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Aero Highwayman

jake431

Practically Family
Messages
518
Location
Chicago, IL
I am interested in Aero's mouton collared Highwayman:

FURCOLLAR(c).JPG


What time period is the jacket accurate to? When were jackets like this made originally? Are they contemporaneous to the Half-Belt jackets? 1930's? 1950? Advice please...

Thanks,
-Jake
 

shamus

Suspended
Messages
801
Location
LA, CA
Jake,

I'd say the highwayman is an earily 50's jacket in style but not cut. It is similar to the "fonzi" jacket to give you a reference.

I had a highwayman and now own and wear a halfbelt. I like the halfbelt better. Though the highwayman is killer cool to look at.

Esp. in brown.

Now a tip.. Don't order Chrome tanned Front Quarter HorseHide, unless you have about 5 years to kill.

Get the lighter weight horsehide. When I first got my highwayman, I honestly could not put my arms down it was so thick and stiff. I felt like the kid from Christmas Story. Mid weight horse is very nice, still thick, but not stiff.

Or the best route is to go with a Used jacket that someother sob had to break in. And it has character too when you get it.

Either way, the jacket is very nice to look at and would be a great piece to your collection.

1950's oh, sometimes they called these "trucker" jackets as over the road drivers would wear something like this from the 50's.
 

jake431

Practically Family
Messages
518
Location
Chicago, IL
shamus said:
Jake,

I'd say the highwayman is an earily 50's jacket in style but not cut. It is similar to the "fonzi" jacket to give you a reference.

I had a highwayman and now own and wear a halfbelt. I like the halfbelt better. Though the highwayman is killer cool to look at.

Esp. in brown.

Now a tip.. Don't order Chrome tanned Front Quarter HorseHide, unless you have about 5 years to kill.

Get the lighter weight horsehide. When I first got my highwayman, I honestly could not put my arms down it was so thick and stiff. I felt like the kid from Christmas Story. Mid weight horse is very nice, still thick, but not stiff.

Or the best route is to go with a Used jacket that someother sob had to break in. And it has character too when you get it.

Either way, the jacket is very nice to look at and would be a great piece to your collection.

1950's oh, sometimes they called these "trucker" jackets as over the road drivers would wear something like this from the 50's.

Shamus,

Thanks for the advice! Why do you like the Halfbelt better? How is the cut different than it would have been in the 50's?

-Jake
 

shamus

Suspended
Messages
801
Location
LA, CA
Jake,

the highway man is looser, not as bad as a modern jacket but looser in the cut.

I like the half belt in looks and feel. It feels like a I'm wearing almost a second skin. Its hard to describle. they also make a 1930's halfbelt which is very close fitting, like a 30's suit jacket and cropped shorter too.

If you do order one, you get a choice of linings. Depending where you are... and what time of year you want to wear it. Alpaca is great, but very warm. Cotton drill wears great but has no warmth.

But I have a few jackets to fill in the time when I can't wear the ones I want.
 

jake431

Practically Family
Messages
518
Location
Chicago, IL
I just got an Aero 1940 A-2 in a 46 and it fits, but I'll probably get a 44 highwayman - I had a size 46 Dirt Racer motorcycle jacket from them and it was too big.

As far as the lining goes, I'm on the fence. I live in Chicago, and maybe a wool lining would be just the thing for a cold weather jacket.

-Jake
 

shamus

Suspended
Messages
801
Location
LA, CA
Like I've said before .. Aero A2's go with one size up...

Other Aero's go with your current size.

Wool would be a good choice. And the highwayman is a bit looser so you can wear a sweater in it, unlike an A2.

Are you going with Front Quarter?
 

jake431

Practically Family
Messages
518
Location
Chicago, IL
shamus said:
Like I've said before .. Aero A2's go with one size up...

Other Aero's go with your current size.

Wool would be a good choice. And the highwayman is a bit looser so you can wear a sweater in it, unlike an A2.

Are you going with Front Quarter?

Here is what I am sure of:

Highwayman with mouton collar. That's pretty much it.

I don't know whether to get it in black or brown, I don't know what to line it in and I don't know whether to get it in front quarter or not. I know it's authentic to the time, but I'm not going to be on a bike so I don't need a suit of armor.

-Jake
 

jake431

Practically Family
Messages
518
Location
Chicago, IL
Mouton questuion...

Another question - when vintage black hh jackets have a mouton collar, is the mouton black or brown?

Thanks,
-Jake
 

shamus

Suspended
Messages
801
Location
LA, CA
I've seen both. It's always dark brown for either brown or black. Or Black. But I think dark brown would look very nice on either. You might want to think about getting it with a detachedable collar in case you want a change...
 

jake431

Practically Family
Messages
518
Location
Chicago, IL
shamus said:
I've seen both. It's always dark brown for either brown or black. Or Black. But I think dark brown would look very nice on either. You might want to think about getting it with a detachedable collar in case you want a change...

The way I see it, if I want a change, I have an A-2. Besides, I loose scarves - a mouton collar would keep my neck warm regardless...

Glad I'm not a crazy person for thinking a dark brown mouton collar would look "right" on a black hh jacket.

-Jake
 

Alan Eardley

One Too Many
Messages
1,500
Location
Midlands, UK
Brown mouton

Jake,

Buco used to do their J-24L black bike jacket with a removable collar in honey coloured mouton (the 'Special'). It looked fanstastic - went really well with the black horsehide. Real McCoy's Japan offered a very good reproduction of this jacket in their 2004 range.
 

jake431

Practically Family
Messages
518
Location
Chicago, IL
Alan Eardley said:
Jake,

Buco used to do their J-24L black bike jacket with a removable collar in honey coloured mouton (the 'Special'). It looked fanstastic - went really well with the black horsehide. Real McCoy's Japan offered a very good reproduction of this jacket in their 2004 range.

Alan,

I did a quick google search - brown mouton looks just great with a black jacket. So, that's one more undecided off my list.

Are mouton collars hard to wear on a fqhh jacket or something, as opposed to how they wear on a M-422a or similar jacket?

-Jake
 

Bammerman

New in Town
Messages
17
Location
Arlington, Virginia
love that mouton

Just a quick $0.02 to say that I recently bought a bomber-type jacket with a removeable mouton collar - and I LOVE that collar. It feels terrific against my neck, and in really cold weather it is super-warm - much warmer than a scarf. And because it's removeable, I won't have to wear it year-round.
 

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