What Jacket Are You Wearing Today?

[Monitor]

I got this jacket a couple weeks ago but haven't posted yet. Partly because it's hot out and I can't wear any of my jackets except indoors...

View attachment 350413 View attachment 350416 View attachment 350415
...but also because the second time I tried zipping up the jacket, this happened.

View attachment 350417

To make things worse, the zipper on my RMC Buco J-24 also broke.

With the exception of The Flat Head, all these Japanese brands use such ****ty hardware. I don't get it.

Shame. Fits you extremely well.

 

[jeo]

Shame. Fits you extremely well.

A shame indeed.

I'm not a zip up kind of guy so I'll just wear it opened. I also bought it used so nowhere near full retail but it's still super annoying. I'll try to get it replaced eventually.

 

[JMax]

I got this jacket a couple weeks ago but haven't posted yet. Partly because it's hot out and I can't wear any of my jackets except indoors...

View attachment 350413 View attachment 350416 View attachment 350415
...but also because the second time I tried zipping up the jacket, this happened.

View attachment 350417

To make things worse, the zipper on my RMC Buco J-24 also broke.

With the exception of The Flat Head, all these Japanese brands use such ****ty hardware. I don't get it.

Agreed. What some makers call period correct or zips you have to be patient/careful with, I call ****ty.

I feel for you bud. Very frustrating. Great looking jacket. Do you have someone skilled to swap out the zips?

 

[jeo]

Agreed. What some makers call period correct or zips you have to be patient/careful with, I call ****ty.

Exactly! Though there are some good repro zippers out there. The repro Talons that Himel uses are really great.

I feel for you bud. Very frustrating. Great looking jacket. Do you have someone skilled to swap out the zips?

Thanks man! Johnson Leathers will always be my go to for any kind of leather jacket repairs/alterations.

 

[Jin431]

I got this jacket a couple weeks ago but haven't posted yet. Partly because it's hot out and I can't wear any of my jackets except indoors...

View attachment 350413 View attachment 350416 View attachment 350415
...but also because the second time I tried zipping up the jacket, this happened.

View attachment 350417

To make things worse, the zipper on my RMC Buco J-24 also broke.

With the exception of The Flat Head, all these Japanese brands use such ****ty hardware. I don't get it.

Man that looks so good on you. Congrats on getting this and thanks for letting me have the brown one. This fit looks so perfect here and looks like it has been well loved and those browns showing thru looks fantastic.

That's ***** about the zippers on both jackets. Will you replace it with a similar hardware or upgrade to crown/riri?

 

[ton312]

I got this jacket a couple weeks ago but haven't posted yet. Partly because it's hot out and I can't wear any of my jackets except indoors...

View attachment 350413 View attachment 350416 View attachment 350415
...but also because the second time I tried zipping up the jacket, this happened.

View attachment 350417

To make things worse, the zipper on my RMC Buco J-24 also broke.

With the exception of The Flat Head, all these Japanese brands use such ****ty hardware. I don't get it.

Argh man that absolutely blows!!! Those flimsy *** Talons are junk. I assume that’s what’s on it. They feel like plastic. Ironic because the vintage Talons will shred the male pin ten times over before separating like that. Jacket looks brilliant otherwise. PIA.

 

[Joshua Holland]

Picked this jacket up in New York City a couple months ago from The Cast. They've been around since 2004 with the aim of keeping the rock and roll heritage of the Lower East Side alive and well. The jackets are made right there in the city. A cool shop with good people if you're ever in the area.
FYI...this jacket is off the shelf, rare for me to find that fits well (and they can customize).

View media item 4109

 

[ericsanpablo31]

I got this jacket a couple weeks ago but haven't posted yet. Partly because it's hot out and I can't wear any of my jackets except indoors...

View attachment 350413 View attachment 350416 View attachment 350415
...but also because the second time I tried zipping up the jacket, this happened.

View attachment 350417

To make things worse, the zipper on my RMC Buco J-24 also broke.

With the exception of The Flat Head, all these Japanese brands use such ****ty hardware. I don't get it.

have to be careful with those hookless zips. You could probably try contacting Freewheelers to see if they can sell you a replacement zipper. Zipper replacement should be too hard from the looks of it (remove the top u stopper and re-insert the replacement).

 

[jeo]

Man that looks so good on you. Congrats on getting this and thanks for letting me have the brown one. This fit looks so perfect here and looks like it has been well loved and those browns showing thru looks fantastic.

That's ***** about the zippers on both jackets. Will you replace it with a similar hardware or upgrade to crown/riri?

Thanks man!

I'll probably send it to JL at some point so I'll refer to them. As long as it's the same size and color on both jackets I don't care, anything would be better than what they use.

Argh man that absolutely blows!!! Those flimsy *** Talons are junk. I assume that’s what’s on it. They feel like plastic. Ironic because the vintage Talons will shred the male pin ten times over before separating like that. Jacket looks brilliant otherwise. PIA.

Yes they **** big time.

It's a repro zip. Same exact zipper that is on my RMC Wayward and both my FW Cabooses and an older Rainbow Country I had, they just say different things on them but they are all clearly the same zipper. The FW's all say "Bootleg" on the zippers.

When they are new and you know how to use them, they're not bad, but they don't seem to be able to hold up over time.

 

[jeo]

have to be careful with those hookless zips. You could probably try contacting Freewheelers to see if they can sell you a replacement zipper. Zipper replacement should be too hard from the looks of it (remove the top u stopper and re-insert the replacement).

Yes they can be tricky if you've never used them before, but it's not that, they're just really cheap and flimsy. The zipper pull broke as I was struggling with it or it was already broken, I didn't notice when I bought the jacket. Either way I was able to bend it back into place with my fingers.

I definitely don't want another one. I'm sure JL can replace it with something better.

 

[Bfd70]

Picked this jacket up in New York City a couple months ago from The Cast. They've been around since 2004 with the aim of keeping the rock and roll heritage of the Lower East Side alive and well. The jackets are made right there in the city. A cool shop with good people if you're ever in the area.
FYI...this jacket is off the shelf, rare for me to find that fits well (and they can customize).

View media item 4109

Need a closer look at that jacket. In the mean time

 

[ABCD]

Yes they can be tricky if you've never used them before, but it's not that, they're just really cheap and flimsy. The zipper pull broke as I was struggling with it or it was already broken, I didn't notice when I bought the jacket. Either way I was able to bend it back into place with my fingers.

View attachment 350453

I definitely don't want another one. I'm sure JL can replace it with something better.

These are quality repro's. Sun fastening systems.

 

[Tom71]

I got this jacket a couple weeks ago but haven't posted yet. Partly because it's hot out and I can't wear any of my jackets except indoors...

View attachment 350413 View attachment 350416 View attachment 350415
...but also because the second time I tried zipping up the jacket, this happened.

View attachment 350417

To make things worse, the zipper on my RMC Buco J-24 also broke.

With the exception of The Flat Head, all these Japanese brands use such ****ty hardware. I don't get it.

Looks great on you!

You seem to share my issue with the sizing of the Mulholland. I suspect if I sized down, mine would look just like yours, but I aimed at something I can layer with, as the lining is very warm to begin with ruling it out as a pure summer jacket. It still works with a T-Shirt, but you achieved the real Rock´n´Roll look!

 

[Tom71]

Yes they can be tricky if you've never used them before, but it's not that, they're just really cheap and flimsy. The zipper pull broke as I was struggling with it or it was already broken, I didn't notice when I bought the jacket. Either way I was able to bend it back into place with my fingers.

View attachment 350453

I definitely don't want another one. I'm sure JL can replace it with something better.

It´s the same story over and over again. Some makers are just too stubborn to deviate from their "but it´s period-correct" tune.
I am by now pretty sick and tired of having to listing to "you just have to be careful" explanations (Freewheelers even include a "zip-up-manual" with the new jackets; I posted it in this thread some time ago).
TFL is full of stories and pictures of broken zippers, so it can´t be the unability of buyers to zip up a $3.000 jacket when all works fine on a $100 mall jacket with plastic zippers.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

That jacket fits you extremely well @jeo

Definitely a shame about the zipper. They really need to be babied. Fortunately I almost never need to zip them up.

 

[58panheadfan]

Here is a good source, if you are looking for some kind of repair kit Easy to deal with Takashi-san.

 

[ES335]

Agreed. What some makers call period correct or zips you have to be patient/careful with, I call ****ty.

I feel for you bud. Very frustrating. Great looking jacket. Do you have someone skilled to swap out the zips?

There's no excuse for junk hardware, especially at the price point of these jackets. A zipper should last damn near forever.

 

[Pandemic]

Picked this jacket up in New York City a couple months ago from The Cast. They've been around since 2004 with the aim of keeping the rock and roll heritage of the Lower East Side alive and well. The jackets are made right there in the city. A cool shop with good people if you're ever in the area.
FYI...this jacket is off the shelf, rare for me to find that fits well (and they can customize).

View media item 4109

That looks like a cool shop - great to see more US made leather jackets and some classic designs.

Need a closer look at that jacket. In the mean time

Great band! Definitely brings back some memories.

 

[handymike]

Here is a good source, if you are looking for some kind of repair kit Easy to deal with Takashi-san.

Thanks for this link!
There should be a Parts and Repairs thread...
I love the Waldes uncoated brass hardware, it’s the only current brand that will tarnish and dull down like the old solid brass ones.

 

[jeo]

These are quality repro's. Sun fastening systems.

View attachment 350457

Thanks for sharing man! The Talon pictured there looks very similar to what FW uses (at least in shape).

Looks great on you!

You seem to share my issue with the sizing of the Mulholland. I suspect if I sized down, mine would look just like yours, but I aimed at something I can layer with, as the lining is very warm to begin with ruling it out as a pure summer jacket. It still works with a T-Shirt, but you achieved the real Rock´n´Roll look!

Thanks, it’s such a cool jacket!

The size 36 Mulholland that I sold fit me larger than how yours fits. Yours is a more practical fit and looks better than how my 36 fit me. This 34 is a bit tight, but I prefer this fit way better.

That jacket fits you extremely well @jeo

Definitely a shame about the zipper. They really need to be babied. Fortunately I almost never need to zip them up.

Thanks dude! They definitely need to be babied.

Here is a good source, if you are looking for some kind of repair kit Easy to deal with Takashi-san.

Thanks!

There's no excuse for junk hardware, especially at the price point of these jackets. A zipper should last damn near forever.

Yes!!