Wow. Did WD make a lot of faux leather jackets? I notice the label on this one just says "Walter Dyer," not "Walter Dyer Is Leather." Is that a coincidence, or a way of indicating it's not real leather?
Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition
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No. This tag was used mostly on women's jackets. Mr. Dyer would not have ever, EVER used a fake leather. Ever.
gmcd
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WOW this is super cool. I hope a TFLer snagged it...
tmitchell59
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Claybertrand
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Killer!!!
I really like the Vintage Wool pieces------and @ton312 with his new Green Goblin from Aero is furthering the trend (altho his is clearly a modern repro). My concern with ALL of these awesome vintage wool pieces is with their integrity after all these years. Hard to find wool that doesn't have moth damage, snags, cig burns or other basic "fatalities" after so many years.
Look at all the wear the leather jackets take and figure someone wearing wool getting that same kind of wear. Obviously---they each have their own resilience and toughness. But with the True Vintage Wool, I'm squeamish buying high dollar items based on photos that may not show hard to see damage to the wool.
Other than the danger of buying Wool with holes in it, I find these Vintage Wool pieces very cool. Not as cool as leather----but in many ways more practical and comfy. This one looks excellent!!!
I don’t think it’s fake leather. It is most definitely not Veg Tan Italian, but it seems in keeping with late 70s colored American stuff.
tmitchell59
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I love these jackets. This is an earlier Hercules that I own. It came from Japan and has a movie prop sticker. late 1930s. I doubt I can wear the one above, but need to measure a few others I have for fit. These were very popular through out the 40s and seldom seen today. Sportclad was a popular label for these wools.
No label in this one, but high quality and probably a size 46
4th of July Sportclad
No label in this one, but high quality and probably a size 46
4th of July Sportclad
The vintage wools are so cool, just like leather jackets, the older ones are simply cooler looking. The older wools in wwearable sizes are so scarce. The few I've foud also tend to have exceedingly short sleeves. 23" seems to have been about the standard sleeve length, which is oddly shorter than the already short leather countrparts.
Yamahana
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Argh, the no label is the one I posted because according to sellers measurements would be too small for me. If it’s in reality a size 46.. double ARGH!! I’d like to call dibs if you ever decide to sell it,
tmitchell59
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I do. Seller posted 22.5” and it scared me off. There were some pics of the measurements with a tape in the listing. I suspect they measured the chest erroneously. You stole that one as I recall the offer sent was quite laughably low. Should’ve made a move. In this game you can be only one of the two.:
Yamahana
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Oh yes definitely too big for you Terry, but it’d be a perfect fit on me.
Passaic, no measurements (small-medium), $75.00. https://poshmark.com/listing/Mens-B...rown-Passaic-Leather-623b6068f5c244a171537449
Will Zach
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JMax
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Photo gots something better heading his way.
tmitchell59
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I don't recall the price either. I do know I have paid top money for most of them. I did not go after the last one just recently. Too small and need of work. Brought $222
Oh yes definitely too big for you Terry, but it’d be a perfect fit on me.
I've sold a few reproduction wools, but not a vintage jacket. When they fit they seem to stay. I do have a too small Sportclad. I have several varieties and sizes. There seems to be an interest in them when they do come around.
There is the lack of the half-belt which is a negative to me.
It certainly looks quite nice, very tasteful jacket. Nice wool piece you don't often see. I do like this black Hercules label. Looks well tailored.
JurassicUtility
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I think the vast majority of Walter Dyer jackets found online are at least real leather, but the real good stuff is vintage. I want to say the original seller said they bought it in the 90s? Hard to find much information about the history of the Walter Dyer business online, but the hearsay on this forum is that their quality went down in recent decades:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/walterdyer.89374/
Huh, I wish I had taken better pictures, but I distinctly remember that my specimen had two layers that appeared to have been glued or bonded together. If you look at that cut edge, is it all one layer? Leather that hasn't been dyed through is usually grey or brown in color, not white, so my suspicion was that the outer layer is basically painted synthetic material. I think I remembered incorrectly when I said the inner layer was textile. Of course that inner layer is leather, since it has a nap, but the color doesn't match what I show in the pictures below. Whether it's 100% genuine leather or not, I wasn't impressed with the quality. Walter Dyer is a business that was around for a long time, and it doesn't surprise me that some of their jackets were made 'to a price' and weren't made with the best materials.
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Claybertrand
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Cool Old Hercules HB ....... Looks to be a size 40 -- Shoulder Seam Issue
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1550690005...P9XeX2wq78mnrsFQeVfS3mEa8=|tkp:Bk9SR67wlva7YA
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1550690005...P9XeX2wq78mnrsFQeVfS3mEa8=|tkp:Bk9SR67wlva7YA