Finding Trojan Sportswear Company 1932

[Biff42]

You posting that ad made me remember this jacket. It was on eBay. Too big for me but I sent it to my friend in Japan and he now owns this jacket (unless he sold it). It was always said that Trojan disappeared sometime in the late 50’s so that ad being from 1957 makes sense.

I found ads for Trojan dating back to 1961, just an FYI on their timeline.

 

[jeo]

I found ads for Trojan dating back to 1961, just an FYI on their timeline.

Can you please post them?

 

[Biff42]

Can you please post them?

The other ads are pretty short and disappointing:

From The Southwest Wave​

Thu, Dec 29, 1960 ·Page 59

The Southwest Wave​

Thu, Nov 12, 1959 ·Page 34

Third file from 1961 with date and small ad. Look under dress making furs (section 17).
AD
AD
AD
Trojan also advertised in motorcycle magazines for their motorcycle-specific jackets. I guess with the few ads I found, I was surprised to see that they did much more than MC jackets.

 

[Biff42]

By 1963, that Crenshaw location was under another name. I think Trojan went out in 1961.

 

[Biff42]

1958 yellow pages:

 

[Biff42]

Hey guys, I originally envisioned this as an FL article, but I'm just posting it here for the knowledge base, and before I forget. I was limited to 10 images, so I am doing a PDF versus multiple posts. Please enjoy, as this took me several hours of "digging in the crates" to get.

This is information on who was behind Trojan Leather.

 

[Biff42]

Many thanks @DaveProc , for the additional information on the Trojan timeline at 420 S. Main Street that he added as comments to my Trojan Article.

Armed with this information, I looked through the early 1940s address directories for that address and found this listing for a Joseph and Sophie Schwartz.

I did some digging in Ancestry for a Joseph Schwartz and found some excellent information. Firstly, Joseph Schwartz's 1942 draft card lists the 420 S. Main Street address as his employment address:

Next, his immigration and naturalization form lists his profession as a manufacturer and, remarkably, includes his photo.




Finally, a 1950 US census listing has his occupation as a leather jacket manufacturer:

With this new information, I believe Joseph Schwartz was the man who started Trojan Leather and that he sold the company to William and Rose Cox and retired either in the early or mid-50s when he was in his early 60's.

Sometimes putting things like this out on a forum like Fedora Lounge is tough because your initial assumptions were wrong or not fully informed. Despite that, I'm always happy to get to the truth.

 

[DaveProc]

Many thanks @DaveProc , for the additional information on the Trojan timeline at 420 S. Main Street that he added as comments to my Trojan Article.

Armed with this information, I looked through the early 1940s address directories for that address and found this listing for a Joseph and Sophie Schwartz.

I did some digging in Ancestry for a Joseph Schwartz and found some excellent information. Firstly, Joseph Schwartz's 1942 draft card lists the 420 S. Main Street address as his employment address:

Next, his immigration and naturalization form lists his profession as a manufacturer and, remarkably, includes his photo.

View attachment 752051


Finally, a 1950 US census listing has his occupation as a leather jacket manufacturer:

With this new information, I believe Joseph Schwartz was the man who started Trojan Leather and that he sold the company to William and Rose Cox and retired either in the early or mid-50s when he was in his early 60's.

Sometimes putting things like this out on a forum like Fedora Lounge is tough because your initial assumptions were wrong or not fully informed. Despite that, I'm always happy to get to the truth.

Anytime.

 

[tmitchell59]

Sometimes putting things like this out on a forum like Fedora Lounge is tough because your initial assumptions were wrong or not fully informed. Despite that, I'm always happy to get to the truth.

You have done well in your seeking information. Seeking the truth is not an easy task, which some people have no patience for.

There is more information here on Trojan, and many other companies, then you will find in any book or online resource I have found.

I love it, good Job! Keep it up.

 

[Biff42]

You have done well in your seeking information. Seeking the truth is not an easy task, which some people have no patience for.

There is more information here on Trojan, and many other companies, then you will find in any book or online resource I have found.

I love it, good Job! Keep it up.

Thanks Terry.

As a side note, I think any Trojan Reproduction should now be called the Schwartz, lol, JK.

 

[bugggywhip]

Heyo fellow leather jacket nerds! I’ve enjoyed occasionally tuning in and out of the fedora lounge for the past 14 years or so—more or less as a ****** and an occasional buyer—but I figure it’s about right time I humbly contribute in some way worth my salt. Here are some pretty neat Trojan jackets that have passed through my care, or are currently in my collection :

 

[bugggywhip]

 

[Biff42]

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Wow, those are in amazing shape.

 

[tmitchell59]

Heyo fellow leather jacket nerds! I’ve enjoyed occasionally tuning in and out of the fedora lounge for the past 14 years or so—more or less as a ****** and an occasional buyer—but I figure it’s about right time I humbly contribute in some way worth my salt. Here are some pretty neat Trojan jackets that have passed through my care, or are currently in my collection :

Glad you decided to land! Thanks for sharing your collection. I noticed you have more to post and certainly encourage your efforts.

This is one of the many informative threads on TFL. You have added a great deal and I hope you continue your efforts.

I forgot to add this Ladies Trojan.

 

[bugggywhip]

Glad you decided to land! Thanks for sharing your collection. I noticed you have more to post and certainly encourage your efforts.

This is one of the many informative threads on TFL. You have added a great deal and I hope you continue your efforts.

I forgot to add this Ladies Trojan.

View attachment 774400 View attachment 774401 View attachment 774402 View attachment 774403 View attachment 774404

Glad to be here and to contribute to a sharing community! Looking forward to making it more of a regular stop . Really cool women’s jacket here Terry! Haven’t seen a Trojan like that before!

 

[tmitchell59]

Haven’t seen a Trojan like that before!

What can you tell me about the other Trojan I posted?