Montgomery Ward (Windward) Motorcycle Jacket History 1947-1963

[jchance]

Montgomery Ward Care tag for Horsehide, circa 1950s

 

[r.biker]

Hi all, did anyone ever find any more definitive info on these Montgomery wards with this label?

Also are thye meant to have two stars on the epaulettes? (& if so where would you source some replacement ones, ideally in the UK?)

I think ive managed to score a good one of these for a great price (pictured), but will need some cleaning, bit of restitching and some tlc to get it back to a good position..

 

[jchance]

Hi all, did anyone ever find any more definitive info on these Montgomery wards with this label?

Also are thye meant to have two stars on the epaulettes? (& if so where would you source some replacement ones, ideally in the UK?)

I think ive managed to score a good one of these for a great price (pictured), but will need some cleaning, bit of restitching and some tlc to get it back to a good position..

1960s-1970s MW label. Nice grains on the sleeves!

This MW jacket appears to have 2 stars on the epaulets, one shown below.

Montgomery Ward - Vintage Fashion Guild

Montgomery Ward was the world’s first mail order catalog business. It was established in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward. The business was catalog-only until 1926, when the first Montgomery Ward store was opened in Plymouth, Indiana. Within four years there were more than 500 stores across the...

vintagefashionguild.org

 

[attack_decay]

For replacement stars, you want 1" star studs, they are available from a number of leather craft places. Just make sure to get the ones with multiple prints on the bottom. I got these to replace the stars on an old J.C. Penny's jacket and it was a perfect match. If yours had stars on the epaulets, the holes from these prongs should still be present - I just fed the new star's prongs through the old holes, as best as I was able.

 

[Harry Fabian]

Anybody know what year this tag is from? On a 2 star jacket

 

[tmitchell59]

Anybody know what year this tag is from? On a 2 star jacket

View attachment 721259

early 50s, with Nylon lined on label.

 

[Harry Fabian]

Thanks Tmitchell59.

I just made a video on my jacket in full with details.

 

[PeterRocco]

Thanks Tmitchell59.

I just made a video on my jacket in full with details.

Hi. I saw your YouTube Video and made some comments.
I just bought this Montgomery Ward jacket like yours, but not as old and I believe yours might be made out of horse hide? This one is bigger than the one I’m selling on eBay so it should fit and it comes with the removable Fur Collar which is very rare to find.

 

[jchance]

Any sightings of this MW label yet? Some of the images in @tmitchell59 second post aren't showing up so I’m not sure. The ‘genuine leather’ makes me think it’s a later steerhide jacket but I’m just guessing…

Ideal zips and an odd ‘ice cream’ one if that helps!

View attachment 611289 View attachment 611290 View attachment 611291 View attachment 611292 View attachment 611293 View attachment 611294

Realllly want to take a stitch ripper to that HD patch…

Is the jacket made in Korea? That MW label is usually accompanied by a “made in Korea” tag. Korea-made jackets were popular in 1970s and 1980s.

 

[PeterRocco]

It is their newer label. My opinion is that it probably is.

 

[Peacoat]

Reminder: This thread is for discussion of the history of the Montgomery Ward motorcycle history from 1947 to 1963. It is an historical resource thread. As such comments should be limited to the stated topic.

Occasionally, I will go through and delete extraneous comments .

 

[jchance]

1971:

1981:

1982:

1983:

 

[jchance]

1930:

1931:

1937:

1938:

1942: Windward

 

[tmitchell59]

I have not looked through this thread, so not sure if this model is in here. This is interesting because of it's label.

I have seen "Western Made" on other Wards jackets. I believed they used this phrase because the jackets were not made in California, as jacket made in California often said such.

This jacket has the Western Made, but was in fact made in California by California Sportwear Co. This is their cowhide leather tag. Probably from the later 1950s.

 

[jchance]

Montgomery Ward Care tag for Horsehide, circa 1950s

View attachment 714940

Front tag:

 

[jchance]

1924-25:

1936:

 

[jchance]

Late 1930s-early 1940s MW by LA Sportogs ponyhide ribbon label, with signature diagonal sleeve:

 

[jchance]

Ward catalog of late 1940s-1950s. Middle jacket by Roughwear (2-way pocket) for Admiral Byrd, far right jacket by Block-Bilt

This same Block-Bilt jacket was also featured in Ward’s 1941 catalog, top left, for a cheaper price.

and even cheaper at an earlier Ward ad (left jacket):