How many new jackets do you have coming (and how many potential ones)?

[JMax]

Olive drab stitching instead of the white or cream. Dark blue Japanese chambray lining and top stitching on the sleeves.

That lining will look spectacular. Great contrast that will make the octagon pop even more.

 

[Lebowski]

Sears Herc. Main zip is trashed, liner looks a bit “gamey”. Numbers looked good and I trust the seller. It’ll be headed straight to Dena upon arrival.
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Ton, it deserves to buy original NOS Conmar or Talon from 40s-50s, to let Dena do her best. No YKK for this beaut please, YKK will ruin that.

 

[ton312]

Ton, it deserves to buy original NOS Conmar or Talon from 40s-50s, to let Dena do her best. No YKK for this beaut please, YKK will ruin that.

LOL. I appreciate the input but respectfully disagree. It will improve its functionality 10 fold. I can’t buy another flimsy zipper to replace the flimsy one that already failed. I might shop for a riri but those God awful Talons and Conmars should go straight into a recycle bin and turned into soup cans or storage containers for canned yams.

 

[Lebowski]

LOL. I appreciate the input but respectfully disagree. It will improve its functionality 10 fold. I can’t buy another flimsy zipper to replace the flimsy one that already failed. I might shop for a riri but those God awful Talons and Conmars should go straight into a recycle bin and turned into soup cans or storage containers for canned yams.

Ton, if you feel so much sceptic about #5's (sorry, don't agree with you if we're speaking about NOS originals, not repros), then possibly original NOS #10 Talon or #10 Conmar might be quite a good choice too. Or at least famous Riri #8. I'd go for #10 Talon or Conmar then, it's qoing to be quite a bit less pricey than Riri) Up to you if course, but not YKK anyway! When any historical original goes with modern YKK it looks awful and to me that ruins the whole jacket.

 

[Imuricecreamman]

Sears Herc. Main zip is trashed, liner looks a bit “gamey”. Numbers looked good and I trust the seller. It’ll be headed straight to Dena upon arrival.
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********! I love that flat brown on vintage horsehide. That could be the perfect spring/fall jacket.

 

[ton312]

********! I love that flat brown on vintage horsehide. That could be the perfect spring/fall jacket.

After I saw your penny’s I was on the hunt! I love the originals man. Between this and my Goodgal should have a vintage Halfbelt covered!

 

[ton312]

Ton, if you feel so much sceptic about #5's (sorry, don't agree with you if we're speaking about NOS originals, not repros), then possibly original NOS #10 Talon or #10 Conmar might be quite a good choice too. Or at least famous Riri #8. I'd go for #10 Talon or Conmar then, it's qoing to be quite a bit less pricey than Riri) Up to you if course, but not YKK anyway! When any historical original goes with modern YKK it looks awful and to me that ruins the whole jacket.

That’s an interesting point of view. I’ve often wondered about this sentiment, especially around here, where all things Japan are held in the highest regard. The one exception being the most widely used zipper in the world, a reputation based solely on its reliability (which is the actual point of a zipper, to be functional and reliable).
So...all thing Japan are great, best of the best, except for one thing that they have produced for decades and is used all over the world based on its superior strength and reliability?

 

[Monitor]

YKK looks great to me.

 

[Lebowski]

That’s an interesting point of view. I’ve often wondered about this sentiment, especially around here, where all things Japan are held in the highest regard. The one exception being the most widely used zipper in the world, a reputation based solely on its reliability (which is the actual point of a zipper, to be functional and reliable).
So...all thing Japan are great, best of the best, except for one thing that they have produced for decades and is used all over the world based on its superior strength and reliability?

To each their own) I'd never buy any historical original jacket with zipper changed from damaged original to modern YKK. I value period correctness and originality and have just supposed that this not expensive jacket might deserve original zipper because of the leather which looks quite interesting to my taste, interesting enough to warrant a little fuss. Once again - to each their own, no problem)
Anyway, nice purchase, congrats Ton! Well done!)

 

[Cornelius]

"Little Parts. Big Difference." Nice tag line there, YKK

 

[ton312]

To each their own) I'd never buy any historical original jacket with zipper changed from damaged original to modern YKK. I value period correctness and originality and have just supposed that this not expensive jacket might deserve original zipper because of the leather which looks quite interesting to my taste, interesting enough to warrant a little fuss. Once again - to each their own, no problem)
Anyway, nice purchase, congrats Ton! Well done!)

I hear you. I value functionality in the current period in which I live over paying homage to one in the past. Although one could argue that buying vintage pieces at all is doing precisely that.
I do get it though. Lots of boorish comments often thrown at YKK. Imho it’s a kind of snobbish nonsense. I do understand not appreciating the appearance of a large zipper as some don’t but for me that is the last place I want to hassle with a jacket.

 

[Lebowski]

I hear you. I value functionality in the current period in which I live over paying homage to one in the past. Although one could argue that buying vintage pieces at all is doing precisely that.
I do get it though. Lots of boorish comments often thrown at YKK. Imho it’s a kind of snobbish nonsense. I do understand not appreciating the appearance of a large zipper as some don’t but for me that is the last place I want to hassle with a jacket.

Large? Well, yes may be. But install YKK on any good vintage american original? No, thanks.

 

[ton312]

Large? Well, yes may be. But install YKK on any good vintage american original? No, thanks.

I must’ve missed your posts about restoring vintage jackets...I’d love to see some pictures of what you have chosen to do.
I’ve actually had the opposite experience with YKK. After having a #10 installed on this HH Goodgal the functionality vastly improved and I can use this shearling lined jacket as it was intended, for hard wear in winter months. As far as the appearance goes...to my eye it’s just fine and fits the jacket more suitably than the tiny original that was better suited for pockets. Personally I suspect the Herc will look no less “ruined” than what you see below.

 

[Monitor]

Lots of boorish comments often thrown at YKK. Imho it’s a kind of snobbish nonsense. I do understand not appreciating the appearance of a large zipper as some don’t but for me that is the last place I want to hassle with a jacket.

It's exactly that.

And haven't we established that YKK makes LITERALLY the same looking and operating zipper as any other brand of the old? What's there to dislike?

 

[roadking04]

I am with Ton on this one. A #10 on a heavy leather jacket is a must for me. A number 5 zipper on a heavy duty, industrial strength, dinosaur hide, utility jacket like this Goodgal would look silly and out of place.

On a side note, I wonder what jacket would win in a steel cage match, Goodgal vs. TRD. lol. 2 jackets enter, 1 jacket leaves.

 

[ton312]

It's exactly that.

And haven't we established that YKK makes LITERALLY the same looking and operating zipper as any other brand of the old? What's there to dislike?

99% of all zippers are YKK. Either rebranded or stamped YKK. It’s essentially a monopoly.

 

[Lebowski]

99% of all zippers are YKK. Either rebranded or stamped YKK. It’s essentially a monopoly.

Yep, and that's the reason I dislike, don't like monopolies at all. Your main thought about mighty main zippers for heavy leathers is reasonable I should admit, yet still will prefer #10s from big old good triple: Crown, Conmar, Talon. Esp. for old good originals. Not YKK, no way. O'k, I suppose there's enough arguing, once again - to each their own. I understand that some things which are very important for some people might have no sense for some other people, that's quite common practice and that's O'k. Just told my personal point about zippers for old originals. No problem if there are people who don't care about that.

 

[Lebowski]

I must’ve missed your posts about restoring vintage jackets...I’d love to see some pictures of what you have chosen to do.
I’ve actually had the opposite experience with YKK. After having a #10 installed on this HH Goodgal the functionality vastly improved and I can use this shearling lined jacket as it was intended, for hard wear in winter months. As far as the appearance goes...to my eye it’s just fine and fits the jacket more suitably than the tiny original that was better suited for pockets. Personally I suspect the Herc will look no less “ruined” than what you see below.
View attachment 245244

This jacket is ****** cool!

 

[Mich486]

And haven't we established that YKK makes LITERALLY the same looking and operating zipper as any other brand of the old? What's there to dislike?

But I think this is exactly the point.

Unless you are really bothered by those three letters only visible with a magnifying glass then YKK can look the same as any talon/conmar/you name it repro. Repro zips for repro jackets. The only really debatable point imho is the size of the zip.

 

[JMax]

I don’t want to speak for Lebowski, but I think his point is more directed at true vintage jackets. I see his point, though I prefer I solid zipper I don’t have to worry about. I wear my jackets “hard”. I want a hard zipper. The old Crowns fit this bill in my book, limited my experience may be. The old 10 Talons too. But the 10 YKKs are definitely fire and forget. I like that. Reasonably priced too.