My First Vintage Leather: 40s Sears Hercules D Pocket Motorcycle Jacket

[americana.alex]

Thought I’d share most recent pickup here as I’m sure some of you would appreciate it.

This is my (new to me) late 40s Sears Hercules Motorcycle jacket. This is my first time handling a vintage leather jacket like this one.

As far as I know, this jacket is in incredible condition for being just over 75+ years old. The lining is incredible, the horsehide is full of life, and the jacket also fits me. Felt like the stars aligned when I saw this one up for sale on eBay and once I saw the measurements, condition, and price all line up. I couldn’t pass on it. I can certainly understand the appeal for vintage now as the pattern and build quality are immaculate on this jacket.

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Special thanks to @tmitchell59 and @Nacho for giving me some insights and info on this beautiful jacket

 

[Jiaward]

That is a beauty. Congrats.

 

[americana.alex]

More photos

 

[Will Zach]

Holy molly. The jacket, the condition, the fit. A trifecta!

 

[Aloysius]

This is the vintage motorcycle jacket I want most. At some point I expect I'll settle for an Aero KoTR to make up for it.

 

[vilexile]

the condition is incredible!

 

[jchance]

Nice kop!

 

[tmitchell59]

You did well buying this one. This is 49, 50 edition of the Sears MC jacket. The first edition was c.1948, with no handwarmer pocket at the right side. These were available in horsehide and goatskin. Their wool lining was in a different pattern. The 2nd edition has the right side pocket, wool lining in a standard pattern, red, green. Green appears the most often. This also continues the half-belt back. The early Blatt jackets have rivets on the belt loops.

Your jacket does not appear to have a half-belt back. This would be the 3rd edition in only a couple of years. California Sportswear also made wool lined MC jackets, though most appear to be made by Blatt.

To me, it makes sense, Blatt of Chicago in the hometown of Sears. After these early jackets they don't seem to appear again. California Sportswear, Appalachian, Roughwear were the maker. This too makes sense, Sear was the biggest seller of MC during this post war boom, CSC and Roughwear could handled the production demands while making a quality product.

There was a lot of demand during this time, competition between all the retailers and thus the makers. Buco also produced a line of MC jackets with Sears labels for a few years.

There is a full thread here on the Sears MC jackets. It has a lot of information. It needs some updating.

One thing that interest me; flip the tongue of the pull and show the stop. The pull is from the 40s. It will be interesting to see which stop is used.

I sold one very much like this a few years back. It brought good money and a promise from me to buy it back in a year for the same money. Of course he knew what he got.

 

[americana.alex]

You did well buying this one. This is 49, 50 edition of the Sears MC jacket. The first edition was c.1948, with no handwarmer pocket at the right side. These were available in horsehide and goatskin. Their wool lining was in a different pattern. The 2nd edition has the right side pocket, wool lining in a standard pattern, red, green. Green appears the most often. This also continues the half-belt back. The early Blatt jackets have rivets on the belt loops.

Your jacket does not appear to have a half-belt back. This would be the 3rd edition in only a couple of years. California Sportswear also made wool lined MC jackets, though most appear to be made by Blatt.

To me, it makes sense, Blatt of Chicago in the hometown of Sears. After these early jackets they don't seem to appear again. California Sportswear, Appalachian, Roughwear were the maker. This too makes sense, Sear was the biggest seller of MC during this post war boom, CSC and Roughwear could handled the production demands while making a quality product.

There was a lot of demand during this time, competition between all the retailers and thus the makers. Buco also produced a line of MC jackets with Sears labels for a few years.

There is a full thread here on the Sears MC jackets. It has a lot of information. It needs some updating.

One thing that interest me; flip the tongue of the pull and show the stop. The pull is from the 40s. It will be interesting to see which stop is used.

I sold one very much like this a few years back. It brought good money and a promise from me to buy it back in a year for the same money. Of course he knew what he got.

Really appreciate this, Terry. Sure I’ll go ahead and attach an image with the stop here

 

[tmitchell59]

Really appreciate this, Terry. Sure I’ll go ahead and attach an image with the stop here

Thanks for posting the stop box. This is the "40s" stop box with Talon down the middle. The stop box lost the Talon name around this time. You often see the old pull with the new non-labeled box, I call a transition assemble. Doesn't mean anything about quality, just adds to the dating process.