Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Aero oil pull

Bunyip

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,069
Location
Australia
Hi guys,
Ive been offered a 2nd hand half belt in mint condition. I think it is the oil pull leather. There seems to be quite a variation of the texture over the years with this offering. The jacket is overseas, so am unable to feel the texture, or get a decent real life look. The owner says it feels like suede. I'm wondering how this will age? Does it get darker/ lighter? Will it stain?
I have included a couple of pics. Any help would be much appreciated, it looks very interesting, and for once, the measurements add up. I need to move on it fairly quickly. Last time I sat on my hands for a night, and it was gone before I woke up!Cheers.
image.jpg
image.jpg
 

Sloan1874

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,418
Location
Glasgow
I would say that the texture is closer to nubuck than suede. It's one of those leathers takes on character really quickly, I guess it's the equivalent of unstained wood with a clear varnish on it.
Actually, Aero have this to say on it: "Vintage 'Oil Pull Up' Horsehide, a leather stuffed with natural oils and waxes during the tanning process before being sealed under a clear top finish which lets all the character of the hide show through whilst allowing subtle natural variations in shade to develop as the jacket moulds to the wearers figure. The "Natural" way to a vintage Horsehide A2, these A2s are going to look magnificent in a year or two's time, we can tell that from seeing old A2s made in the early 90's in the Oil Pull Steerhide, we've never had one of these back as a trade in!
"You will note this jacket appears duller than in the close up shot. That is the nature of the beast, all Aniline type finishes vary from hide to hide, what we are showing is probably the two extremes of shininess and dullness, although, with wear, all these jackets eventually wear to a flatter duller finish with masses of stunning patina and deep shading over the years."
 
Last edited:
Messages
16,483
Bunyip, my first Aero was a black oil pull HH. It does feel slightly suede-ish - or yes, more like nubuck, as Sloan says - compared to the standard stuff, now that you've mentioned it. It's very pliable but also very... substantial leather. Has a kind of meaty quality to it, difficult to explain. As for the colour, the jacket was considerably lighter than any regular FQHH Aero I've had, bordering with gray. Anyway, perhaps you'll find some use of this: http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab227/DogLizard/MC/DSCN0486_resize_zps49ed9df3.jpg
I've taken a plenty of hi-res photos of it, plenty of close ups :D so just keep clicking left for more photos and don't forget to click the magnifying glass as the pictures are quite large.
 

Fanch

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,490
Location
Texas
I have gone through the same thing as you trying to decide about oil pulled HH, and HD was tremendous help as he has a HB with oil pulled HH. He also described the suede like feel and look after broken in. If "for once, the measurements add up" and the price is right ... ;)
 

Bunyip

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,069
Location
Australia
Cheers guys, it looks quite nice, I just don't need something that will stain easily. I've never really considered the oils pull apart from some of the darker, "greasier" chocolate coloured ones I've seen.
I'm still bitter twisted about missing a teamster 6 months ago, perfect measurements, unworn, cordovan with a few custom bits. Had the money on me at the time, slept on it, was super pumped, and it was gone in 5 hours( I don't sleep much)..this is a different jacket than I have been planning, but at half the price of a new one, I might just jump on it.
Any other advice or pics of well worn oil pull will be much appreciated.
Thanks guys, have a cracking Christmas won't you? It's 8.30 am Xmas morn here, trying to get fired up for Xmas lunch with the relatives and about 20 spoilt brats....I have a carton of beer on ice, that should help considerably.
 

Fanch

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,490
Location
Texas
Bunyip, if you cruise old threads and posts of HD, you can probably find pics of him wearing his Aero oil pull HB.
 

Bunyip

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,069
Location
Australia
Yes, I would be tempted. A very unique hide.
Sloan do you know if it will stain like nubuck, how will it cope in the rain? I know they are tough hides, I just know nought about them, as I've always had my eye on others hides. Cheers.
 

Sloan1874

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,418
Location
Glasgow
Not sure, tbh. My experience with aniline leather, a russet buffalo A-2, is that it will absorb rain but it dries without staining, though over time it will darken generally.
 
Messages
15,563
Location
East Central Indiana
However...Aero's oil pull leather has differed over the years...with the newest lacking such a suedy or nubuck finish..but a smoother grainy hide which I prefer.
HD

PS..Mark Moye (at the time)advised me not to use any kind of leather dressing on that nappy type of finish..or even wetting it to shape since that could blotch or ruin the finish.
 
Last edited:

Plumbline

One Too Many
Messages
1,271
Location
UK
I've had 2 or three in this type of leather ( an Indy and a highwayman from Aero and a drifter from Alexanders) all three I darkened with renapur with no ill effects and the resultant finish was really durable and highly resistant to wetting and staining.

Overall it's much closer to unbuckle than suede and the suede finish " polished off" in a relatively short time on the entry to pockets, collar and cuffs and high wear spots. Looked pretty cool and well worn and was a nice soft pliable leather much more wearable than FQHH from the off.

I'd happily buy another ... But I'd treat it and lose the suede effect ( which I got bored with very quickly )
 

djgo-cat-go

Practically Family
Messages
905
Location
Netherlands
I only have two leather jackets.. My aero A2 is oil pull hh, i bought it 6 or 7 years ago.. i never treated the leather with anything. At first I was not sure if i liked the leather so much, it indeed had a rubbery feel, very substantial but pliable. Not really grainy leather, very smooth. I have come to like it more and more, and right now, i would really recommend it. Sloan quoted the description for aero oil pull hh, and this was the description that made me 'pull' the trigger on this type of leather.. I hope my pictures will be of help to you:

IMG_0682.JPG
IMG_0683.JPG
IMG_0681.JPG
IMG_0680.JPG
IMG_0679.JPG

I never was too much worried about being in the rain, it actually holds up very well in the rain.. I never worried to much about staining... as you can see there are some darker markings especially on the right frontpanel.. they were there after the first couple of wear sessions.. Offcourse, it made my heart sink into my shoes at first, but now i think it contributes to the character of the jacket.. The combination of shiny area's and duller parts really make this jacket a looker in my opinion. People are generally very impressed by this jacket still..
 
Last edited:

oneterrifichog

Practically Family
Messages
863
Location
Signal Mountain, TN
I had a Aero Stockman in Oil Pulled Horse about 6 years ago. This looks like the same type of Horsehide. It wore very well and held it's shape but you have to be careful with it. For example if you drive long distances take it off and throw it in the back seat (wrinkles and dents in the elbows). Don't spill food or coffee on it and stay out of anything other than a mild rain. It is not suede but it is not FQHH by a long shot. I kept it for about a year then sold it on the bay. This jacket has been on ebay for awhile and even though it looks great be aware that you can either just wear the crap out of it and get a nice patina real quick or you can fuss over it to keep it looking good.
 

Bunyip

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,069
Location
Australia
Hog man and HD, I'm grateful for the heads up. I run pubs for a living, and spill rum for a hobby. In between I tiptoe through letters from the bank and pay $10 a week off my bike mechanics bill. I don't need a fragile jacket. I've scrapped up enough for a j 106 and and a teamster, I thought I might have snagged a deal and let the teamster go. I think I'm better off just paying a bit extra and getting what I want.
 

pawineguy

One Too Many
Messages
1,974
Location
Bucks County, PA
Hog man and HD, I'm grateful for the heads up. I run pubs for a living, and spill rum for a hobby. In between I tiptoe through letters from the bank and pay $10 a week off my bike mechanics bill. I don't need a fragile jacket. I've scrapped up enough for a j 106 and and a teamster, I thought I might have snagged a deal and let the teamster go. I think I'm better off just paying a bit extra and getting what I want.

Every time I have jumped at something quickly when I wasn't 100% sure I ended up selling it soon after.
 

Fanch

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,490
Location
Texas
... on the other hand if the measurements and price are right, the oil pull jacket could be a winner. I bought an Aero Bronco A-2 in russet jerky MWHH that fits like a glove, has great patina, and is my not cold weather go to jacket that I grab on the fly. You never know. [huh]
 

Forum statistics

Threads
107,283
Messages
3,033,023
Members
52,748
Latest member
R_P_Meldner
Top