Blatt, Chicago

[regius]

love the name indeed, BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT, BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

 

[Tombone]

Hi, I was lucky enough to acquire this beautiful Blatt recently. It’s very well made and in great condition. Leather is still nice and soft and all zippers etc in place.

 

[EAC]

@Tombone, your jacket looks very similar to this Grais design:

Considered that Grais was a Chicago-based maker, I wonder if he made jackets for Blatt: collar shape, pocket configuration and back design seem to be the same.

 

[Tombone]

@Tombone, your jacket looks very similar to this Grais design:

Considered that Grais was a Chicago-based maker, I wonder if he made jackets for Blatt: collar shape, pocket configuration and back design seem to be the same.

Wow! Yes very similar, can you date this jacket? There are no press studs on the lapels of mine, which I alway thought was odd….? Thanks for posting.

 

[EAC]

Keep in mind that I am no expert, but judging by the zippers, I'd say that both your Blatt and the Grais I posted are from the 50s. I remember reading that the one who sold you the Blatt thought it was from the 40s (I am pretty sure it was on Instagram); I personally doubt it, but consider that, too. By the way, here you can find more information on how to date a jacket from its zippers: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/zipper-dating-a-fedora-lounge-guide.73890/

Collar studs and belt are both different, as is the lining, but I am sure there was some variety in these smaller details.

 

[Tombone]

Keep in mind that I am no expert, but judging by the zippers, I'd say that both your Blatt and the Grais I posted are from the 50s. I remember reading that the one who sold you the Blatt thought it was from the 40s (I am pretty sure it was on Instagram); I personally doubt it, but consider that, too. By the way, here you can find more information on how to date a jacket from its zippers: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/zipper-dating-a-fedora-lounge-guide.73890/

Collar studs and belt are both different, as is the lining, but I am sure there was some variety in these smaller details.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I’ll definitely check out the link.

 

[FQHH]

Great piece. Fantastic chest detail.

can you help me understand what these numbers and letters printed on the label and lining mean. do you have an idea? thanks a lot

 

[NeutronStar]

Boy is it tough trying to find any info on Blatt. I spend a little time searching around and came up with very little.

Here are a few things that may or may not be about Blatt of Chicago. I found references to Henry Blatt Bros Leather in Philadelphia, and as seen in the screenshot, possibly a Blatt Leather Co. in Chicago. However, the Chicago lead isn’t verified — it came from NewspaperArchives, and I didn’t spring for the subscription to chase it down. Also, the first pic references ‘Blatts’ — could that have been one of the big-box stores of the day? Or just a typo? And last, a pink women’s jacket I ran across with a pretty pretty lining.

 

[jchance]

New Blatt label with a separate horsehide label found on an A-3:

 

[Joseph Hill]

A year or so we were in Oregon at an antique shop. They had a Blatt that was identical to the first one in the thread posted by Baron Kurtz. It had that beautiful Crown zip (glided up and down nicely), leather was in nice condition, and only minor lining issues. It fit perfectly, and had a really comfortable cut. My wife liked it, and it was all of 250$ (probably could have been talked down). Why didn't I buy it? Just stupid. Plus I had some things on deck that I already owned, but the wife didn't know about yet. If we get to Astoria again, and it's still there, I wouldn't hesitate again.

 

[jchance]

I cracked the Blatt Chicago’s case. (If you follow this research method, you could crack other unknown cases, too. I got this idea from @Gamma68 who used newspapers.com to research Rich-Sher. However, it requires an account that I don’t have.)

I searched Google News Newspaper Archive and found the following “Blatt Leatherwear Mfg. Co. 1257 N. Milwaukee Ave.” which is a Chicago, IL address, listed under “Clothing - Leather” section of the 1959 edition of Where to Buy, Where to Sell. See below. Its president was listed as Victor Blatt.

The time period was correctly in 1950s. “Mfg. Co.” in the name indicates that it was a manufacturer / maker of “leather” “clothing”, that is, Blatt Chicago made its own leather jackets.




Two additional results from 1957-58 confirmed the Chicago address and Blatt, Victor as the owner of Blatt Leatherwear Mfg. Co.







There was one additional result but I couldn’t view its content:



Using the library’s newspaper search engine, I was able to locate Blatt Leatherwear Manufacturing Co. in a 1960 Chicago newspaper:

Boy is it tough trying to find any info on Blatt. I spend a little time searching around and came up with very little.

Here are a few things that may or may not be about Blatt of Chicago. I found references to Henry Blatt Bros Leather in Philadelphia, and as seen in the screenshot, possibly a Blatt Leather Co. in Chicago. However, the Chicago lead isn’t verified — it came from NewspaperArchives, and I didn’t spring for the subscription to chase it down. Also, the first pic references ‘Blatts’ — could that have been one of the big-box stores of the day? Or just a typo? And last, a pink women’s jacket I ran across with a pretty pretty lining.

Your third attachment was really close. You should have chased down that lead to find out that the street address was in Chicago, and the name was almost correct (no space in “leather wear”).

To be fair, your search results might have promoted me subconsciously to try different keywords, so thanks for reporting your findings.

 

[jchance]

Blatt’s signature 4 beads on zipper’s end.

later label

Blatt made the 2nd and 3rd version (c. 1954-56) of Harley Davidson Cycle Champ.

2nd version, early (right, steer) and late (left)

3rd version (c.1954-56), horse

Blatt also made HD Cycle Queen, steer

Blatt for HD, 1950s

 

[jchance]

Jon’s Blatt in the Classifieds

Unlabeled Blatt police jacket, with badge holder and zipper’s leather pull:

 

[jeo]

Blatt made the 2nd and 3rd version (c. 1954-56) of Harley Davidson Cycle Champ.

2nd version, early (right, steer) and late (left)
View attachment 739460

That’s not the second version.

The one on the left is the 4th version, also known as the Elvis model. These were not only made by Blatt. Some of them (including the two I own) were made by Albert Richard as they use the Albert Richard leather label and not the generic one used by Blatt. Here are my two examples made by Albert Richard.

Here’s an Albert Richard using that leather label. This is how I discovered that Albert Richard made many of the iconic Sears Hercules half belts and not just Roughwear.

The one on the right is the 3rd version, not second. Here are two of mine that are the second version. I’m thinking they’re Blatt but that’s just a guess because of the 4 beads. I’ve seen other jackets with those beads, I don’t necessarily think they are exclusive to Blatt.

3rd version (c.1954-56), horse
View attachment 739454 View attachment 739455 View attachment 739456

Heres my Blatt of the same design. Safe to assume third version was more than likely made by Blatt.

 

[jchance]

late 40s Blatt for Sears Hercules, 2nd generation, wool plaid lining, Conmar zippers throughout. Note Blatt’s signature lapel, Blatt’s use of same horse lapel, and the leather pulls on the pocket zippers

Compare with:

 

[DonR]

A Blatt A-2 style. I'm guessing this is from the 50's. The horsehide has a nice soft feel to it. The jacket weighs 3 lbs 13 oz. The zipper is a Conmar.

As requested by Mark @VoodooSan