy!

Cheers, Dave

Well Dave you are welcome. Now stop showing off and start making more, like one for me!

 

[willyto]

Your work is just amazing.

 

[Corky Corcovado]

Pre-war horsehide from @tmitchell59

 

[tmitchell59]

Pre-war horsehide from @tmitchell59
View attachment 205779

Dude, you look good! That was a time back wan't it? That one had a Horsehide tag, but no makers label?

The cuff straps make that jacket. Nice color too.

Is that a 42 or so, a 44? I know it is in that range. I will keep you in mind when I look in the closet.

I have many beautiful half-belts in variety of leathers. This is the Style I pursue and typically don't let go of.

I recently got a 30s Windward half-belt, too small and a Rough Wear half-belt, too big. The Rough Wear I can wear, the Windward I can not. The Windward is a more interesting jacket too.

Thanks for posting that jacket. I forgot about this thread.

 

[tmitchell59]

While I'm here. One of my favorite Half-belts. Early/mid 50s Horsehide

 

[regius]

Deleted, posted in the wrong thread

 

[regius]

Nice Vintage Halfbelt

I really like this design, its not as common to see as all the other plain jane 40's HB's, but the back and pockets are off the hook.

i'm looking around to see who will make one for me since they don't make these for sears anymore.

Johnson Leather will copy it for
You


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Corky Corcovado]

Dude, you look good! That was a time back wan't it? That one had a Horsehide tag, but no makers label?

The cuff straps make that jacket. Nice color too.

Is that a 42 or so, a 44? I know it is in that range. I will keep you in mind when I look in the closet.

I have many beautiful half-belts in variety of leathers. This is the Style I pursue and typically don't let go of.

I recently got a 30s Windward half-belt, too small and a Rough Wear half-belt, too big. The Rough Wear I can wear, the Windward I can not. The Windward is a more interesting jacket too.

Thanks for posting that jacket. I forgot about this thread.

Yes @tmitchell59 just the horsehide label. 42ish. Very cool jacket and I do love the belted cuffs.

 

[Corky Corcovado]

Who do you think made this?

 

[tmitchell59]

Who do you think made this?
View attachment 205868

I don't know. Looks to be late 30s, maybe a ball and chain zipper pull on the chest. Now I see the grommets on the base of the main zipper, 30s. Probably black Horsehide. Nice button cuffs. Interesting pockets. Looks like it has been worn. Nothing fancy on the front.

The low cut of the pockets is interesting. I have jackets with this look from this time. The jacket is from the late 30s. No guess as to a maker.

 

[J Leather Investigater]

While I'm here. One of my favorite Half-belts. Early/mid 50s Horsehide

View attachment 205847 View attachment 205848 View attachment 205849 View attachment 205850 View attachment 205851 View attachment 205852 View attachment 205853

Never seen a taubers like that before great piece

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[regius]

I don't know. Looks to be late 30s, maybe a ball and chain zipper pull on the chest. Now I see the grommets on the base of the main zipper, 30s. Probably black Horsehide. Nice button cuffs. Interesting pockets. Looks like it has been worn. Nothing fancy on the front.

The low cut of the pockets is interesting. I have jackets with this look from this time. The jacket is from the late 30s. No guess as to a maker.

Could it be a manipulated photo & he’s wearing a repro? While on the topic, I find Aero’s shoulder to be too narrow, across the board. This guy in the photo, his seam to seam has got to be at least 19”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jonbuilder]

Pre-war horsehide from @tmitchell59
View attachment 205779

Killer jacket does not get better

 

[tmitchell59]

Could it be a manipulated photo & he’s wearing a repro? While on the topic, I find Aero’s shoulder to be too narrow, across the board. This guy in the photo, his seam to seam has got to be at least 19”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't think the photo has been messed with. The jacket is 30s, I don't know when the picture was taken.

 

[tmitchell59]

Never seen a taubers like that before great piece

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

That jackets probably from the early 50s. I think I have seen one other like this and it was goatskin I think. Most currently seen jackets are motorcycle oriented, by the 1970 were doing quite a variety of jackets.

 

[Numbernine]

New here but love halfbelts. Favorite one I found abandoned on the floor of Winterland in the early 70s amongst the flotsam and jetsam in the stoned aftermath of a Grateful Dead show. It was probably from the 30s or 40s. My girlfriend handstiched a new plaid liner into it and I wore that baby until it literally fell apart

 

[morrison2951]

Count me in!