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Lewis Leathers / LL Cowhide

Tom71

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,462
Location
Europe
Above is my size 42 Lightning; below my size 44 Dominator. I am 5’11“ with a 42“ chest.

Sleeve- and Bodylenght is virtually identical in both jackets. The Dominator ist slightly roomier in the chest, but 42 was way to tight and almost comically short.

I love both, and this thread made me sport the Dominator for three days now.

4F75A20B-3EFE-489E-BD1F-21CF5775737B.jpeg

2E2AB5F3-9E96-4594-9A65-B7CD5A8B067A.jpeg

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AF9CE4FB-38E8-407D-860F-0DC2C44119A3.jpeg
 

Tom71

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,462
Location
Europe
@Tom71 - which leathers are those jackets? fit on both is spot on.

Thanks much! I can only return the compliment!

Both are the standard horsehide. The Lightning is a few years old, and the hide is actually rather nice. The Dominator is new and has the 2019 batch of horsehide. Not the most impressive, I have to say.
 

regius

My Mail is Forwarded Here
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3,299
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New York
Here I did some abrasion tests. The regular black sheep (also come in two other brown colors), is the least resistant, surface scraped off from draggin on cement. This is expected, but hardly we drag ourselves hard on the ground right? Otherwise fingernail scratching doesn’t hurt it. So, it’s feminine and spongy and soft and good enough for daily wear. The Rutland is more dense and resistant. I’m gonna get one made in that.
 

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regius

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3,299
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as far as my sample stack is concerned, the green sheep is thick and firm, the rutland is like cow, the navy sheep, ranch sheep, frousac sheep are like deerhide...
 

Edward

Bartender
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24,789
Location
London, UK
They've just never excited me the way some other jackets have. It's simple subjective attraction. I could perhaps get to like the Dominator (I like chest pockets) but I would want it to wear it slightly loose.

Sounds like you end up back at the Highwayman.... THe original Aero Higwayman way back in 83 started out with a Rivett's of London Highwayman branded jacket (now replicated faithfully as the Original 59er Highwayman), but it was adapted slightly to make it fit a bit boxier and thus look closer to the American jackets of that style from the late 50s.

Was about to say. To me, nobody else makes this classic jacket look and fit as good. Except for maybe Aero with the 59'er. ;)

Lewis were the original copyists on that one.... the Rivett's Of London Highwayman branded version of this style - faithfully replicated as the Original 59er by Aero nowadays - was a popular version of an established style already by 1959; Lewis are the better known brand nowadays, but their straight zip / shirt collar models as they now exist were not released until 1962.
 

regius

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3,299
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New York
Between a Lewis and the Aero 59er, as far as Rivets' concerned, I'd go for the Lewis. Aero's is just too Highwayman-ish, and the placement of the cuff zipper is wrong, even though it's their choice. It takes away the look. Also, the boxy mid section on the 59er wouldn't be any better than the Dominator, not to mention low armhole.
 

regius

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New York
and the collar, sure, the 59er has the correct construction but its size and height still not right, Lewis' collar is really cool
 
Messages
10,989
Location
SoCal
Lewis' collar shape is better than Aero's standard shape. The collar is Aero's biggest downfall, but some of their specialty shapes are better. I haven't yet seen a Seabiscuit, but I have hope that someone will show us.
00B68A2E-90DF-4B2F-9C17-2F7ED1B4EBAA.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Messages
16,476
The collar is Aero's biggest downfall, but some of their specialty shapes are better.
View attachment 228090

Yeah, definitely.

Their regular collar, the kind that's curved toward the inside, is lame. It's what was bothering me the most on my HWM. No matter how many fun details you spec, the collar alone is killing the entire jacket. Then again, the premier line collars are all brilliant. Best one they've made was on Ton's blue jacket.
 

nick123

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,365
Location
California
Here I did some abrasion tests. The regular black sheep (also come in two other brown colors), is the least resistant, surface scraped off from draggin on cement. This is expected, but hardly we drag ourselves hard on the ground right? Otherwise fingernail scratching doesn’t hurt it. So, it’s feminine and spongy and soft and good enough for daily wear. The Rutland is more dense and resistant. I’m gonna get one made in that.

for some reason your last sample scratch looks like a human head.

A6D55AE9-71AD-481E-A174-B71F5EFE3B86.jpeg


Looks like it could be an abstract form of Iggy Pop, circa 1970-ish

EAC0C00B-ACB7-4FC7-8E83-362A2D470D76.jpeg
 
Messages
10,989
Location
SoCal
Yeah, definitely.

Their regular collar, the kind that's curved toward the inside, is lame. It's what was bothering me the most on my HWM. No matter how many fun details you spec, the collar alone is killing the entire jacket. Then again, the premier line collars are all brilliant. Best one they've made was on Ton's blue jacket.
That's what sold me on the Premier Highwayman, but it could be larger all around. It still thins out to the August size around the back, like a spearpoint shirt-collar. The Seabiscuit is the only one that looks to maintain it's "fullness" @360º. A vintage Hercules collar I have is 3.5” tall at the back.
image.jpg
The Premier Highwayman is only 3”. That extra 1/2” all the way ‘round adds an ease and grace.

**UPDATE: I’ve confirmed that the Seabiscuit matches my vintage collar in width. **
 
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AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,344
Location
Iowa
Yeah, definitely.

Their regular collar, the kind that's curved toward the inside, is lame. It's what was bothering me the most on my HWM. No matter how many fun details you spec, the collar alone is killing the entire jacket. Then again, the premier line collars are all brilliant. Best one they've made was on Ton's blue jacket.

You mean this collar? ....

DSC_0744.JPG

I'll put some more detailed shots in the Highwayman database page, but yes, it is very unique.
 

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