PSA: Sears catalogs online for vintage jacket ads

• Nov 20, 2019

• #1

Gamma68

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From now until Jan 2, 2020, historic Sears catalogs from 1896-1993 are available online for FREE via Ancestry.com. The catalogs are searchable. This is a fabulous way to research when certain jacket models became available, what they cost, what materials were used, when the models changed, etc.

This should be of keen interest to people like @tmitchell59 and others into Hercules/Oakbrook, etc. jackets.

Online here (I believe you need to sign up for a free Ancestry.com account):
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1670/?o_lid=103459&o_sch=Email+Campaigns&o_xid=103459

I did a quick search and learned my split cowhide coat could be purchased in 1978 for $89.

Here are some Hercules models from Fall 1950:

Happy searching...

 

• Nov 20, 2019

• #2

Gamma68

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Fall 1955. Cool belt. Apparently, lucky rabbit's foot not included.

 

• Nov 20, 2019

• #3

robrinay

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Thank goodness I checked back to your post to see the page number of the jackets. My ten minutes of searching only came up with gloves, gadgets, kids clothes and finally ladies lingerie (170) in the Spring 47 catalogue I checked

 

• Nov 20, 2019

• #4

Guppy

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Cleveland, OH

Man, I wish I had $17.90.

 

• Nov 21, 2019

• #5

Boyo

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Long Island NY

I can remember leafing through the sears catalogue as a kid... I skipped over the leather jacket section to get to the toy section though... if I only knew.

 

• Nov 21, 2019

• #6

tmitchell59

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Thanks for this great resource!! I've been downloading pictures for the last hour. I just bought a late 30s wool Hercules coat.

Very interesting.

 

• Nov 21, 2019

• #7

Gamma68

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tmitchell59 said:

Thanks for this great resource!! I've been downloading pictures for the last hour. I just bought a late 30s wool Hercules coat.

Very interesting.

Click to expand...

I knew you’d dig this resource.

 

• Nov 21, 2019

• #8

handymike

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Thank you, these are great!

 

• Nov 21, 2019

• #9

Gamma68

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handymike said:

Thank you, these are great!

Click to expand...

It’s a fantastic resource for dating vintage Sears jackets or for checking out the styles that were available in certain eras.

 

• Nov 21, 2019

• #10

Gamma68

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By the way, according to an inflation calculator, my split cowhide rancher that cost $89 in 1978 would cost $351.29 today.

The $27.95 FQHH motorcycle jacket from 1950 would cost $298.46.

 

• Nov 21, 2019

• #11

Mich486

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Interesting! These jackets were quite expensive back then. Proportionally current Sears leather jackets are much cheaper!


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• Nov 21, 2019

• #12

tmitchell59

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on my back sick, but downloading. Should be able to get all the leather/wool jacket pages. Nice look into the evolution of outerwear fashion.

too tired to elaborate.

 

• Nov 21, 2019

• #13

Gamma68

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Fall 1933:

Fall 1949:

 

• Nov 22, 2019

• #14

tmitchell59

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1931 First mention of the Zipper in the Outerwear section

 

• Nov 22, 2019

• #15

AeroFan_07

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tmitchell59 said:

on my back sick, but downloading. Should be able to get all the leather/wool jacket pages. Nice look into the evolution of outerwear fashion.

too tired to elaborate.

Click to expand...

Hoe you get feeling better soon Terry!!

That $27.50 Horsehide Motorcycle jacket ($3.00 down) was and is sure tempting. 5 lbs and 11 ounces. Humm, works out to roughly around 3.0 oz for a size 44 perhaps.

 

• Nov 22, 2019

• #16

dudewuttheheck

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That's a great resource! I wish it was permanent

 

• Nov 22, 2019

• #17

regius

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New York

One thing I want to say is very few of these vintage jackets In the drawn catalogues has the Peacoat type of collar shape, but all Aero jacket have the same collar design & neck hole. All actual vintage jackets I’ve had also never once had the round, peacoat shaped collar, they are all pointed & spread out on some way.


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