Vintage Outerwear: Threads of the Past

[tmitchell59]

Indian Sports Wear Cafe Racer

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Another cool one! I have Block Bilt Police jacket. That's another label you don't see often. I've had two or three block built. This is the only motorcycle-style jacket I have seen with their label

 

[Marc mndt]

New to me but pics of this Cali halfbelt have been posted in this thread before by its previous owners.

Fit is a bit generous which makes it perfect for layering. Body was on the short side but I was able to squeeze an extra inch out of the lower back.

The patina is out of this world. Calling this 'great color dept' would be an understatement. I wonder how many wears it takes to achieve something like this.

 

[Jimmy Shinki]

New to me but pics of this Cali halfbelt have been posted in this thread before by its previous owners.

Fit is a bit generous which makes it perfect for layering. Body was on the short side but I was able to squeeze an extra inch out of the lower back.

The patina is out of this world. Calling this 'great color dept' would be an understatement. I wonder how many wears it takes to achieve something like this.

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Patinalicious!

 

[JMax]

New to me but pics of this Cali halfbelt have been posted in this thread before by its previous owners.

Fit is a bit generous which makes it perfect for layering. Body was on the short side but I was able to squeeze an extra inch out of the lower back.

The patina is out of this world. Calling this 'great color dept' would be an understatement. I wonder how many wears it takes to achieve something like this.

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Awesome. One of the few HB I totally would wear. Looks great.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Post card photo was taken in the 1910s. This brand seems to have made some high quality and very classic jackets. Unfortunately the company went down in the 80s due to EPA problems at its tannery.

 

[JMax]

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Post card photo was taken in the 1910s. This brand seems to have made some high quality and very classic jackets. Unfortunately the company went down in the 80s due to EPA problems at its tannery.

I posted a video here about the old tanneries in Peabody. I found it interesting. I think you will too.

 

[tmitchell59]

Rough Wear Clothing Co. Middleton PA. Well known for their A-2 jackets. Very few of their Civilian jackets show up. I do have an unlabeled half-belt I attribute to Rough Wear. This is a stiff heavy Horsehide. c.1940s

 

[Imuricecreamman]

Rough Wear Clothing Co. Middleton PA. Well known for their A-2 jackets. Very few of their Civilian jackets show up. I do have an unlabeled half-belt I attribute to Rough Wear. This is a stiff heavy Horsehide. c.1940s

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This is a top 3 favorite of mine...

 

[tmitchell59]

This is a top 3 favorite of mine...

One of my favorites too. A no-nonsense horsehide jacket.

I believe this is also Roughwear Clothing. I believe they owned the patent for this inner collar. This jacket is made of very fine, heavy horsehide. Zipper has been changed, but the wool lining indicates 1940s. Fine workmanship. Also one of the largest vintage jackets I have owned, probably a size 48.

 

[tmitchell59]

Calling all Cal lovers, look at this ancient being! The Beautiful original Talon zippers date this jacket to c.1934,35. This is the Oldest datable jacket in this CHP style that I have ever come across. Has anyone seen one of this age?

Not much changed through the years.

Early Cal Leathers?

I do have several 30s Police jackets, but none this old. I'll post mine separately.


(this is a current auction jacket-not mine)

These are some excellent pictures, the zippers are well presented. Good look at an original Hookless zipper close up.

 

[ton312]

Calling all Cal lovers, look at this ancient being! The Beautiful original Talon zippers date this jacket to c.1934,35. This is the Oldest datable jacket in this CHP style that I have ever come across. Has anyone seen one of this age?

Not much changed through the years.

Early Cal Leathers?

I do have several 30s Police jackets, but none this old. I'll post mine separately.


(this is a current auction jacket-not mine)

These are some excellent pictures, the zippers are well presented. Good look at an original Hookless zipper close up.

Might well be an early Star Glove! Cal was Star Glove and was founded in the late 1920's (according to their site). I have never seen a CHP with those zips nor have I seen leather wrapped buttons at the cuffs. That's quite a jacket indeed.

 

[tmitchell59]

Might well be an early Star Glove! Cal was Star Glove and was founded in the late 1920's (according to their site). I have never seen a CHP with those zips nor have I seen leather wrapped buttons at the cuffs. That's quite a jacket indeed.

There is this one for sale now. Looks to be the same jacket. If the zipper stop is original the jacket is from early post-war. I believe the zipper pull is missing which would give a more accurate date. The other Talon pulls are very much 40s.

I've posted this one below recently. With the strong interest in Cal Leather I don't understand why this one remains.

 

[tmitchell59]

This Roos Moo Coat just sold on ebay for $800. I did not get it. Been having a discussion about this jacket, so thought I would throw it out. This is a style that has alluded me in the original state. I've owned a couple of re-makes, but passed them on.

These were abundant in the 20s and 30s. Produced in various leathers and often in other materials. This Roos has the advertisement that is dated 1931/32 by the NRA tag. I would place this jacket as "pre-zipper" c.1932.

I own a Californian made of "Washable Calf Skin". Very soft and delicate leather. It is Delicate.

This Popular Cossack style with the A frame sides, evaporates around 1935 with the development of the leather Half-belt with sides cinched by Staps. The Iconic Sears Hercules is that "new" half-belt.

 

[ton312]

My wife bought this for herself. Kind of shocked as she’s typically not one for vintage stuff. Label looks old. 50’s-60’s?

 

[tmitchell59]

This is a Californian in Washable Calf Skin c.1937. This is a very popular style for CSC throughout the 30s and early 40s. This is also seen in Goatskin. Washable leather was a selling/advertising effort during the 1930s. I have seen various makers with washable Goatskin during this time. These were fashions jackets and people wanted to keep them clean.

This leather is very much like a chamois cloth. Very soft. This jacket has been worn, but retains all of the original parts; Talon sunrise zipper, lining.

 

[tmitchell59]

It is not uncommon to find Store labels in California Sportwear jackets. They also had store labels without the Californian label. I bought this jacket as support for another Sears Topline jacket that does not have the CSC label. It too is in the Calif Skin, but unlabeled. I will post that jacket also.

This Cedar Rapids, Iowa store label demonstrates that CSC jackets were sold throughout the country.

 

[tmitchell59]

Another take on the Style in another delicate Pony Hide

 

[tmitchell59]

This is a Sears Topline c.1941. This is the only date the Toplines show up in the Sears catalog. No doubt to me a California Sportswear jacket in Calf Skin. Roll up Cuffs, also with the rare Olympic Ring Talon zipper pulls.

 

[Marc mndt]

This is a Sears Topline c.1941. This is the only date the Toplines show up in the Sears catalog. No doubt to me a California Sportswear jacket in Calf Skin. Roll up Cuffs, also with the rare Olympic Ring Talon zipper pulls.

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I've seen this one with a Sportclad label as well

 

[photo2u]

Terry, thanks for sharing those beauties. What a collection you have. You continue to educate me and dazzle us with your collection. I particularly LOVE that pony hide with the pin striped lining. In my view the premium makers still have huge room to improve in that department. Lately, I have not seen a new jacket in with a top quality lining material.