Thank you for your generous comments, they make the work worth the effort! When I got into Vintage guitars I got in deep, compiled a lot of data, pics, cross references, etc. I've shared that on the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum or UMFG. When I retired Guitar trading retired also. I can own a lot of leather jackets for the cost of a couple of guitars. I've got plenty of guitars. I do what I do because it interest me. I buy what interest me. I like the connections that are uncovered. I like learning. I have many questions and much speculation. You are correct about the Money! I can do what I do and say what I say and Know what I know because I have paid for my education! I pass along some nice jackets in the process and hopefully some fun/interesting history. I believe much information on vintage leather jackets is in Japan. They own the largest share which probably came from David Himel and a host of other pickers. You learn a lot having the jackets in your hands. Japanese were also very involved in the vintage guitar market. I continue to search for bits and pieces, like a puzzle. I am currently working on a Ralphs-Pugh visual history. It is already an interesting story as I have been in contact with a member of the family. He sent me a picture of a Catalog he had framed on the wall at Ralphs-Pugh Co. He had a picture of a cloth jacket and tales of his mother having a leather jacket at her house. He is tracking down other leads. I'll post it all in the Ralphs-Pugh thread. At least it is a connection with the past. I have thought of a Catalog jacket project. Compare the Hercules, Sportclad, Windward. You learn a lot owning the jackets. I could share a few thoughts.
Perfect! Notice the complete lack of anything resembling a Cafe Racer in 1949-1963 catalogs. I have 65, 70, 75 pages with no CR style jacket pictured. I have seen them, but know nothing about them. Look forward to seeing and learning about them
I would love to see the Ralph-Pugh when it’s complete and am willing to pay. I truly believe you should put together a Sears book as well. I would not only be willing to buy and help fund. Hell I’d love to be a long-distance assistant if needed. What I always say why I love TFL over other places is we appreciate both the fashion and the history. There are forums for just the fashion and just the history we do both and do it well here. I think the things long time collectors and historians like you provide are beyond a dollar amount. Though as I’ve said I am willing to pay because I think it’s so interesting and important. Let me know if I can ever help. Let me know if you ever make a hard copy or downloadable history of Ralph and/or Sears. If anyone has the knowledge and earned their stripes in doing it, it’s you. The guys on forums like this are going to spend the money no matter what. And even though sometimes we talk smack about Schott or Rin Tanaka I’d be willing to bet we almost all own the books. So if we’re going to spend and buy it, might as well be on one of our own. Keep us in the loop on your progress and maybe just maybe we can get ya to make a Sears history.
My wool lined and the jacket you pictured are the same except for the Styled and Made in California phrase on the label. There is actually another variation on the wool lined that has a sewn in half-belt in the back. I forgot about it.
Are these the jackets you referenced? The second one is Terry's 1949 Hercules. Edit Note: I see that Terry posted as I was uploading the files.
From Himel "The Art of Vintage Jackets" link http://vintageleatherjackets.blogsp...0-04:00&max-results=11&start=22&by-date=false Sear D pocket 1950 Sear D pocket 1961 1952 Sears D pocket with reference to Allstate equipment
Yes. I don't know why but many postwar jackets have the blackened metal parts including zippers. It appears my jacket has the zippers on top the sleeve instead on the side as the ebay jacket. Here is the other variation with the sewn in half-belt
Thanks for posting this @tmitchell59 ! Such a great resource. This really shows me that Sears deserves more love for their jackets.
I’ve already gushed on how much I appreciate your research and how much I would buy/support a Ralph-Pugh and Sears photo history Book. But last point I want to add is that I hope this thread really does bring a lot more love to the Sears range of jackets. I know some of us here have owned some, and no I wouldn’t necessarily say they were the best. But they certainly weren’t the worst. They had a ton of killer designed all decently produced. If anyone looks through this thread and the other Sears thread you made I hope they come away saying wow I never knew. They definitely deserve some love.
You ended up purchasing it from a nice lady on eBay. She was not fully aware of the jacket she had. Though if I recall, it had the green lining.
Thank you. The Ralphs-Pugh chapter is about done. I have all the images in chronological order. I need to edit my text. I am also waiting on some information from the company. This will add to what little is known. Put the information in one place. I think of each installment as a chapter. Sears Motorcycle Jackets, Sears Post-War Leather, 1946-1960, Sears War-Time 40-45, Sears 1930s from Buttons to Zippers. I've got all the catalog pages, a ton of pictures and a few jackets. I have barely touched on the 30s early 40s jackets. These are my favorites. But last point I want to add is that I hope this thread really does bring a lot more love to the Sears range of jackets. I know some of us here have owned some, and no I wouldn’t necessarily say they were the best. B I would say there was a point when all the Catalog companies had high quality products, certainly the mid 30s-mid 40s. Hercules has become the most well known of the labels. They are quality products. I really want to do a thread on Catalog jacket comparisons. I have some opinions/speculation and would be interested in hearing from others. The Top Three: Sears, J.C. Penney, Wards.
Well however you look at it as expressed I can’t wait to see it all complete in some manner. And yeah back in these days those big stores did have some great stuff, all high quality. I just meant there were some places like Cal or Langlitz going back doing some really really nice and different things. But I’ve yet to come across anything from Sears between the 40-60s that was bad. Lots of variety and very nice products. Ralph-Pugh I’ve only seen one jacket in real life and some of the pictures posted around here. So I can’t say on a large scale how high quality they were, but from what I’ve seen they really had super nice leather. Really picked the best stuff.