1950s Hercules Bomber Jacket

[GoodTimesGone]

I'd say '50s is a good guess.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/170766191056?...d=331311612823
Wow! That jacket on that ebay link is pretty high priced considering the amount of red rot!
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Tom

[guygardner]

I'd say '50s is a good guess.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/170766191056?...d=331311612823
Wow! That jacket on that ebay link is pretty high priced considering the amount of red rot!
__________________________________________________ _________________________
Tom

Thanks Tom,

Yeah, I thought the jacket in that auction was pretty overpriced considering how rough it looked. The jacket looks like it's dying.

[kyboots]

I think it is a great looking jacket. Would love to have myself.--John

[guygardner]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Now seems to be a good time to watch ebay, since there is less competition in the spring-summer than in the fall-winter.

[himelator]

Do you think I am right in guessing 1950s?

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so the big problem identifying a specific brand in this type of jacket is the "commoness" of the pattern. However the easiest and likely only way is to note the ribbing knit, zigzag rayon sharkskin liner and the unique egg yolk? sleeve liner? I cannot tell what the fabric is but it is unusual. So once you have unique identifyers the network of fedora jacket guys will sooner or later find one with these configs and hopefully it has a tag in it. I generally dont collect bomber style jackets unless they are exceptional...its just not my thing...but I might have this jacket somewhere in a box or a friend might have it in their collections. If something springs to mind I will get back to you. The liner was a fairly common type that was sold to many jacket companies ..but the sleeves...very unique....also very skinny cut...your lucky you found one that cut style.

[Joel Shapiro]

Jacket looks great. I love the 50's-era horsehide bombers and Hercules was the most famous line of them. I only wish they came in my size more often. Finding a 26" sleeve in a vintage jacket is damn near impossible!

[guygardner]

so the big problem identifying a specific brand in this type of jacket is the "commoness" of the pattern. However the easiest and likely only way is to note the ribbing knit, zigzag rayon sharkskin liner and the unique egg yolk? sleeve liner? I cannot tell what the fabric is but it is unusual. So once you have unique identifyers the network of fedora jacket guys will sooner or later find one with these configs and hopefully it has a tag in it. I generally dont collect bomber style jackets unless they are exceptional...its just not my thing...but I might have this jacket somewhere in a box or a friend might have it in their collections. If something springs to mind I will get back to you. The liner was a fairly common type that was sold to many jacket companies ..but the sleeves...very unique....also very skinny cut...your lucky you found one that cut style.

The sleeve linings seem to be made of cotton canvas. I was a little hesitant at first when I saw the jacket, because bombers are almost always too wide for me, but the cut and thick hide mean it doesn't have the typically baggy fit. Have you seen this brand of zipper before? Most of the jackets I've seen on ebay from that time have Talon zippers. Thanks for the help.

[guygardner]

Jacket looks great. I love the 50's-era horsehide bombers and Hercules was the most famous line of them. I only wish they came in my size more often. Finding a 26" sleeve in a vintage jacket is damn near impossible!

Yeah, the sleeves are a little shorter than other jackets this size I've had in the past. Any shorter and they wouldn't fit me. I guess sleeves from that period were designed to be shorter than those of newer jackets?

[VintageTQ]

Beautiful jacket and remarkable condition too. Like others have said tho ive seen and owned a lot of Hercules and im just not so sure this is one. Its very similar to a De Long Sportswear jacket that i currently have

[guygardner]

Beautiful jacket and remarkable condition too. Like others have said tho ive seen and owned a lot of Hercules and im just not so sure this is one. Its very similar to a De Long Sportswear jacket that i currently have

Thanks VintageTQ,

I'd love to see photos of your jacket to compare. I have no idea which brand manufactured this jacket. From what I've read and from what people have said, Grais is another likely possibility.

cheers,
Guygardner