Vintage Buco Jacket 1940's Label J-24 Style ? Age? Value? Help ? Value ?

[Elaine Levey]

I have had this jacket 20+ years. I am trying to date it and find out what kind of leather it is. The label on the jacket was made in the 40's I believe. Jacket looks like a j-24 possibly. black quilted lining. Some of the pockets insides are a red and black fabric and some are just leather inside. The jacket is stiff and shows some minor signs of age and wear. One sleeve has a couple of small holes in the leather by the elbow.

 

[Will Zach]

Pics?

 

[Elaine Levey]

Pics?

still trying to figure out how to load them...will get there soon I hope.

 

[Will Zach]

still trying to figure out how to load them...will get there soon I hope.

Easy. Save the pics on your desktop. Start a post. Click on Upload A File. Browse to the pic you want, click Open. It will upload, Thumbnail will appear, but Click Full Image to post a bigger pic. Click Post Reply. Done.

 

[Elaine Levey]

Thanks so much!

 

[ton312]

How much is it worth? I’ll give you a hint.

condition dependent but yeah. It’ll fetch.

 

[Elaine Levey]

Thanks, I found just the label on line that sold for $300.00. Any idea of age?

 

[ton312]

Thanks, I found just the label on line that sold for $300.00. Any idea of age?

I’m not sure but I think it’s an early label and I believe you can do better than $300. The size is desirable. Can you post more pics? Would be nice to see more of it.

 

[Elaine Levey]

I’m not sure but I think it’s an early label and I believe you can do better than $300. The size is desirable. Can you post more pics? Would be nice to see more of it.

 

[Elaine Levey]

Just the label without the jacket sold for $300.

 

[ton312]

Just the label without the jacket sold for $300.

Pick a price you’d be happy with and list it! The market will determine its value. If it were mine I’d throw it to auction and let nature run it’s course.

 

[58panheadfan]

2nd Buco Label used from the late 1940s to about 1952. Nylon quilted lining was used first late 1952 / mid 1953. The nylon quilted lining indicate that it's probably a J23 type made from Horsehide. The pocket lining looks like a replacement*.
*Buco used a similar wool plaid lining in earlier type jackets like J21, J22 but it looks slightly different.

Worth?
As so often determines demand and offer the price. Buco leather jackets have developed a constant price in the market, less because of the quality in the earlier years, these jackets were mass products because of the name "Buco". Price determinants are factors such as rare type, state, size, completeness (including detachable mouton collar and the often missing belt). The jacket shown, has some flaws affect the price... if the jacket would be mine and I have to sell it, I would call a price from US-$ 800.00 to US-$ 1'200.00 in this condition. If everything is incl. and in better condition as shown, the jacket could fetch US-$ 2'500.00 in collector circles.

A good source are Rin Tanakas Books Motorcyle Jackets (ISBN 0-7643-1150-6 and 0-7643-1849-7), of course it's not allowed to upload pictures without permission from the publisher.

PM sent...

 

[58panheadfan]

Here can be found some infos about "Buco" from The Art of Vintage Leather Jackets Blog, published by Forum Member Himelator and owner of Himel Bros:

http://vintageleatherjackets.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-origins-of-buco.html

 

[jacketjunkie]

You see these jackets listed on ebay for up to 3000 USD but I don't think they really sell for that much. I would run an advanced search for sold items to see what they actually go for. My guess would be 800-1500 USD depending on how desperately someone wants it.

 

[jonbuilder]

The jacket label is from the time period when Buco only used horsehide. Buco switched to labels that identified horse or steer when they stopped using the label in your jacket. It is Buco's J-23 that replaced their J-21 with a longer length and quit lining similar and same time period as their J-22 that came with a plaid wool lining.

 

[Elaine Levey]

Thanks for all the information!

 

[Captain Sensible]

Is the jacket for sale or do you just want the value? What are the measurements of the jacket?

 

[Elaine Levey]

I was trying to get information about it. Not ready to sell it yet. Maybe down the road a bit I will sell it.
Thanks, Elaine

 

[Elaine Levey]

Can anyone tell me what is a good cleaner or polish for horsehide and anything to clean the zippers?

 

[58panheadfan]

If you have in mind to sell the jacket, leave it as it is with all the „dirt“ & „patina“ and let to do the job by it‘s new owner... I always like to do this job by myself instead someone destoyed it by using wrong leather cleaner etc. ... i.e. it‘s make a big difference if you are cleaning making a treatment to an aniline finished jacket vs. another finished one...