Calling on all AERO "Happy Days" Jacket owners...

[Dagenham Dave]

Today I went to see a couple of Aero jackets at a stockist in Melbourne called Pickings and Parry (http://pickingsandparry.com/).

The owner Chris had a couple of jackets there - a size 44 Highwayman in Black Tumbled Heavy Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide (with a Lochcarron Tartan Wool lining), which I tried on, and another in Black Jerky Horsehide in size 40.

The Heavy Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide felt very heavy, but not overly so. Both my girlfriend and I much preferred the look of the Heavy Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide to the Jerky Horsehide.

He also had samples of all the Aero leathers too, and showed me the Brown Heavy Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide. I loved the colour and feel.

 

[Don Tomaso]

If you're after a lighter hide, I would throw in the brown "Oil-Pull" horsehide. Definitely beautiful and about 2/3 of the weight of FQHH, a very rich chocolate-brown color and a nice drape right out of the box. I got the "Teamster" made of this and love it.

 

[Fanch]

My Teamster is brown FQHH and love everything about it but think I would prefer something thinner, more flexible, and lighter weight for a jacket with knits.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

If you're after a lighter hide, I would throw in the brown "Oil-Pull" horsehide. Definitely beautiful and about 2/3 of the weight of FQHH, a very rich chocolate-brown color and a nice drape right out of the box. I got the "Teamster" made of this and love it.

View attachment 26929

I love the look of this jacket in Oil-Pull from this post: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...pull-leather&p=1505407&viewfull=1#post1505407



But according to Jaguar66, Oil-Pull "can become like suede leather after aging", which I'm not too keen on.

 

[Don Tomaso]

Well, I'm sure it could become charcoal after a little flame-thrower-treatment, you never know... Maybe you're better off with something more robust, Kevlar would spring to mind. If you can live with the yellow, that is.

 

[Fanch]

DD, given that you love the brown FQHH, perhaps you should reconsider your choice of a Happy Days jacket for the time being and go with one of the half belts instead. In any case, I think this "happy Days" thread is about milked dry. [huh]

 

[Dagenham Dave]

But according to Jaguar66, Oil-Pull "can become like suede leather after aging", which I'm not too keen on.

Well, I'm sure it could become charcoal after a little flame-thrower-treatment, you never know... Maybe you're better off with something more robust, Kevlar would spring to mind. If you can live with the yellow, that is.

I was just wondering if this was in fact the case with Oil-Pull - that it "can become like suede leather after aging"?

 

[Dagenham Dave]

DD, given that you love the brown FQHH, perhaps you should reconsider your choice of a Happy Days jacket for the time being and go with one of the half belts instead.

Perhaps. Found this "Happy Days" on Aero website in brown tumbled FQHH:



And this elsewhere, which appears to be black FQHH:

In any case, I think this "happy Days" thread is about milked dry. [huh]

Fair enough.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

I received the samples today of Brown Tumbled Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide and Brown Heavy Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide and the knits in Seal and Mid-Brown.

I actually think I prefer the lighter colour of the Brown Tumbled Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide to the Brown Heavy Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide, and it looks great with the Seal knit. I think together Brown Tumbled Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide and the Seal knit look very much like this:




According to Denny at Aero, the tumbled Chromexcel is exactly the same leather as the regular Chromexcel, it has just gone through an extra process where it is tumbled (hence the name) which kind of accelerates the breaking in, so the regular will eventually start to look like the tumbled.

Does the tumbled Chromexcel Horsehide have a natural broken in look?

Cheers,
Dave

 

[pawineguy]

I received the samples today of Brown Tumbled Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide and Brown Heavy Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide and the knits in Seal and Mid-Brown.

I actually think I prefer the lighter colour of the Brown Tumbled Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide to the Brown Heavy Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide, and it looks great with the Seal knit. I think together Brown Tumbled Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide and the Seal knit look very much like this:

View attachment 27588 View attachment 27589


According to Denny at Aero, the tumbled Chromexcel is exactly the same leather as the regular Chromexcel, it has just gone through an extra process where it is tumbled (hence the name) which kind of accelerates the breaking in, so the regular will eventually start to look like the tumbled.

Does the tumbled Chromexcel Horsehide have a natural broken in look?

Cheers,
Dave

I wouldn't say it LOOKS broken in, I'd say it FEELS broken in. It does have more color variation throughout the hide, that's more important to be aware of, in my opinion.

 

[tropicalbob]

Essentially, "tumbled" is "distressed." Just think of all the fun you'll have breaking in that Brown FQHH starting from scratch (literally). Every day you can come home and examine it for further developments. The jacket's totally yours.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

Essentially, "tumbled" is "distressed." Just think of all the fun you'll have breaking in that Brown FQHH starting from scratch (literally). Every day you can come home and examine it for further developments. The jacket's totally yours.

So "distressed" would not be how a leather jacket would look when it is naturally broken in, and would not have been how a civilian A-2 would have looked when new in the early 50s?

 

[Seb Lucas]

Have you not bought the verkakte jacket already!! This speculation could go on for ever. There is no one accurate repro 1950's look. Any good quality horse/cow/goat hide is going to look fine and there will be period examples of each of these. The real question is do you want heavy or light hide. I've just sold my fantastic Johnson leathers 3oz cowhide half-belt because I never wore it. Just not versatile enough for me. I live where you do. Just saying...

 

[Dagenham Dave]

I wouldn't say it LOOKS broken in, I'd say it FEELS broken in. It does have more color variation throughout the hide, that's more important to be aware of, in my opinion.

Thanks for the advice here.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

Have you not bought the verkakte jacket already!! This speculation could go on for ever. There is no one accurate repro 1950's look. Any good quality horse/cow/goat hide is going to look fine and there will be period examples of each of these. The real question is do you want heavy or light hide. I've just sold my fantastic Johnson leathers 3oz cowhide half-belt because I never wore it. Just not versatile enough for me. I live where you do. Just saying...

I know Seb - I'm just a little crazy!!!


Anyway, I went to see the size 42 “Happy Days” (in Black Front Quarter Vintage Tumbled Chromexcel Horsehide with Alpaca lining) at Pickings & Parry in Melbourne and was absolutely blown away. And the owner Chris has been such a great help that I have decided to order through him. (And at least then I don’t have to worry about GST and customs charges, or any other hidden charges courtesy of my government). I am so glad I managed to see one (and in my size) in the flesh. It has helped my decision enormously.

The Pit to Pit measurement was spot on at 25", but the Across Shoulders measurement appeared to be 20" (compared to the quoted 19.5"), but I am happy with 20" across the shoulders. Consequently it fit beautifully in the shoulders and chest.

It was, however, a tad too tight at the waist (at the end of the leather just above the waistband) (see the image below for where I mean). Laying the size 42 flat, zipped and pulled until the leather became straight (but without stretching it), it measured approximately 20" from edge to edge. I need it to be 21". I've asked Denny at Aero if that's possible?



Also the size 42 at Pickings & Parry was slightly too short in the sleeves and body, confirming my originally requested desired sleeve and body lengths (see below).


So in summary, here are the measurements (quoted and requested) for a “Happy Days” – size 42:

Pit to Pit: 25 in

Across Shoulders: 19.5 in – 20 in

Sleeve Length: 27.5 in

Jacket Length (centre-back): 26.5 in

Bottom Opening Measurements:

21 in (just above wool waistband – with the leather pulled straight but without stretching it)
19 ¼ in (at top of un-stretched waistband)
18 in (at bottom of un-stretched waistband)​

And, here are the material choices:

Brown Front Quarter Chromexcel Horsehide

Seal knit

Heavy Duty Cotton Drill Red

NOS 50s Brass Talon zipper (or Brass zipper if NOS not available)​

So, assuming Aero can accommodate the slightly wider waist, it is ordered and on its way.

Thanks everyone for all your help.

 

[Seb Lucas]

How much?

 

[Dagenham Dave]

how much?

$1575.00 AUD


If I buy direct through Aero the cost is:

Base price: £610.00
Shipping: £50.00
​

At the current PayPal exchange rate, that equates to $1,314.08 AUD (1 AUD = 0.502255 GBP).

Anything over $1000.00 AUD and you are likely to have to pay 10% GST and a customs release fee, which if I remember correctly when I bought a Belstaff MC jacket was over $100.00 AUD.

So all up, the price is very comparable (and possibly even cheaper), and I have the back-up of Pickings & Parry if something goes wrong and the jacket needs to be returned/remade (of course I am assuming this will NOT be the case).

 

[tropicalbob]

So "distressed" would not be how a leather jacket would look when it is naturally broken in, and would not have been how a civilian A-2 would have looked when new in the early 50s?

The difference is that you would be doing the distressing, and the jacket would reflect your lifestyle. Personally, I find the whole concept of "pre-distressed" anything to be a modern irritation. You can do whatever you like.

 

[Seb Lucas]

My God that's very expensive. Hope you love it.

 

[ProteinNerd]

Not cheap but if you get exactly what you want....

Hope its everything you are looking for in a jacket DD, its been a hell of a ride lol