Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

JMax said:

Sweet baby Jesus, is this what I think it is?!? @tmitchell59 @Mysteryo @Claybertrand @Monitor

https://etsy.me/3v1AlJL

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I’ve bought from seller before. No complaints at all.

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Claybertrand said:

It takes time to clean and condition yourself because you want to use natural drying time between cleaning and conditioning. So personally, being that my jacket buying has drastically exceeded my available time to clean and condition, I have a HUGE waiting room full of jackets waiting their turn.

This is exactly the reason I have gotten more conservative in my old age and try to find items to buy that I know will be relatively easy to get into condition without a big investment in money and time. Rabid collectors often have a personality type that encourages them to bite off more than they can chew. I certainly do. A deal is not a deal if an item sits unused in a garage or closet. I learned that the hard way.

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J Leather Investigater said:

I text Terry an ask him what he thought about my assumption that this is a brown sportclad -just like your black one, no tag?

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Coriu said:

Aero Black Halfbelt Size 44 Auction or $350BIN
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174796534592?hash=item28b2af7340:g:E5QAAOSw7R9gwBAZ

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AeroFan_07 said:

If anyone has intrest in this jacket, I know it's history. It's nowhere near "20 years old". Here is the review I made of this jacket, which I bought new in 2015 from Thruston Brothers. It's a deal at $350...
(My apologies for the terrible photos in that older thread)

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/aero-30s-hb-with-10-zipper-modification.90534/#post-2252388

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Coriu said:

Grais FQHH P2P 21" $230 opening bid I bet one of the pros out there could have this thing looking amazing. A while back I posted something about the Grais Bros. The brother that made the HH jacket knew what he was doing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/304026192563?hash=item46c95f8ab3:g:us4AAOSwgotgpASB

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Coriu said:

Rubin Grais was a Russian immigrant who came to the US to start a new life. His skills as a shoe maker created the foundation for Grais Leathers. Rubin and his nephew(?) Nate went into jacket/coat making. Rubin did the leather jackets at a large factory.

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Claybertrand said:

I wonder if Nate -- is the guy who started "Nate's of Chicaco"??? I have a jacket from them and I sent them an email asking about sleeve tailoring and Nate's grandson responded and told me his grandfather made the jacket I have.

It sounds like a multi generational business. Cool to hear from the younger generations of these families. Irvin Foster's son or grandson posted in here once regarding his family history in leather jackets.

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Will Zach said:

$7100 and reserve still not met. Don't know what to think about this one.

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tmitchell59 said:

I got a message on this jacket from a friend. sure looks like a Sportclad in brown.

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Coriu said:

According to their website, Nate's was founded in 1958 and Nate was a WWII vet. I read that Rubin Grais had a contract to make jackets for the Chicago PD. So, I could see Nate(his nephew) coming back from WWII and taking over the business for his uncle. Don't know for sure, but it's awfully coincidental.

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Wildhorses said:

If it ships for free to Mars, I may consider put a $10000 on it.

I think it's right. I found a similar jacket (sold) from the same guy, in black :

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Claybertrand said:

Yep looks like you guys have nailed the ID on that brown CZ. This is the jacket alright. For me, the clincher is the liner material. The other details are spot on as well but that liner material is original in both jackets and seems to be the same wool. Normally, I'd consider the liner similarity to be evidentially flimsy as companies tend to change liner materials over time. But the other aspects of the jacket all line up as well so I think the liner similarity is sorta icing on the Identification Cake here.

From Terry and others' research it is strongly believed that Kurland made the early Sportclads. Another in a long line of quality Massachusetts leather makers (Lampelt, Vanson, Dyer, Fidelity etc.).

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