Montgomery Ward (Windward) Motorcycle Jacket History 1947-1963

[tmitchell59]

You can date the aviator by the code on the bottom edge of the sunrise zipper stop. A letter and number. Number is year. Letter is month. Late 30s. This is a nice jacket.

 

[tmitchell59]

The motorcycle jacket is c.1950

 

[axlepressbutton]

You can date the aviator by the code on the bottom edge of the sunrise zipper stop. A letter and number. Number is year. Letter is month. Late 30s. This is a nice jacket.

That's something new I've learnt today. Thx!

Looks like a 1 and an O. Maybe October 1941?

The old guy I bought it from sent me a picture of this 1936 Harley that his 'Pops' used to ride when he wore the jacket. Love hearing history like this about things I buy.

 

[tmitchell59]

The letter is probably an I, the 9th letter of the Alphabet, which represents the 9th month, September. The 0 is the year: I-0 is September 1940. I have a Windward with the same lining, dated September 1939.

 

[tmitchell59]

The Winward brand was Montgomery Ward. Mine was made by Roughwear Clothing, this jacket was made by an unidentified maker. An excellent documentation of this Aviator style used as a motorcycle jacket, though they were not sold as such in 1940.

 

[axlepressbutton]

The Winward brand was Montgomery Ward. Mine was made by Roughwear Clothing, this jacket was made by an unidentified maker. An excellent documentation of this Aviator style used as a motorcycle jacket, though they were not sold as such in 1940.

This is the same jacket as mine. I bet this one has a few stories to tell.

 

[attack_decay]

This is the same jacket as mine. I bet this one has a few stories to tell.

Love that artwork, very cool! Where'd you find that jacket?

 

[tmitchell59]

 

[tmitchell59]

Looks like I have the same jacket in brown. Lining replaced to copy the original Lining, labels lost. Zipper changed

 

[tmitchell59]

 

[tmitchell59]

And this nice 30's 40's half belt Aviator.

Here it is in the 1941 Wards catalog: