Sears Vertical Zip Map Pocket motorycle jacket

Edward · Oct 4, 2021

Guppy said:
Yeah, I learned about the back pocket through my research -- there's no mention of it, and it doesn't appear in the photos for the auction listing of the one I bought. So I don't know for sure yet if mine even has it! But I assume it will -- I should know in a few days.

Hopefully if more of these turn up, or someone has some more info on them, they can find this topic and add what they have to it now that I have it started.

I'll probably keep saying it, I'd love to see Aero, Thedi, Himel, Lost Worlds, or one of the other top makers introduce a reproduction of this model. Depending on how wearable mine turns out to be, I'd consider sending it to someone to have a copy made, and I'd be particularly happy to see it turn into a regular production item.

Carlos' LW looks great. I'd love to see an Aero version of this as well; Aero's patterns work for me, and I really like their bike jackets. LW stuff is great ime too - but dealing with the import issues and additional costs is off-putting for me.

Funnily enough, recently I've been sort of fancying something akin to a Schott 184 in black, but one of these with s black mouton collar would be a step better...

Carlos840 said:
Could the pockets be vents?
A lot of modern motorcycle jackets have zipped opening in the front to allow air in, and usually one or two zipped openings in the back to allow air out, to prevent balooning at higher speed.

Could it just be that the front "map pocket" was the first iteration of a front vent.
Putting the "air out" vent one on the action back would make sens too.

Horrible design, but you get the idea:
https://www.rhinoleather.com.au/leather-motorcycle-jacket-with-vents-and-armour-australia/

That's where my mind went with it too. Potentially could have been used as such even if the original design purpose was other, giving birth to the idea of purposely placed vents later on...

Guppy said:
I wonder what the purpose is for the back zipper, if it's not intended to be a pocket...

Map pocket? I think that's what a lot of what we now know as pillion pockets started out as (which also explains why there was often only one...) Could have stowed gloves too. I've also read about rider back in the day stuffing them with newspapers for added insulation in Winter. Tucked under the vent like that perhaps also made it less obvious to would-be pick-pockets?

Carlos840 said:
Let me add fit pics to this thread, i have been wearing it a lot since these pics where taken and the grain has really popped out.
In use it is a very nice jacket, the "sandwich pocket" (as Stuart calls it) is super practical, you can fit a bottle of wine in there comfortably.

Did they ever do these cut for women? The placement of that big pocket-zip looks, at least in photos, like it would have made it very easy to reverse the front zip and pocket zip on the pattern to create a jacket that fastens right over left... This looks like it's cut a little longer than the likes of a Perfecto - though not "modern over-long", more like it's style for the guy that wants just a bit more length in the bodycut. The proportions work well to my eye.

Rich22 · Oct 4, 2021

I thought a map pocket was just the name of any pocket big enough for a traditional map? Some jackets have it in the lower back, internal or external.

For example:

Carlos840 · Oct 4, 2021

Rich22 said:
I thought a map pocket was just the name of any pocket big enough for a traditional map? Some jackets have it in the lower back, internal or external.

For example:
View attachment 366533

Those are game pockets, you put your dead rabbits in them.

roadking04 · Oct 4, 2021

tmitchell59 said:
I know Buco did these back pockets. Does anyone know another Brand that did this?

I bought my other half a Carhartt arctic parka last year. I think the model is only a few years old. I was inspecting it the other day because I was thinking about getting the mens version. I was teasing her because I noticed it had a "game pouch" in the back. I am not really sure why Carhartt has this huge back pocket on this parka.

Cornelius · Oct 5, 2021

roadking04 said:
I bought my other half a Carhartt arctic parka last year. I think the model is only a few years old. I was inspecting it the other day because I was thinking about getting the mens version. I was teasing her because I noticed it had a "game pouch" in the back. I am not really sure why Carhartt has this huge back pocket on this parka.

I'm not familiar with this Carhartt model, but in my experience the "game pockets" on Mackinaws & old hunting jackets are excellent for stowing hat/scarf/gloves when entering a store or tavern during winter months.

Edward · Oct 6, 2021

Indeed. I should expect that by this point the appearance of such features are more inspired by aesthetic considerations than anything else, but it's interesting to see how the intended design purpose is superceded over time by new functions that evolve with usage - or, in some cases, how they become purely aesthetic and/or associated with 'quality' rather than having any purpose, such as surgeon's cuffs on a suit.

Rich22 · Oct 6, 2021

Cornelius said:
I'm not familiar with this Carhartt model, but in my experience the "game pockets" on Mackinaws & old hunting jackets are excellent for stowing hat/scarf/gloves when entering a store or tavern during winter months.

My uncles frequently went game shooting when I was growing up, but I don't recall them (or anyone else) from stuffing their kill in their pockets. The use case you describe makes infinitely more sense than storing a bloodied dead animal inside your woolen coat. Haha!

Rich22 · Oct 6, 2021

Carlos840 said:
Those are game pockets, you put your dead rabbits in them.

Thanks for the info, Carlos. I've genuinely never in my life heard it called that before. You learn something new every day. So you'd call a big internal pocket in the lower back a game pocket too?

Edit: I googled it just now, as the idea amused me. It's also called a "poacher's pocket" and is supposed to be discreet (internal or external) so that a poacher could theoretically hide the game or fish he's stolen. Makes sense. Sounds better than "thieve's pocket" or "sneak drinks and sweets into the theatre pocket".

navetsea · Oct 6, 2021

lol it so savage, blamm!. stuff it in the pocket.
when I hear game pocket Im thinking magnetic travelling chess board, and a deck of playing card

Guppy · Oct 14, 2021

This jacket was posted on the Finds and Deals thread recently. While it doesn't appear to have the large vertical zip map pocket, and also doesn't have the large pocket on the back, it looks like most of the other design elements are all there. It could be an evolutionary step in the design, or it could be a custom order that omitted the large pocket? I think it gives it a nice, clean style. If the length on this weren't so short (20") I would probably have hit buy it now, or at least have a snipe on it.

This one has a Montgomery Ward Windward label on it. I don't know much about the maker or the era compared to some of us here. It seems like a jacket that should belong to Terry.

tmitchell59 · Oct 14, 2021

Guppy said:
It seems like a jacket that should belong to Terry.

Well, in a way it does! This is my Windward size 40? The ebay jacket would fit me, mine does not. It has been for sale here. The similar pockets do jump out, but very different from the Appalachian Vertical zip.

My Windward is a scaled down version. It is heavy too.

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Yamahana · Oct 14, 2021

tmitchell59 said:
Well, in a way it does! This is my Windward size 40? The ebay jacket would fit me, mine does not. It has been for sale here. The similar pockets do jump out, but very different from the Appalachian Vertical zip.

My Windward is a scaled down version. It is heavy too.

Is yours as short as the eBay jacket @ 20”? My Appalachian is short also at 21”.

tmitchell59 · Oct 14, 2021

Yamahana said:
Is yours as short as the eBay jacket @ 20”? My Appalachian is short also at 21”.

Short

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EAC · Oct 15, 2021

I've just found this:

picture taken from the 1951 Sears Christmas book. It pre-dates the appeareance of this particular model in the regular catalog (F/W 1957, as reported earlier in the thread by tmitchell59) by six years, already a cheaper alternative to the main MC jacket (26.75 USD against 33.95, 1951 prices). It has all the bells and whistles of the VZMP, including the zippered back, called here ''Pack-Sac'' back. It's made of imported goatskin and it's very short (22.5'', most likely front length or back length including collar). I wonder if all Appalachian made jackets were shorter than the norm: I have recently acquired from tmitchell59 a 50s Oakbrook cross-zip that's probably Appalachian made as well, and it's just a touch over 21'' back length without collar.

EAC · Oct 15, 2021

Another catalog picture, Sears Christmas catalog, 1957:

In the same year the jacket was advertised on the main F/W catalog. No back zip pocket is described, so I guess the ''Pack-Sac'' back are the earlier, 1951 ones, at least when labelled Sears.

tmitchell59 · Oct 15, 2021

omg!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yamahana · Oct 15, 2021

Great sleuthing work there detective EAC!

EAC · Oct 15, 2021

Yamahana said:
Great sleuthing work there detective EAC!

Thanks! Nothing special, really, just scrolling through a few catalogs in my spare time.

tmitchell59 · Oct 15, 2021

I was told that this Hercules Vertical Zip was purchased by the owner in 1951. I was skeptical as I have not seen one this early in a Sears catalog. Now I see it in Goatskin!!!!!!!!

This jacket is Horsehide. Pictured with a Fieldmaster labeled jacket also horsehide.

tmitchell59 · Oct 15, 2021

Here is an early Goatskin labeled jacket. This jacket is not an Appalachian made jacket. No handwarmer, wool lined, riveted belt loops.

This black and blue lining is the most difficult to find.

Sears Vertical Zip Map Pocket motorycle jacket

Practically Family

I'll Lock Up

Practically Family

Practically Family

Practically Family

Practically Family

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

One Too Many

I'll Lock Up

One of the Regulars

One of the Regulars

I'll Lock Up

One Too Many

One of the Regulars

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

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