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Sears, Roebuck and Co, U.S.A. The Leather Shop

MrProper

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First, I have to mention that I have no idea about older jackets. This was my first attempt to buy one sight unseen via the internet. Unfortunately, this attempt was not necessarily successful, as described here: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...ny-potential-ones.89562/page-540#post-2838946

So I stumbled across a Cafe Racer jacket from Sears, Roebuck and Co, U.S.A. The Leather Shop, which I liked right off the bat.
According to the seller, this Cafe Racer must have been made sometime in the 70s. What model it is, I know unfortunately just as little.
Possibly someone here from the forum knows model and production year.

According to the ad it is Roughout leather, maybe it is Suede. The jacket is heavier than I would have assumed with the small size.

From the cut very similar to the Jean Shop NYC Cafe Racer.

Size listed as 38.

Shoulders 50 cm / 19.7"
P2P 58 cm / 22.8"
Waistband 48 cm / 18.9"
Back 64 cm / 25.2"
Sleeves 63.5 cm / 25"

Perfect measurements for me, if you disregard the way too short sleeves and back. lol

As far as I know, gussets always have an elastic band sewn in to bring the pleats back to their original shape. There are no such bands on this jacket. Either, they were never on (which I can't really imagine) or someone removed them. This could also explain the somewhat unclean stitching on the lining under the armpits.
Whether the lining was ever replaced, I can not say. In any case, the labels would have been reattached as on the original (according to comparison pictures of other jackets of the brand).

The zippers are all ok and from the brand Serval USA, which probably no longer exists.
The condition of the leather looked a bit better in the ad, although the worn stains were disclosed. The condition is certainly too bad for the price I paid for it. But if the jacket would fit perfectly, I wouldn't care and I would wear it as it is.

Unfortunately, the jacket does not smell very good. Certainly subjective, I am very sensitive there. For someone else, it may be perfectly ok. Maybe a previous owner was once a smoker or something. But I could imagine that one could get this problem under control.

If there is a collector here who is interested in the jacket and will pay for the shipping fees, I will gladly pass it on. The 230 EUR I have to write off anyway as a lesson (do not laugh at me, I wanted the jacket just and the dimensions were specified differently. Actually, it should have fit me perfectly ;-))

I have seen a similar jacket in new (Fuel Sidewaze) and maybe I try the times. Or I'll commission 5* to make me one out of steerhide with the rough side facing out. We'll see.

Here are a few pictures now.
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Canuck Panda

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I am guessing this is actually a 50s jacket. Someone here who can date the Serval zips could put an actual date on this one. Very nice! It's shorter but you make the jacket look good.
 

Marc mndt

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As far as I know, gussets always have an elastic band sewn in to bring the pleats back to their original shape.

I own one jacket with gussets that originally didn't come with elastic bands. But looking at this one I'm pretty sure there must have been elastic bands when new. It looks really off without them.

The hide looks great. Nice color. Does it have shoulder padding? Shape looks a bit like this Shields cr (with shoulder padding)

67D2046E-E130-474A-A86C-1846D87110D3.jpeg
 
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Later Sears (The Leather Shop) isn't really the best pick for a first vintage leather jacket. I'm not 100% sure but I think Sears already outsourced production by then and this kind of run of the mill split hide (suede) was already becoming super thin and of poor quality.

On the other hand, earlier Sears released some of the best jackets ever made. What I always say, just compare Sears' 50's D-pocket (Hercules) to any 50's Buco and you'll see it can't be any more apparent that Buco feels and looks like a budget option in comparison.

What's not so bad is that you can easily toss this jacket into a washing machine and it'll come out looking and smelling almost brand new. Sleeves, however, won't get any longer. :)
 
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70s, at the earliest. Except for the sleeves, you wear it well. Something you manage to do with pretty much any jacket btw. I agree with Monitor, not indicative of what a vintage piece can offer.
 

regius

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MrProper I think you do have long arms :) the 25 sleeves for a 38” jacket seems normal. The golden retriever color suede is very nice.
 

dudewuttheheck

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Roughout racing shirt/cafe racer! That is pretty cool. Not something you see often, but it works. Fits well too!
 

MrProper

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MrProper I think you do have long arms :) the 25 sleeves for a 38” jacket seems normal. The golden retriever color suede is very nice.

Not only long arms lol
I don't exactly have the vintage figure.
Long and slender. I can go as the Slenderman lol
 

MrProper

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Very nice! It's shorter but you make the jacket look good.

yup.. its the sleeves.. otherwise thats a pretty great looking jacket..

70s, at the earliest. Except for the sleeves, you wear it well. Something you manage to do with pretty much any jacket btw. I agree with Monitor, not indicative of what a vintage piece can offer.

Roughout racing shirt/cafe racer! That is pretty cool. Not something you see often, but it works. Fits well too!

@all: Thanks a lot :)
Unfortunately, the jacket is really too short for me. For a photo ok, but not to walk around with it ;)
But a cafe racer roughout leather I like. I'll keep looking if I find something like that but suitable.

Later Sears (The Leather Shop) isn't really the best pick for a first vintage leather jacket. I'm not 100% sure but I think Sears already outsourced production by then and this kind of run of the mill split hide (suede) was already becoming super thin and of poor quality.

On the other hand, earlier Sears released some of the best jackets ever made. What I always say, just compare Sears' 50's D-pocket (Hercules) to any 50's Buco and you'll see it can't be any more apparent that Buco feels and looks like a budget option in comparison.

What's not so bad is that you can easily toss this jacket into a washing machine and it'll come out looking and smelling almost brand new. Sleeves, however, won't get any longer. :)

Thanks for your thoughts.
Washing machine I had already considered. But only if I keep the jacket and save it for my son. If he later then likes leather jackets at all lol
I'm certainly not going to become the vintage lover, but if there's something nice that I like... why not?
With this jacket, it was actually by accident that it was old. I would have taken it even if it was only 5 years old lol.
 

Mysteryo

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The jacket has arrived in California!
Thank you @MrProper!
The shoulders need work, and I’ll probably alter the sleeves to be slimmer, but I gotta say that putting this jacket on is really cool! Something is amazing about a vintage CR in thick suede. It feels really right! Like I could grab it everyday. It isn’t at all like a new suede jacket from the mall- more like a welders jacket with scars, stains, and stories to tell. I look forward to being able to wear it.
 
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MrProper

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The jacket has arrived in California!
Thank you @MrProper!
The shoulders need work, and I’ll probably alter the sleeves to be slimmer, but I gotta say that putting this jacket on is really cool! Something is amazing about a vintage CR in thick suede. It feels really right! Like I could grab it everyday. It isn’t at all like a new suede jacket from the mall- more like a welders jacket with scars, stains, and stories to tell. I look forward to being able to wear it.

I'm glad if the jacket got into good hands. Because it is really cool when it fits.
 

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