Vintage Outerwear: Threads of the Past

[Leigh H]

Here's a pocket design you don't see very often on motorcycle jackets, i've collected a few examples.

This design makes so much sense while riding motorbike. Just like the easy access you have with a D-pocket design, you access the pockets with the opposite hand.

Let me know if you've a seen any other jackets with this pocket design.

View attachment 749791


View attachment 749779 View attachment 749780 View attachment 749782 View attachment 749778

another example, this is a starglove.

 

[Pandemic]

Vacation reading. I’m enjoying the writing style and learning a few things, but I think most members here won’t find a lot of new material here - just a fun review of what we all know.

 

[AHP91]

Resurrecting an old advertisement previously posted

 

[BizzAnt]

Saw this guy on the bay yesterday. It was sold before I even clicked on it. Awesome jacket!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187937634880

 

[AHP91]

Sears Topline suede with wartime V Talon zipper. These V zipper were often matched with the sunrise stop box or the new box with Talon down the middle.


View attachment 729830 View attachment 729831 View attachment 729834 View attachment 729835 View attachment 729836 View attachment 729837

Sears Topline Aviator in goatskin arrived today. Looks like this one was the largest size offered, $16.75.

 

[tmitchell59]

Nice! California Sportswear. They may have made all the Toplines. They didn't last long. I've seen a few Topline that are not in the catalog pages I have seen.

I've never seen this model outside the catalog.

What is the zipper?

 

[AHP91]

Nice! California Sportswear. They may have made all the Toplines. They didn't last long. I've seen a few Topline that are not in the catalog pages I have seen.

I've never seen this model outside the catalog.

What is the zipper?

No zipper - concealed button closure

 

[tmitchell59]

No zipper - concealed button closure View attachment 763068

should have read the description better! The condition is decent? I've had a lot of goatskin jackets and they can get crisp. Doubt you will seen another model like this. Great find and a pleasure to see.

 

[AHP91]

should have read the description better! The condition is decent? I've had a lot of goatskin jackets and they can get crisp. Doubt you will seen another model like this. Great find and a pleasure to see.

The jacket has clearly been stored with some creases, and the rayon lining is tattered as usual, however the leather remains strong. I feel that this one will look better once it is brought back to life a bit. Took a bit of a gamble (with a return option available), but I was pleasantly surprised with the leather condition.

 

[NAB]

I missed this Appalachian by seconds the other day but posting here as I don't see many of them around and it appears to be essentially NOS condition with the original sales tag.

www.ebay.com/itm/336409124019

 

[hieu]

I missed this Appalachian by seconds the other day but posting here as I don't see many of them around and it appears to be essentially NOS condition with the original sales tag.

www.ebay.com/itm/336409124019


View attachment 765630
View attachment 765631

Wow actually mint. The tag is super cool!

 

[hieu]

Some better pics of the Levi's Speedway Reversible

 

[tmitchell59]

I missed this Appalachian by seconds the other day but posting here as I don't see many of them around and it appears to be essentially NOS condition with the original sales tag.

www.ebay.com/itm/336409124019


View attachment 765630
View attachment 765631

I've never seen an Appalachian in this stye. The hang tag is an interesting edition!

Appalachian had war time contracts for horsehide gloves during WWII. During the 50s they were a major producer for Sears Roebuck. They made a variety of styles under various Sears label, Hercules, Oakbrook, Fieldmaster. They were sold at a lower price point as they were competing with Roughwear Clothing, California Sportswear, products in the Sears line up.

Note they only say Horsehide, never front quarter horsehide. My impression from handling Appalachian jackets, they used less quality leather than the other makers of the time.

I see more Sears labeled Appalachian jackets than their own label. Producing for Sears was probably a focus during the 50s. They went on to become Taylors leather wear and still produce and sell under that name.

 

[tmitchell59]

Some better pics of the Levi's Speedway Reversible
View attachment 766809

View attachment 766810
View attachment 766811
View attachment 766812

View attachment 766816

I love reversible jackets and this is a fine example. Reversible jackets are hard enough to find, let alone in fine condition with a Levi label. Nice one to see.

I've got a couple of reversibles I will have to post.

 

[tmitchell59]

I have a appalachian catalog from 1963. The change to taylor's leatherwear.It must have happened shortly after this.

This jacket would be an early taylor's leatherwear. Probably mid 60s. It is a quality jacket.

 

[NAB]

I've never seen an Appalachian in this stye. The hang tag is an interesting edition!

Appalachian had war time contracts for horsehide gloves during WWII. During the 50s they were a major producer for Sears Roebuck. They made a variety of styles under various Sears label, Hercules, Oakbrook, Fieldmaster. They were sold at a lower price point as they were competing with Roughwear Clothing, California Sportswear, products in the Sears line up.

Note they only say Horsehide, never front quarter horsehide. My impression from handling Appalachian jackets, they used less quality leather than the other makers of the time.

I see more Sears labeled Appalachian jackets than their own label. Producing for Sears was probably a focus during the 50s. They went on to become Taylors leather wear and still produce and sell under that name.

Really interesting, thank you. Sad to have missed that one, even at lesser quality it would have been quite a deal and the Appalachians I've seen I've liked the look of. I'm still in search of one of the map pocket cross zips, do you happen to know if Taylor's ever made the same pattern?

 

[tmitchell59]

Really interesting, thank you. Sad to have missed that one, even at lesser quality it would have been quite a deal and the Appalachians I've seen I've liked the look of. I'm still in search of one of the map pocket cross zips, do you happen to know if Taylor's ever made the same pattern?

I would have bought that jacket you posted. Just look more closely at the Appalachians. they are often interesting/unique jackets. Taylors made a jacket like the map pocket, without the map pocket.

They made many of the leather sport jackets for Sears Oakbrook label in the early 60s. They produced the same jacket with Sears and Appalachian labels.

I will post some of my Appalachian jackets.

 

[AHP91]

Really interesting, thank you. Sad to have missed that one, even at lesser quality it would have been quite a deal and the Appalachians I've seen I've liked the look of. I'm still in search of one of the map pocket cross zips, do you happen to know if Taylor's ever made the same pattern?

first edition map pocket i passed on a little while back, the fit didn't really do it for me but it's one of the coolest looking jackets I've come across

 

[tmitchell59]

This jacket is posted in the early 60s Sears catalog. This example has the Appalachian label and the typical leather tag.

This is an Appalachian with Oakbrook label

 

[tmitchell59]

first edition map pocket i passed on a little while back, the fit didn't really do it for me but it's one of the coolest looking jackets I've come across

Late 40s. The earliest I've seen this with a Sears label is 1951. It remained in the Appalachian catalog in 1963. I've only seen a few with the Appalachian label, most had the Hercules or Fieldmaster label.