Montgomery Ward (Windward) Motorcycle Jacket History 1947-1963

[tmitchell59]

You can date the aviator by the code on the bottom edge of the sunrise zipper stop. A letter and number. Number is year. Letter is month. Late 30s. This is a nice jacket.

 

[tmitchell59]

The motorcycle jacket is c.1950

 

[axlepressbutton]

You can date the aviator by the code on the bottom edge of the sunrise zipper stop. A letter and number. Number is year. Letter is month. Late 30s. This is a nice jacket.

That's something new I've learnt today. Thx!

Looks like a 1 and an O. Maybe October 1941?

The old guy I bought it from sent me a picture of this 1936 Harley that his 'Pops' used to ride when he wore the jacket. Love hearing history like this about things I buy.

 

[tmitchell59]

The letter is probably an I, the 9th letter of the Alphabet, which represents the 9th month, September. The 0 is the year: I-0 is September 1940. I have a Windward with the same lining, dated September 1939.

 

[tmitchell59]

The Winward brand was Montgomery Ward. Mine was made by Roughwear Clothing, this jacket was made by an unidentified maker. An excellent documentation of this Aviator style used as a motorcycle jacket, though they were not sold as such in 1940.

 

[axlepressbutton]

The Winward brand was Montgomery Ward. Mine was made by Roughwear Clothing, this jacket was made by an unidentified maker. An excellent documentation of this Aviator style used as a motorcycle jacket, though they were not sold as such in 1940.

This is the same jacket as mine. I bet this one has a few stories to tell.

 

[attack_decay]

This is the same jacket as mine. I bet this one has a few stories to tell.

Love that artwork, very cool! Where'd you find that jacket?

 

[tmitchell59]

 

[tmitchell59]

Looks like I have the same jacket in brown. Lining replaced to copy the original Lining, labels lost. Zipper changed

 

[tmitchell59]

 

[tmitchell59]

And this nice 30's 40's half belt Aviator.

Here it is in the 1941 Wards catalog:

 

[unhatted]

Any sightings of this MW label yet? Some of the images in @tmitchell59 second post aren't showing up so I’m not sure. The ‘genuine leather’ makes me think it’s a later steerhide jacket but I’m just guessing…

Ideal zips and an odd ‘ice cream’ one if that helps!

Realllly want to take a stitch ripper to that HD patch…

 

[tmitchell59]

Any sightings of this MW label yet? Some of the images in @tmitchell59 second post aren't showing up so I’m not sure. The ‘genuine leather’ makes me think it’s a later steerhide jacket but I’m just guessing…

Ideal zips and an odd ‘ice cream’ one if that helps!

View attachment 611289 View attachment 611290 View attachment 611291 View attachment 611292 View attachment 611293 View attachment 611294

Realllly want to take a stitch ripper to that HD patch…

I'm really not sure when this new label started. Not horsehide. The MW Brent label probably ends around 1960. This jacket looks 60s to me