Very early Aero m/c jacket with Ailee zips and printed label: date?

[Rev-O]

 

[Rev-O]

Sorry, haven't post here for ages and seem to have forgotten how!

There should be text which says:

Hello!

Mostly a lurker here but I’m looking for information on an Aero m/c jacket with Ailee zips and printed label. It looks like Connolly steerhide and is very lovely, although I’m not 100% sure it suits me so it may have to go (NB this is not a stealth sales post).

A quick search found a couple of threads but nothing recent.

This one from 10 years ago:

“The Aero Motorcycle Jacket ( following the 1987 commission from Tussauds ) became something of an icon .... however Aero was making M/C jackets before 1987 but few ever come up in good condition. This one has the early 1980's ( Plane Bike & Car) printed ( not woven) label WITHOUT the "Made In Scotland" line and French "Ailee" zipper which places it 1984 or 5 ... given that Aero only commenced in Business in 1981 it's a very early MC jacket indeed.”

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/30-year-old-aero-m-c-jacket-44-more-like-a-46.78860/

Holly from Aero has said:


“The Ailee zips, which were superb quality, were used from 1985 and along with Talon from 1986 onwards until Ailee went out of business around 1987.”

and

“We've been making Bike Jackets since 1984 but this one is several years later, and actually the Ailee zippers were regularly used between 85 and 87, with the odd ones still being fitted as late as 1989.

As for the label, this was Aero’s third cloth label, following the original text only label and the first Globe label. The “Car, Bike & Plane” label was based on graphics found on an old Oil Can and re-designed by Ken and Joy Summers in 1987 a few months after the Madame Tussauds jacket was commissioned.”

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...-old-aero-motorcycle-jacket-looks-like.78848/

So, what say ye? Does it look OK to you? @Hide'n'seek might know?

 

[AeroFan_07]

Yes, looks quite legit! Nice find there.

 

[RDS]

From the photos the jacket does appear to be made from Connolly leather and all the information needed to fairly accurately date it is in those old posts and threads.

As Aero Leather have said they used Ailee zips from 1985 to possibly as late as 1989 and their ‘Car, Bike and Plane’ label was created in 1987 it would suggest this jacket dates from somewhere between 1987 and 1989.

 

[Rev-O]

Thanks chaps. I've had Highwaymen in the past (and, yes, that sounds like the opening line of a Country & Western song) but I find the body just a tad too short. This one has, I think, an even shorter hemline (there's another C&W song for you) but looks better because it's meant to. (It's like the difference between a pair of 3/4 length trousers or plus fours vs a normal pair of pants that look like they should have an extra inch or two on the legs. My short torso I guess)

I also really like the deep bi-swing back (is that the right term? Shoulder gussets anyway) which isn't a feature on the HWM.

Now a question: would it be bad of me to add a popper to the the belt to keep the buckle from swinging down? (I thought a simple press stud on the far side of the loop, then fold the belt over and it will stay up and out of the way.)

 

[Hide'n'seek]

Sorry, haven't post here for ages and seem to have forgotten how!

There should be text which says:

Hello!

Mostly a lurker here but I’m looking for information on an Aero m/c jacket with Ailee zips and printed label. It looks like Connolly steerhide and is very lovely, although I’m not 100% sure it suits me so it may have to go (NB this is not a stealth sales post).

A quick search found a couple of threads but nothing recent.

This one from 10 years ago:

“The Aero Motorcycle Jacket ( following the 1987 commission from Tussauds ) became something of an icon .... however Aero was making M/C jackets before 1987 but few ever come up in good condition. This one has the early 1980's ( Plane Bike & Car) printed ( not woven) label WITHOUT the "Made In Scotland" line and French "Ailee" zipper which places it 1984 or 5 ... given that Aero only commenced in Business in 1981 it's a very early MC jacket indeed.”

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/30-year-old-aero-m-c-jacket-44-more-like-a-46.78860/

Holly from Aero has said:


“The Ailee zips, which were superb quality, were used from 1985 and along with Talon from 1986 onwards until Ailee went out of business around 1987.”

and

“We've been making Bike Jackets since 1984 but this one is several years later, and actually the Ailee zippers were regularly used between 85 and 87, with the odd ones still being fitted as late as 1989.

As for the label, this was Aero’s third cloth label, following the original text only label and the first Globe label. The “Car, Bike & Plane” label was based on graphics found on an old Oil Can and re-designed by Ken and Joy Summers in 1987 a few months after the Madame Tussauds jacket was commissioned.”

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...-old-aero-motorcycle-jacket-looks-like.78848/

So, what say ye? Does it look OK to you? @Hide'n'seek might know?

Nice example there, cracking condition.

Can really add more than what info you have already. I agree jacket from late 80's ( 87-89 ) and yes it will be Connolly cow hide.

Great score there.

 

[Rev-O]

Well that has just made my day! Thanks @Hide'n'seek. I bought it from a seller in Glasgow -- maybe it's not travelled far from your workshop? And it looks like it's spent most of its 35 or 40 years unworn but stored safely. A little lint in the pockets but no holes, tears, scratches or marks anywhere. Butter soft and pleasantly heavy.

 

[RDS]

Now a question: would it be bad of me to add a popper to the the belt to keep the buckle from swinging down? (I thought a simple press stud on the far side of the loop, then fold the belt over and it will stay up and out of the way.)

Obviously it’s your jacket and you can do whatever you want with it, however I can’t see why adding a popper to the belt would cause any issues.
Although I would certainly spend some time trying to find a popper which is a good match with those already on the jacket; and if all done properly this shouldn’t really devalue it if you ever decide to sell it at some point in the future.

 

[Monitor]

Recently I bought a Aero from the same era, with the same zipper & in the same leather and that stuff is infinitely superior to the CXL. The jacket was nearly 50 years old, yet even though worn a lot, condition of the leather promised at least another 380 years of heavy use. I like CXL but I understand it less and less.