1950s Aldens / Aldencrest Leather Jackets

[jchance]

Let’s get a thread started for 1950s Aldens / Aldencrest leather jackets.

Below the big three department stores (Sears, Ward, and Penney’s) with mail catalogs in the middle of the 20th century, Aldens (and Spiegel) was up there as a big commercial supplier of leather jackets. It was in business 1889-1985 and headquartered in Chicago, IL, USA. I’ve seen their leather jackets survived and popped up from time to time.

Note that they are unrelated to the Alden leather shoes company, which is still around.


Catalogs, 1952-53:

c. 1954-1955:

c. late 1950s:

Tags on leather jackets:






“prep” = young adult sizing. This is true for Sears’ Fraternity Prep label as well.



1960s labels:

 

[jchance]

 

[jchance]

Fit pics:

 

[jchance]

Note the square pocket flap:

NOS:

 

[jchance]

 

[jchance]

These 1950s “glove-tanned” leather (chrome tanned) looks very thin.

 

[jchance]

Terry has noted that these are the same design as CSC Windward (Montgomery Ward).

 

[jchance]

 

[jchance]

1960s:

 

[jchance]

1960s Talon teardrop zippers and the hide quality looks noticeably thinner.

 

[jchance]

ring chain zippers used in “prep” (young adult sizing) label:

 

[jchance]

 

[jchance]

featured in Rin Tanaka’s book on leather jackets, including translation:

 

[jchance]

featured in Ms. Marvel #2 (Nov. 1976):

 

[jchance]

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It has been pointed out that the same unknown maker of this removable-mouton-collar Aldencrest crosszip also made Spiegel HH crosszip.

 

[tmitchell59]

This Jewel studded jacket is the most unique catalog jacket I can think of. Folks were doing up their own jackets with Jewels and spots, I believe Buco sold these parts.

I can not think of any other factory jacket that was sold like this?

This jacket has the 4 studs which makes me think of Blatt. The square pocket is odd too.

I have never seen a Alden Jewel jacket for sale. This is the only picture of a "real" one I have seen. What would one bring?

I just got a Blatt jacket and these MC jackets look very similar.

 

[jchance]

This Jewel studded jacket is the most unique catalog jacket I can think of. Folks were doing up their own jackets with Jewels and spots, I believe Buco sold these parts.

I can not think of any other factory jacket that was sold like this?

This jacket has the 4 studs which makes me think of Blatt. The square pocket is odd too.

I have never seen a Alden Jewel jacket for sale. This is the only picture of a "real" one I have seen. What would one bring?

I just got a Blatt jacket and these MC jackets look very similar.


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You may be right with the Blatt connection re Blatt’s signature 4 beads at the end of the zipper. Blatt uses the same / very similar horsehide label. Everyone looks very similar in the front, especially the top chest full pocket’s angle (other brands usually use smaller chest pocket).

Compare with:


Here’s an unlabeled jewel studded Aldencrest I found with the back showing. Its back doesn’t look like a Blatt though, which has a side zippered pocket below the armpit.

 

[tmitchell59]

This is one amazing jacket! This one looks like new. I can't define that red lining, Nylon?, Wool?

Alden used different makers like the other catalogs. Looks like a CSC jacket, the glove tanned is Kurland, a couple look like Blatt, the others look like?

Another mixed bag of makers

This Alden label looks like a Spiegel and looks beautiful. The Spiegel jackets I've owned are very fine jackets in leather and fit. That is me pictured above. All the Spiegel's I've owned had the size in the coin pocket, each one fit about a size above the label.

I've thought the Spiegel were east coast jackets. I also have a Spiegel aviator that is unlike most catalog Aviators I have seen.

These Spiegel's are early 50s zippers and pre nylon liniing. The leather is very soft.

 

[jeo]

I have never seen a Alden Jewel jacket for sale. This is the only picture of a "real" one I have seen. What would one bring?

My buddy from Japan has had his for sale for like two years asking an exorbitant amount of money. It’s not selling.

https://buyee.jp/mercari/item/m44327361913?mrc1=mer&mrc2=item&mrc3=banner_link_pd&rc=mer_item_pd&utm_source=mer&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=item_pd

If this jacket was on auction I’d bet it goes over $1000 but probably not over $1500 (unless someone from Japan sees it as I do believe they’d fetch more over there than here)

This is one amazing jacket! This one looks like new. I can't define that red lining, Nylon?, Wool?

View attachment 739658

This unlabeled jacket with the red lining and studs is NOT an Alden/Aldencrest.

You can tell the 4 spotted beads were added later (zoom onto the epaulette) the details don’t match up either. Back is wrong, collar is wrong and the Alden and Speigel jackets consistently feature a high coin pocket which jacket does not have.

 

[tmitchell59]

My buddy from Japan has had his for sale for like two years asking an exorbitant amount of money. It’s not selling.

Wow! too small for me! a bit too much too!

If this jacket was on auction I’d bet it goes over $1000 but probably not over $1500 (unless someone from Japan sees it as I do believe they’d fetch more over there than here)

I'd give $1500 for clean one in my size, 42/44! Now one will show up on ebay and call my bluff!

This unlabeled jacket with the red lining and studs is NOT an Alden/Aldencrest.

You can tell the 4 spotted beads were added later (zoom onto the epaulette) the details don’t match up either. Back is wrong, collar is wrong and the Alden and Speigel jackets consistently feature a high coin pocket which jacket does not have.

Do you think that is aftermarket work on that jacket, trying to copy the Alden? It is a very different jacket than the Alden.

I bought that Blatt you identified in the thread. I will post it in the Blatt thread. It is an interesting jacket.