Five Bucos

jonbuilder · Sep 14, 2021

tmitchell59 said:
I believe this jacket is still being loved by the current owner. This is the only Buco I have owned. I love the fit of this jacket, very comfortable.

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Looks like that Buco was made to order for you, Terry.

photo2u · Sep 14, 2021

JMax said:
That 71 is awesome. It would be cool if LW made a repro.

Edit: $300. Wow! Really amazing.

LW makes cool jackets. No doubt. However, Stu boy is just a pain to deal with. After 8 LW I am OUT due to his greed. In my last proposed projects, I was providing all but the leather materials, Thread, zippers, lining, hardware and pocket fabrics. The only thing he had to do is make the dam things using his leather and highly skill technician. Easy as apple pie. But no... He had to nickle and dime for things. I hope he does make this jacket. I, however, will not buy it from him.

JMax · Sep 14, 2021

I’ve had good experiences with him. It sounds like he was not very interested in doing your project. What was it?

photo2u · Sep 14, 2021

JMax said:
I’ve had good experiences with him. It sounds like he was not very interested in doing your project. What was it?

Some bucos. If you ask for help he is way too busy to speak to you as a human being. I have known him for more than 20 years. I know his tricks and how he lays it thick. He, however, produces a great product. Furthermore, I get it. He is there to make money. However, I think there is a responsibility to stand behind your products when customers ask for help. I will just write about items I actually posted here when I was seeking advice before I reach out to him:
Several months a called him for help with my car coat button eyelet problem. The craftsmanship is not the best on that coat. I have other brands that take the wear and tear much better than his heavy-duty coats. I know a little about sewing. Have been doing part-time/hobby for about 40 years. Not as a professional but as a helper to motorcycle, Car, and boat professionals. So when he goes on with his quality in craftsmanship and how difficult it is a real turn-off for me. A couple of weeks ago, I reach out to him to address my LW belt loops difficulties and shortener my sleeves. My first question was how much would it cost to replace the belt loots and shorten the sleeves. He wanted a lot of money. About 1k for the sleeves only Because he needed to remove and replace the sleeves. He went on and on reviewing how difficult it would be to do bla,bla,bla. He then went on to point out that the loops would be a different item and would cost a lot because not much material was needed, but lots of work. I then asked him how much for the material, He said 20 dollars a square foot. I would need three square feet, but he went on to tell me how difficult it would be to find the matching leather and again, bla,bla,bla. When I told him a just needed ONE piece of leather, because I am going to do it myself, He totally got frustrated and told me he was needed somewhere else and basically hang up on me. Come to think of it, too much already written here. No need to go on to others.

dudewuttheheck · Sep 14, 2021

Wow what an insane collection. Color me jealous. Amazing jackets.

photo2u · Sep 14, 2021

tmitchell59 said:
What year was the first Buco catalog? or what was the first year they produced MC jackets? I know that Allstate (Buco) jackets show up in the 1949 Sears catalog.

I just saw the 51 and 52 catalogs describing both Wool lined and Rayon lined jackets available at the same time. What year did they use Nylon?

I agree 100%. They are highlighted because they made great, enduring jackets.

Motorcyclist magazine has been publishing since 1912. Their 40s/50s database can show share some light to this. Maybe an online link to an extensive library can do the trick. The question is how early did they start advertising in magazines? Was their advertisement current with production? Buco was great with marketing. I would think if they had a new product in the market, they would advertise it as soon as possible?

tmitchell59 · Sep 14, 2021

photo2u said:
Motorcyclist magazine has been publishing since 1912. Their 40s/50s database can show share some light to this. Maybe an online link to an extensive library can do the trick. The question is how early did they start advertising in magazines? Was their advertisement current with production? Buco was great with marketing. I would think if they had a new product in the market, they would advertise it as soon as possible?

I got some answers from one of the Tanka books. They began producing their jackets post-war during the MC jacket boom. Used Wool linings into the early 50s. This is the same process other makers took. I note that Buco offered Rayon lining at the same time as wool, at least for a short time. Then went to Nylon.

I see they were sold around 1965, 66.

I am trying to place them in the world of post-war MC jacktets. I know it seems obvious, but they were not alone. How did other companies compete with their line up?

These are my current questions.

What jackets were they producing in 1960?

When did they first use Steerhide? When last used Horsehide?

Anyone seen an estimate of the jackets they produced?

photo2u · Sep 14, 2021

tmitchell59 said:
I got some answers from one of the Tanka books. They began producing their jackets post-war during the MC jacket boom. Used Wool linings into the early 50s. This is the same process other makers took. I note that Buco offered Rayon lining at the same time as wool, at least for a short time. Then went to Nylon.

I see they were sold around 1965, 66.

I am trying to place them in the world of post-war MC jacktets. I know it seems obvious, but they were not alone. How did other companies compete with their line up?

These are my current questions.

What jackets were they producing in 1960?

When did they first use Steerhide? When last used Horsehide?

Anyone seen an estimate of the jackets they produced?

Zipper dating is going to a point of interest. Some people view aluminum zippers as a product of the 60s. However, I have some mid 40 aluminum zips. I also have them in some late 40s motorcycle cross zip jackets. I am curious as to learn more about this great jacket company.

Yamahana · Sep 15, 2021

tmitchell59 said:
I got some answers from one of the Tanka books. They began producing their jackets post-war during the MC jacket boom. Used Wool linings into the early 50s. This is the same process other makers took. I note that Buco offered Rayon lining at the same time as wool, at least for a short time. Then went to Nylon.

I see they were sold around 1965, 66.

I am trying to place them in the world of post-war MC jacktets. I know it seems obvious, but they were not alone. How did other companies compete with their line up?

These are my current questions.

What jackets were they producing in 1960?

When did they first use Steerhide? When last used Horsehide?

Anyone seen an estimate of the jackets they produced?

Here’s a link to a story about Reed - Buco relationship that I found last night while searching Reed Sportswear history. This could certainly cloud the issue even more.

https://reedsportswear.com/blogs/news/one-of-the-oldest-companies-continuously-operating-in-detroit

tmitchell59 · Sep 15, 2021

Yamahana said:
This could certainly cloud the issue even more.

The authors believes that Reed made the Buco jackets? He says Reed began in 1950, but the Buco jackets go back prior to that date. Sounds like he doesn't know what he is talking about.

"This story, though, isn’t about Buco. It turns out that Buco never made their own jackets"

Mark Silver, is a friend and neighbor of mine. So I asked him about it.

“Yeah, sure. As a teenager I’d make deliveries to Buegeleisen’s shop on Eight Mile all the time.” Mark told me.

Yamahana · Sep 15, 2021

tmitchell59 said:
The authors believes that Reed made the Buco jackets? He says Reed began in 1950, but the Buco jackets go back prior to that date. Sounds like he doesn't know what he is talking about.

"This story, though, isn’t about Buco. It turns out that Buco never made their own jackets"

Mark Silver, is a friend and neighbor of mine. So I asked him about it.

“Yeah, sure. As a teenager I’d make deliveries to Buegeleisen’s shop on Eight Mile all the time.” Mark told me.

I have no idea, I only shared the link since this thread had been discussing the Buco jacket history.
Just thought it might be an interesting read.

tmitchell59 · Sep 15, 2021

Yamahana said:
I have no idea, I only shared the link since this thread had been discussing the Buco jacket history.
Just thought it might be an interesting read.

It is an interesting article. It does make you think who was producing what. They say Brooks was also making jackets for Buco, but I have never heard what or when.

such information has not come before that I know of, so many reasons to be skeptical

photo2u · Sep 15, 2021

I was going to comment when I saw the off-white BEAUTIFUL j100 buco Jon posted. The leather in that jacket looks so much like some of my j100 reeds. Perhaps they had the same leather supplier? One of the reasons I love the reed is the leather quality. It is heavier than all of my j100s types. Also, the cut fit so nice.

photo2u · Sep 15, 2021

tmitchell59 said:
It is an interesting article. It does make you think who was producing what. They say Brooks was also making jackets for Buco, but I have never heard what or when.

such information has not come before that I know of, so many reasons to be skeptical

This is part of American motorcycle jacket history... I think is a good idea to truly find out clear facts. I know that reed has been in the leather business for some time. One thing I wonder about the local writer is the fact he did not mentioned Southfield, MI. This was the city where buco also produced jackets later when they sold their interest in the company.

jonbuilder · Sep 16, 2021

Buco was a large company marking motorcycle gear chiefly safety gear long before they starting manufacturing motorcycle jackets by the end of the war

jonbuilder · Sep 16, 2021

photo2u said:
I was going to comment when I saw the off-white BEAUTIFUL j100 buco Jon posted. The leather in that jacket looks so much like some of my j100 reeds. Perhaps they had the same leather supplier? One of the reasons I love the reed is the leather quality. It is heavier than all of my j100s. Also, the cut fit so nice.

The leather is not unlike the later Buco black steer hide J-100 a mite stiffer same weight

photo2u · Sep 16, 2021

jonbuilder said:
The leather is not unlike the later Buco black steer hide J-100 a mite stiffer same weight

I do think I do not understand you correctly. I was referring your off-white buco to my reed. Older reeds j100 types are heavy and have a wonderful grain. I have on my rack many of the major makers of that era. The only one that looks similar to the bucos j100 hide made in Southfield, is reed and kehoe.

Canuck Panda · Apr 21, 2023

Buco experts, do you think this jacket is a repro or mint condition vintage?

Photos are taken so carefully without details of the zipper so I am confused...

Marc mndt · Apr 21, 2023

Canuck Panda said:
Buco experts, do you think this jacket is a repro or mint condition vintage?

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Photos are taken so carefully without details of the zipper so I am confused...

I'd say repro. In terms of construction quality, it looks too neat. Steerhide buco's of the late 50s early 60s weren't all that nice.

Canuck Panda · Apr 21, 2023

Marc mndt said:
I'd say repro. In terms of construction quality, it looks too neat. Steerhide buco's of the late 50s early 60s weren't all that nice.

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Thanks Marc, that's what I had thought too...

Five Bucos

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