Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

[Claybertrand]

Also yeah, agreed. It's most likely Fidelity. I wonder why so many of these don't have the Fidelity tag, though? Just this leather garment one. Could be people remove them on purpose so that they could claim it's something it's not. This Indian Ranger style could relatively easily fool someone.

Fidelity did work in horsehide early on but these jackets are unmistakable. Some of the best I've seen. Ever.

I have seen the mentions that Fidelity had some early HH jackets but I have never seen any myself. I have like, 4-5 Fidelity Cafe Racers and one Boston Metro Fidelity Police jacket that I picked up early in my collecting and NONE of them have an actual Fidelity label. Just the "GENUINE LEATHER GARMENT" tag and the riveted chain hanger. A couple are missing zip out liners which, like many jacket makers, had the only company insignia they put on the jackets at all. I have Schotts, Lescos, and Excelled jackets that are basically nameless because they are missing the zip out liners. Modern Fidelity jackets (and Schotts) double label the jacket and the liner so that the ID is never in question. But even the Fidelitys that did not have removable liners lack their label.

Its strange since they seemed to really produce A LOT of jackets over the years (Cafe Racers especially). When I first bought one, I thought it was a unique, decently made jacket. Now I feel that they are not unique but are really a decent jacket for the price point you can find them at. Similar to Lescos in that respect--somewhat underrated-- but seemingly more plentiful on the market. Its just a minor pet peeve of mine when I see sellers create their own whimsical or assumed provenance that paints the common Cafe Racers as some grail find jacket. They are what they are---which is nothing negative. They just seem to be rarely identified for what they are. Caveat Emptor I suppose.

 

[Monitor]

I have seen the mentions that Fidelity had some early HH jackets but I have never seen any myself. I have like, 4-5 Fidelity Cafe Racers and one Boston Metro Fidelity Police jacket that I picked up early in my collecting and NONE of them have an actual Fidelity label. Just the "GENUINE LEATHER GARMENT" tag and the riveted chain hanger. A couple are missing zip out liners which, like many jacket makers, had the only company insignia they put on the jackets at all. I have Schotts, Lescos, and Excelled jackets that are basically nameless because they are missing the zip out liners. Modern Fidelity jackets (and Schotts) double label the jacket and the liner so that the ID is never in question. But even the Fidelitys that did not have removable liners lack their label.

Its strange since they seemed to really produce A LOT of jackets over the years (Cafe Racers especially). When I first bought one, I thought it was a unique, decently made jacket. Now I feel that they are not unique but are really a decent jacket for the price point you can find them at. Similar to Lescos in that respect--somewhat underrated-- but seemingly more plentiful on the market. Its just a minor pet peeve of mine when I see sellers create their own whimsical or assumed provenance that paints the common Cafe Racers as some grail find jacket. They are what they are---which is nothing negative. They just seem to be rarely identified for what they are. Caveat Emptor I suppose.

Some years ago, horsehide Fidelity jackes'd still occasionally appear on eBay, it was the cafe racer usually, but I haven't seen one in a long time. You could tell right away they're something entirely else. The leather was similar to Horween actually, heavy, definitely thicker than the regular Fidelity stuff, with a light finish over a very vivid red/brown teacore which was showing through at every edge and seam. Beautiful jackets and they were selling at premium, too. I don't see them anymore for some reason... Shame. They were just the kind of cafe racer you really couldn't upgrade on.

Anyway, I've handled a few of their CRs, though none actually had a Fidelity tag so I can't claim for certain that's what they were but these are a very good, straightforward jackets. Sleek, comfortable, warm. My personal favorite from the era was cat eye Schott (I think they existed at the same time) but Fidelity has always been right there, too. I prefer them to Brooks.

 

[JMax]

If my Fidelity IR-esque jacket ends up looking like that one...I will be stoked.

 

[Gamma68]

Speaking of Fidelity jackets, shameless plug for my steerhide Fidelity Indian Ranger listed now in the classifieds. Good price, too.

 

[jonbuilder]

Nice Gains about vintage size 40 low start bid
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-Vintage-GRAIS-Horsehide-Long-Halfbelt-Jacket-LARGE/352887420910?hash=item5229bab7ee:g:NPoAAOSwTh1d8Q2t

 

[SinSir]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/264570582329

Cal

 

[Guppy]

Toss that thing into a washing machine and you get a sweet 618 for a good price.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schott-Perfecto-Vintage-Black-Leather-Motorcycle-Jacket-Size-42-Painted-Custom/163614351879

I didn't know Liberace rode...

 

[Guppy]

Real McCoys/Harley-Davidson Buco J-24 style, size 42, $500/800BIN with 0 bids and 12 hours to go.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133271035840

 

[Guppy]

Indian "Chief" 38. $300 opening bid. Man this guy is selling a lot of nice stuff at great prices.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/INDIAN-MOTORCYCLE-CHIEF-38-Leather-Jacket-D-Pocket/133271006089



LW car coat, $600 BIN

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lost-Worlds-Custom-Bedford-Buffalo-Leather-Car-Coat-Jacket-Alpaca-Lining-44/133272433561



Schott 618H 38

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SCOTT-NYC-...041921?hash=item1f0792b781:g:YvcAAOSwSq1d89lS



LW Leathertogs, 38, Brn, $800 BIN

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LOST-WORLDS-Leathertogs-MOTORCYCLE-JACKET-42-Horsehide-Leather/133271014486

 

[Bennarion]

I remember there was a battle on eBay. Now he's on sale again

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/274148419541

 

[Mich486]

Which jacket will you get though? The first pictured or the second? Or another one? Lol


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[Captain Sensible]

Little time left View attachment 201107
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/274143063942

This went cheap. Anyone here snag it?

 

[Bennarion]

Which jacket will you get though? The first pictured or the second? Or another one? Lol


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As we see, someone already got both and one decided to sell

 

[Bennarion]

May be suitable for a lady. It can be inexpensive

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/233437692291

 

[Bennarion]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/124015226674

 

[JMax]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/223801814541

A perfect vtg NYPD jacket.

 

[Bennarion]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/223802190814

 

[JMax]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/223802949126

Passaic NYPD. Looks great, under $200 BIN

 

[jonbuilder]

50s horsehide flying togs 18 pit to pit
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-19...aster-Flying-Togs-mens-horsehide/362850638039

 

[Bfd70]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aero-B-6-S...3d7e:g:fR0AAOSw2bRd69~P&LH_ItemCondition=3000