Any Love For Those Cheap Old Fidelity Leathers?

[jeo]

There’s one right now on FB marketplace for $75. Seller is listing it as a 42 long.

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[jeo]

^ sorry seller just got back to me saying it’s a Wilson

 

[Madhouse27]

The leather on a few of my Fidelity jackets (particularly the black label era at the end of their run) was a little on the boring side, but these guys always seemed to really nail their liners. Comfortable and obviously durable as the Insides were nearly perfect on all four of these jackets.

 

[Leather Walker]

Today at a vtg shop. Not bought, just photo for the Lounge.

 

[newtojackets]

Was it just the horshides that showed the red undertones or the steer too?

 

[ABCD]

Today at a vtg shop. Not bought, just photo for the Lounge.
View attachment 537385

Go back and buy, it looks absolutely amazing on you!

 

[Leather Walker]

Go back and buy, it looks absolutely amazing on you!

Thank you, Marc, really appreciate it!
This jacket is the same I fitted on March. Still there since then...

The main zip was replaced with Serval, so I can't figure which zipper there were before, a #5 Talon? It's missing a ring-pull on one of the pockets, but other than that, it's complete. They're asking 150€, and it must be steerhide IMO.

 

[newtojackets]

Fidelity HH is top tier imo. Monitor is right. Awesome jackets. And cut a bit longer than most vtg jackets.

Highly recommend one of their HH jackets, though the IR in steer is super nice and inexpensive.

Here is mine. If you have questions or want specific pictures, let me know. Not the best pics but what I have. View attachment 440985 View attachment 440986 View attachment 440987 View attachment 440988 View attachment 440989 View attachment 440990 View attachment 440991

How do you know if it’s horse?

 

[JMax]

Was it just the horshides that showed the red undertones or the steer too?

Horsehide. None of the steerhide fidelity I owned had it.

How do you know if it’s horse?

The tag will state genuine HH, normally on the main Fidelity tag.

Lining likely different too. I’ll post pics later but plenty throughout the site.

 

[newtojackets]

Horsehide. None of the steerhide fidelity I owned had it.



The tag will state genuine HH, normally on the main Fidelity tag.

Lining likely different too. I’ll post pics later but plenty throughout the site.

Would this be considered red undertones?

 

[JMax]

Would this be considered red undertones?

View attachment 537438

Hard to tell. Which hide and jacket is that? They do use a more reddish brown hide during later years. Doesn’t look black to me but…

 

[newtojackets]

Hard to tell. Which hide and jacket is that? They do use a more reddish brown hide during later years. Doesn’t look black to me but…

Not sure what hide it is, because the jacket has no label, but here’s the jacket. It weighs about 3.5lbs

 

[JMax]

Not sure what hide it is, because the jacket has no label, but here’s the jacket. It weighs about 3.5lbs

View attachment 537457

Looks like steer. The hide I was thinking of during my last post. These are nice, inexpensive jackets

 

[pgoat]

I've owned several Fidelity jackets, including a pilot/bomber type I bought new in the 1980s; it had that trendy 80s dark brown leather that was dyed to instantly develop patina and wear. I quickly regretted that less than classic approach (I like to earn my patina the old fashioned way) and flipped it, but I will say that was my first experience with Fidelity and the jacket was a steal imo. Excellent quality, especially for the money. I think I paid around $150, back when a new Schott perfecto would set you back $275ish.

I still have a dark brown CR (Chest pockets, I am guessing from 1960s) that I love but will need to lose half my bodyweight to fit into again (thanks for nothing, pandemic lockdown...). My wife says it's one of the best looking jackets I own. It's got a great cut, nice thick leather with some awesome tea core starting, and a large Ideal main zip, small Talons on the sleeves.

I sold a medium brown CR here some time back that had slightly thinner but buttery smooth leather, looked like a really nice lambskin, with a zip-out fleece lining and the handwarmer pockets. My sense was that one may have been a bit more recent, maybe early 1970s. Hard to tell for sure from a photo, but it looked a lot like the one newtojackets posted above in August.

I've also got one of the 1960s or so black steerhide crosszips with the snap closure belt, in pretty nice shape. I guess I am egg shaped, because that is one of the best fitting cross zips I own (I do need to lose a quarter of my body weight to get back into that one, alas....).

I'd rate Fidelity right there with Brooks in this price range as some of the best deals in jackets. Good stuff.

 

[newtojackets]

Fidelity HH is top tier imo. Monitor is right. Awesome jackets. And cut a bit longer than most vtg jackets.

Highly recommend one of their HH jackets, though the IR in steer is super nice and inexpensive.

Here is mine. If you have questions or want specific pictures, let me know. Not the best pics but what I have. View attachment 440985 View attachment 440986 View attachment 440987 View attachment 440988 View attachment 440989 View attachment 440990 View attachment 440991

Is this a horsehide?

 

[JMax]

Is this a horsehide?

Negative. That is a later label. The HH jackets will say HH on the main label. You know, I don’t think I’ve seen a Fidelity HH CR. Just x-zips with the patch pocket or normal cig pocket & the HB.

 

[PeterRocco]

Any other lovers of Fidelity Leathers here.

I know they're definitely not the highest quality jacket ever made, but they're cool, cheap and look great with some weathering.

FYI Fidelity, from Everett Massachusetts (just outside Boston) states that they were formed in 1941 to make Peacoats and Bomber jackets for the US Navy and Air Corp.

During the 70s and early 80s these jackets were extremely popular with both Bikers and the early Heavy Metal crowd of New England. Attending a Hard Rock concert in Boston, Hartford or Providence back in the day you'd witness a sea of literally hundreds, if not thousands of these coats.

There have certainly been better jackets made, but nostalgia is priceless.

I just bought this jacket.

 

[TLW '90]

My fidelity needs a new elastic for the back gussets, and I'm not sure if I want to bother getting it fixed.
It's a great jacket, but I think it might actually be a bit too small.
I don't remember measuring it, but i know it's fairly snug when zipped up and I don't wear it much.

I'm a small guy and wear a 36, if it's too small for me I can't imagine who it would fit and how I'd ever be able to sell it.
The thing is I don't really know how a cafe racer is supposed to fit

I do like the jacket and am just not sure what to do.

Either try to move it along as is for cheap ( I only payed $100 a few years ago ) when it may never sell.

Or do I get the elastic replaced and keep it as a a jacket to wear over just a T shirt in the spring ?

 

[PeterRocco]

My fidelity needs a new elastic for the back gussets, and I'm not sure if I want to bother getting it fixed.
It's a great jacket, but I think it might actually be a bit too small.
I don't remember measuring it, but i know it's fairly snug when zipped up and I don't wear it much.

I'm a small guy and wear a 36, if it's too small for me I can't imagine who it would fit and how I'd ever be able to sell it.
The thing is I don't really know how a cafe racer is supposed to fit

I do like the jacket and am just not sure what to do.

Either try to move it along as is for cheap ( I only payed $100 a few years ago ) when it may never sell.

Or do I get the elastic replaced and keep it as a a jacket to wear over just a T shirt in the spring ?

I paid $65 for mine maybe better just looking for another one in the size that fits you. My jacket is size 46.

 

[TLW '90]

I paid $65 for mine maybe better just looking for another one in the size that fits you. My jacket is size 46.

I just measured and my fidelity does measure spot on for a 36.
The real problem is that while I'm a small generally skinny guy I have somehow developed a bit of a gut.
I'm worried that a 38 might be too big in other dimensions, drooping shoulders and maybe a little big in the armpits.
I just don't really know enough about how cafe racers fit

I will have to look into a 38 and see what the dimensions are.