Vintage Outerwear: Threads of the Past

[tmitchell59]

@tmitchell59 I know nothing "new" for you but still interesting & information to see pictures of old leather jacket, isn't it?

There is always something "new", ever picture tells a story. Thanks for posting the pics and the translations. I've always been curious about the text. Not much there on history or origins.

One Durable picture stands out.

 

[58panheadfan]

Welco....LOOOL!
View attachment 515972

Seems a japanese version of Nelco called Welco, LOL!

I have never heard the name of this manufacturer before, apologies for the careless and unquestioning adoption of the Japanese translation. I corrected it in my post, thank you for pointing that out @ton312.

 

[ton312]

Seems a japanese version of Nelco called Welco, LOL!

I have never heard the name of this manufacturer before, apologies for the careless and unquestioning adoption of the Japanese translation. I corrected it in my post, thank you for pointing that out @ton312.

I've missed out on several Nelco's. Label always looks good to me, quality stuff.

 

[jeo]

Seems a japanese version of Nelco called Welco, LOL!

I have never heard the name of this manufacturer before, apologies for the careless and unquestioning adoption of the Japanese translation. I corrected it in my post, thank you for pointing that out @ton312.

I think it's a typo. Still a bit hard to see, but it's Nelco.

 

[58panheadfan]

I think it's a typo. Still a bit hard to see, but it's Nelco.


View attachment 516007

Of course it's a typo, I just kidding because you can see often in japanese magazines some mispronunciation especially the well known "R / L"

 

[jeo]

Of course it's a typo, I just kidding because you can see often in japanese magazines some mispronunciation especially the well known "R / L"

Haha! I know what you mean...love me some "Banson" LOL!

 

[Bonasera]

I've missed out on several Nelco's. Label always looks good to me, quality stuff.
View attachment 516003
View attachment 516004
View attachment 516005

Love nelco jackets. Nelco is great. Found their cross zip horsehide jacket on last March, but it was too small...

 

[Bonasera]

Welco....LOOOL!
View attachment 515972

Seems a japanese version of Nelco called Welco, LOL!

I have never heard the name of this manufacturer before, apologies for the careless and unquestioning adoption of the Japanese translation. I corrected it in my post, thank you for pointing that out @ton312.

I think it's a typo. Still a bit hard to see, but it's Nelco.


View attachment 516007

Lightning magazine makes mistakes...

 

[jeo]

Lightning magazine makes mistakes...

I'm sure they do. The Tanaka books have plenty of mistakes/misses as well.

 

[jeo]

Pictures from 1950's "one star" type leather jackets made from various manufacturers*
*Google translation of japanese pictures textes at bottom.

Durable
View attachment 515917
View attachment 515918

Alden Crest
View attachment 515933

Buco J-71
View attachment 515934

Californian
View attachment 515935

View attachment 515937

Guide Master Wolf & Hercules
View attachment 515938

View attachment 515939

Interesting are the picture texts in Japanese which I freely translated with google (from top to bottom) whereby the Japanese are known for their authenticity:

Durable text already translateted in durable thread:

Alden Crest
"50's double riders with the name of a local men's shop. The simple design of 3 zip pockets and 1 flap pocket is attractive."

Buco J-71
"A model that ist probably J-71 from the design. The lining is satin quilted."

Californian
"The first time the chest pocket attached to teh acute angel is characteristic. The studs on the edges of the pockets ar a detail that seems to be from this era."
"Double riders wiht twstars on each shoulder. The taste and teh atmosphere of this plus parts match".

Guide Master Wolf
"A double type with a large impact that effectively uses black such as the collar and pockets edges on a white base."

Hercules
"Sears private brand Hercules motorcycle jacket. 2-tone specifications popular in the vintage market".

Guide Master Wolf
"From the Label, it seems to be a model from the late 50's to the early 60's. Rhombus chain zipper on left chest. The cut on the back is stylish."

more to follow...

More 1950's "one star" types:
*Google translation of japanese pictures textes at bottom.

Unknown & Hercules
View attachment 515941

Indian Sportswear
View attachment 515942

Kit Karson
View attachment 515943
View attachment 515944
View attachment 515945

Schott
View attachment 515946

Sierra & M. Bogen and Sons
View attachment 515947

Sportclad
View attachment 515948

Unknown & Nelco (not Welco as stated in the japanese magazine)
View attachment 515949

Winward
View attachment 515951


Google Translation from japanese picture textes:

Unknown
"Double riders with white belt, lower collar, epaultets etc. on a black base. The heavy zipper is a military type. Kidney design on the lower back."

Hercules
"3 zip double riders. The two-tone piping is a detail unique to Hercules and the two-star, belt and other designs are typical of the 50's."

Indian Sportswear
"A riders jacket with custom studs to the one-star specifation. A buffalo check pattern is used for the lining and the back is made of a single piece of leather."

Kit Karson
"Gray leather is used only for the collar, epaulettes and pocket parts. The combination of chic colors that you don't often see, is very fresh."
"All zipper pockets are rhombic chains. Epaulets with hidden studs and lined with red wool fabric."
"Gray leather is used only for the epaulets and pocket openings. The combination of chic colors that you don't often see is very fresh."
"Kit Karson with a charming character drawn on the name. A two-tone color scheme that is often seen in this brand, the epaulettes are equipped with three stars."

Schott
"Perfecto model with black tag. The predecessor model of the Perfecto 618 born in the 1960's."

Sierra
"Double riders with a slighlty larger collar. A zip map pocket is provided on the left side of the back and the waist belt is cut at the side.

M. Bogen and Sons
"One star double riders with silver satin quilted lining. The waist belt can be adjusted with a dot button."

Sportclad
"Sportclad is J.C. Penny's sportswear brand. The mainstream of 50's riders such as sleeve zippers and 3 zips and 1 flap."

Unknown
"A two-tone W riders with black upper collar, epaulettes and white leather belt. Rhombus chain zipper is used."

Nelco
"A double riders in a two-tone design with 3 zippers and Gold Medal name pocket flaps that switch to white leather."

Winward
"Winward double riders designed by Montgomery Ward in the late 1950's. The epaulet has marks where two stars have been removed."

Thank you for posting this, very helpful and informative! I have 3 Lightning Magazines but not the vintage leather jacket editions. Which one is yours, or are they all the same? (I think one was an updated version?)

 

[jeo]

@tmitchell59 California Sportswear Company made jacket for JC Penney's Sportclad.

 

[tmitchell59]

@tmitchell59 California Sportswear Company made jacket for JC Penney's Sportclad.

View attachment 516321 View attachment 516322 View attachment 516323 View attachment 516324 View attachment 516325 View attachment 516326

Beautiful! is it for sale?

Goatskin was the leather for cool designs.

this Sportclad dates to 1940

 

[tmitchell59]

 

[58panheadfan]

Thank you for posting this, very helpful and informative! I have 3 Lightning Magazines but not the vintage leather jacket editions. Which one is yours, or are they all the same? (I think one was an updated version?)


View attachment 516309
View attachment 516301 View attachment 516306

I have the 1st and 3rd one and 2nd one on order... some jackets are pictures in both magazines I have.

 

[jeo]

Beautiful! is it for sale?

Long gone unfortunately.

Goatskin was the leather for cool designs.

this Sportclad dates to 1940

View attachment 516333 View attachment 516334 View attachment 516336 View attachment 516337 View attachment 516338 View attachment 516339 View attachment 516340

Indeed. Those early west coast makers particularly Block Bilt, California Sportswear and Ralphs Pugh were just such innovators in the design department and as you know, many jackets were goatskin as it was preferred on the West Coast being lighter than horsehide but just a strong.

 

[jeo]

I have the 1st and 3rd one and 2nd one on order... some jackets are pictures in both magazines I have.

Ok so different issues of the magazine but some jackets are repeated. Got it. Going to order all 3 then!

 

[Gypsymoth82]

Another "Boar skin" half belt appeared today.....

vct6y

 

[jeo]

@58panheadfan @dudewuttheheck Thought you guys would be interested in this. I know @the shivman recently sold his, so whoever he sold it to may be interested as well.

The Bootleggers Buena Vista and subsequent FW Bodie (although Bodie has a different collar) is actually a reproduction of an old Seattle Woolen jacket. It's goatskin just like the Buena Vista.

They got all the details down to the very beautiful and specific cuff design. Of course Bootleggers/FW had to make it fancy by adding double stitching and triangular stitches in places haha!

 

[ragtime_joe]

That is a beauty. Seattle Woolen made some very nice jackets. I wish the goatskin on the Buena Vista hadn't been so damn stiff.

 

[Marc mndt]

@58panheadfan @dudewuttheheck Thought you guys would be interested in this. I know @the shivman recently sold his, so whoever he sold it to may be interested as well.

The Bootleggers Buena Vista and subsequent FW Bodie (although Bodie has a different collar) is actually a reproduction of an old Seattle Woolen jacket. It's goatskin just like the Buena Vista.

They got all the details down to the very beautiful and specific cuff design. Of course Bootleggers/FW had to make it fancy by adding double stitching and triangular stitches in places haha!

View attachment 516463 View attachment 516467 View attachment 516465 View attachment 516470 View attachment 516464

My 'the bon Marche' is made by Seattle Woolen and has the same back design. Different front though.

Here's the same jacket with a Seattle Woolen label. (Not mine)