Recent content by John Warr

I don't have a "before and after" but I have a couple of pictures of the strap area showing the "made good" and the new straps - and no old stitch holes or other witness marks from original straps. (I am not a photographer)

Anyone ever seen a "strapless" B3 ? We have one in from a client at the minute - yes, we are still working :-) - which has no sign of original waist straps. No sign at all. At some point in it's life, someone has RIVETED a pair of straps on there which we have removed & made good but that gave...

I use one of these. But I appear to have 8 or 9 :)

If anyone comes across a source of those buckles (even at a not-so-reasonable price) I think I would have half a dozen.

Thanks Thanks Andy, the date is as I thought - just as the Lightning supply dried up. Strange that the Clix zip is two-way. The jacket is simply not long enough to need that feature. I am convinced that I once found a web page with good pictures of vintage jackets - probably belonging to a...

We just had this land on our work bench. The owner has had it since the early 1970s (he took it in exchange for a top-end rebuild on a Norton Dominator). It is in fabulous condition. The zip is a 2-way Clix (and looks original) but the pocket zips are all 5 ball Lightnings. The sleeve linings...

Damnation. It appears to be AWOL from their site. Anyone have a copy I can beg ? I have a naked slouch in need of one. :-)

Oh look. Another one with LOOOONG sleeves. 5" too long. What is that all about ? The customer is not a particularly strange shape. :-)

I have probably posted this link before. The subject matter is heavily biased towards motorcycle leathers with a bit of info on flying kit...and I own to having an interest - it is strictly our personal view... http://www.bysonleather.co.uk/BYSON%20LEATHER%20AboutLeathers.htm

You are quite right, bags tend to get away with it - although we have seen a couple of big cases for brass instruments where they have failed - and both times on the curve- It is on people that they tend to go. Such awkward shapes, and not always that careful. Damn them :)

We see the two zip thing on 1 piece race suits. Some riders like them. Those zips are usually straight though. This is because zips do not like being curved. Might just get away with it with nylon coil zips which are a bit more tolerant but we see a lot of failed metal tooth zips where they are...

Speaking as a wearer of motorcycle jackets I would say that simplicity is your friend. Seams and stitch lines are weak points. WHEN you come off, not IF you come off, simplicity makes good quality repairs easier (read cheaper) and good construction should limit the amount of damage to the...

Frankly it is not easy to say from pictures. It looks as if there is a lot of spare above the elbows however, so I would GUESS that the sleeves are a tad long. Don't get them shortened from the bottom if they do turn out inconveniently long. It usually means shortening the zip which rarely...

We have just had one in to alter (shorten sleeves). As a fashion jacket you get what you pay for. Or less. If you were thinking about riding a motorcycle in one, I would advise agin' it. Monitor has it about right.

No.Just NO. You will never stretch a leather jacket by any appreciable amount in a controlled way. If you are stuck with it you have two choices. You can sell it on or have it professionally altered. That is about your lot.