Denim Chore Coat

cbrunt · Jan 14, 2009

Hi Gang,

In the Library of Congress color image collection, I found this excellent image of an old man in denim chore coat. Can anyone hazard a guess as to the make ? And, do any of the "new" vintage name brands of LVC, Lee, etc make one?

As always many thanks !

Clint

H.Johnson · Jan 14, 2009

The horizontal stitching across the lower pockets are distinctive. I have a chore jacket with pockets just like this and it has no manufacturer's markings at all, no label, plain buttons etc. I have often wondered who made it - let me know if you find out who made this one!

<Added later, after finding said jacket buried at the back of one of my closets>

My jacket has the same slanted cuffs and red tack stitching on the pockets. I'm prepared to believe it's the same make. The lining is vertically striped blanket like Lee of the period.

Feraud · Jan 14, 2009

I have a similar looking coat with that interesting sleeve cuff stitching.

Salv · Jan 14, 2009

Lee Japan do the 91-J Lee Loco chore jacket. Aero Leather have them for £140

...and there's a US eBay seller called Speedway-shop who specialises in Japanese clothing that has them for a much more affordable $118.00.

Dickies do a great blanket lined chore coat that you should be able to pick up easily:

I've got a couple of Lee Locos, one a Lee Europe jacket from the early 1990's and the other a US blanket-lined model which I think is from the 1970s. I put up some pictures a while ago on an old thread - you can see them here.

H.Johnson · Jan 14, 2009

I love the Dickies coat - as a modern practical garment its how it should be done, IMO.

RondoHatton · Jan 14, 2009

"Prison Blues" clothing makes a similar denim "yard coat", quite serviceable, at a decent price.
http://www.correctionconnectionprisonblues.com/product/6101111

Edward · Jan 14, 2009

Prison Blues Yard Jacket, blanket lined:

ETA: I posted at the same time as RondoHatton...

Prison Blues are still very much around - the US website is at: http://www.prison-blues.com/#Home

I can't comment on their jackets, never having owned one, however I do have a pair of each of the 50s pattern jeans and 50s pattern work jeans. The best jeans I have ever owned, and at a bargain price by comparison to the likes of the Levis historic reissue range. I'd be hard pushed to consider anything else now.

RondoHatton · Jan 14, 2009

Edward said:
ETA: I posted at the same time as RondoHatton...

Great minds flowing in the same gutter...

Tomasso · Jan 14, 2009

I've always know these as Barn Coats. I have a Lee version (circa 40's) from my father and a 90's version from Henry Cotton's.

cbrunt · Jan 14, 2009

As far as the name, I've generally understood a barn coat to be of duck or canvas. I'm sure regional names affect its name as well !!!!

Salv, thanks very much for the links ! That "Loco" is about as close as I've seen !!!! The cuff and pocket detail are nearly dead-on !!

Edit: Sadly, Aero Leather is sold out of 42" jackets and I've already got a horsehide jacket on order. So we'll see about eBay.
Clint

carouselvic · Jan 14, 2009

Everyone who made overalls also made a chore coat. Some of the more popular brands in the mid-west were Lee, Key, Big Smith, Tuf Nut, Big Yank. Very popular with farmers, railroaders and even hippies in the 60's & 70's.

shortbow · Jan 14, 2009

Mine's a Carhartt, brown not blue, been wearing it for 10 years, my favourite coat. Carhartt make lots of traditional stuff and you don't have to ransom your first-born son to buy one.

cbrunt · Jan 14, 2009

Pointer Brand

While searching in general for modern chore coats as folks have suggested, found "Pointer Brand" whom I'm never heard of. American company and cheap, but matches the original image in that one chest pocket is flapped the the other is not. Same number and type of buttons and also has the pocket stitching. Not sure about the cuff stitching, and definately not the same collar, but that's all nit-picky stuff.

They sell in Japan, and here's a great image (deleted link and replaced w/image).

And here's the company site:

http://www.pointerbrand.com/DynamicProductCatalog.asp?Category=Jackets&SubCategory=Jackets

I love google...
Clint

Tomasso · Jan 14, 2009

shortbow said:
Mine's a Carhartt, brown not blue

Here's a Carhartt in denim.

Nigel · Jan 14, 2009

I have a Carhartt chore coat in traditional Carhartt brown, same style stitching on the sleeve. I also a a Roebucks denim chore coat, sorry I don't have pics, that I wear regularly. I like the practical, timeless style of the chore coat.

Creeping Past · Jan 14, 2009

cbrunt said:
"Pointer Brand"...

They look good at those prices. And they're simple, which appeals to me. I wonder what the weight of the cloth is on the brown duck and the denim? I'll email and find out.

kiltie · Jan 14, 2009

Hopefully this doesn't violate the ebay policy, since it's not really an auction. Lots of firemen still use these:

http://stores.ebay.com/Firemans-Chore-Denim-Job-Jackets

icecold · Jan 15, 2009

kiltie said:
Hopefully this doesn't violate the ebay policy, since it's not really an auction. Lots of firemen still use these:

http://stores.ebay.com/Firemans-Chore-Denim-Job-Jackets

And that's how impulsive purchases happen. The low prices don't help because i i'm inclined to pick more than 1 of the fine specimens suggested so far [huh]

cbrunt · Jan 15, 2009

Barnd-VS-Chore

Regarding the debate of barn coat-vs-chore coats, I have noticed that many online sites tend to call the lined versions (generally w/corduroy collar) "Barn Coats" where the simpler unlined versions are "Chore Coats".

Pointer Brand specifically does this.

Burnsie · Jan 15, 2009

cbrunt said:
While searching in general for modern chore coats as folks have suggested, found "Pointer Brand" whom I'm never heard of. American company and cheap, but matches the original image in that one chest pocket is flapped the the other is not. Same number and type of buttons and also has the pocket stitching. Not sure about the cuff stitching, and definately not the same collar, but that's all nit-picky stuff.
Clint

Pointer are based in Bristol TN and have been in operation since 1919 I think. I visited the factory this past Sept. and met the current owner, they are a real old time family owned business and their work clothes are fantastic - the chore coats and overalls are very classic vintage looking, worth checking out!

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