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

[regius]

Thanks @Monitor! Yes, the collar and lapel are a big detail I'm focusing on, as well as the athletic back taper. Currently I don't have the luxury to use uniform thickness leather, so the panels are made out of very different animals lol, 4oz goat that's thick, plush and pliable, 3.5oz Italian cowhide (I believe my T2 from Bates was made out of this), it's nice, chrome tanned, but more for BMW carseats..., I do have a fantastic black, coated veg goat (the D pocket is made of it), amazing color and grain. It squeaks like nobody's biz due to the waterproof coating.

 

[Monitor]

Thanks @Monitor! Yes, the collar and lapel are a big detail I'm focusing on, as well as the athletic back taper. Currently I don't have the luxury to use uniform thickness leather, so the panels are made out of very different animals lol, 4oz goat that's thick, plush and pliable, 3.5oz Italian cowhide (I believe my T2 from Bates was made out of this), it's nice, chrome tanned, but more for BMW carseats..., I do have a fantastic black, coated veg goat (the D pocket is made of it), amazing color and grain. It squeaks like nobody's biz due to the waterproof coating.

Collar and lapels are the most important deal for me but many makers seem to completely ignore it and make it as standard as possible. And you've nailed the Half-belt look, too. And the sleeves. Just the right proportions all around. You'll be killin' it in no time.

 

[Guppy]

Anyone want to own up to being the high bidder on this one? It shot way up in the last hour.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363044217370

 

[robrinay]

I find the history of the Barbour Ursula very interesting and regretted trading mine A few weeks ago but I’ve managed to find another on greedbay - I just hope it fits?
The back story of the design can be found here
https://www.thevintageshowroom.com/the-ursula-suit-revisited/

 

[ton312]

Sigh...It’s that time of year again. Time to get back on the merry-go-round of Levi’s Sherpa truckers. At least they are cheap. Hadn’t seen this wash (black/grey) before so not buying it would’ve been a problem for me.

 

[Edward]

I like the simple, functional design of these French-worker-style unlined chore jackets and own a few, all obtained cheap at military surplus shops Stateside [a blue cotton drill of German origin, a moleskin one from Italy, & a green cotton twill from Sweden]. The only detail I find frustrating is the near total lack of drop from shoulder to waist, across the board. Which is not simply an aesthetic issue - I often use them as shop clothes, both for the convenient pockets & to protect my shirt from stains or tears - and the extra loose fabric around the belly will often drag into bench work, getting glue, paint or stain on it, etc.

It's gotten annoying enough I plan on getting them all taken in once the virus subsides a bit. Which would likely cost more than the price of purchase!

THe boxy shape work for me at the minute; I'm still shifting the weight down, and many jackets with a more 'v'ed shape are too tight for me once they hit the belly and can't be fastened. It is, of course, true to the originals in shape, as they were intended to fit ove whatever was being worn for the season, to protect the French workman's clothes from manual labour. It could be that some tucked or belted them if there was a concern about machinery... I'm not sure how far or whether the basic design pre-dates industrialisation. (They also have an interesting echo of the Mao suit, though those were taditionally four-pocket; I don't recall exactly the reason, but it's tied in with Taoism and trsaditional Chinese spirituality.) The more expensive, fashion-oriented jackets are definitely tapered; Im' guessing because mine was aiem at the cheaper end of the market it makes sense to make it boxyt so fewer sizes fit a wider range. I must get some photos. I'm very pelased with it; as we're still largely under lockdown conditions in my home, it's great to have something I can throw on over an undershirt on the rare occasion I do step outside to go to tohe shop or walk the dog. Nice quality cotton too - way better than I'd anticipated.

 

[Downunder G Man]

Just had arrive in Perth Western Australia a Fidelity café racer in 44" , brown steerhide. In VERY good order.

A big shout out to robinray , a gentleman forum member. So sorry not "coming" per se but here this arvo.

I have lubed the Talon zippers with zipper lube , and treated the jacket with R.M. Williams leather treatment.

Tomorrow whatever has not penetrated will be buffed with a soft terry towel, that's my method anyways.

The jacket did not perhaps need the 100% treatment but I do it to all my used jackets on arrival.

Photos are from the supplier , robinray of Sheffield UK , I will get new pics onto the "What jacket" thread soon.

 

[Monitor]

This Excelled just arrived but I think I'm going to have to replace the zippers. In case you can't tell, the engraving says KKK. Lol, I would understand if this was an outsourced production but kind of surprising to see this choice of hardware on a jacket made in the USA.

 

[Guppy]

Ugh. Why not YKK? I never heard of a KKK zipper before. Maybe you can just change the pulls. Would be a pain to go through all that trouble though.

 

[Monitor]

Ugh. Why not YKK? I never heard of a KKK zipper before. Maybe you can just change the pulls. Would be a pain to go through all that trouble though.

Haha, I dunno what they were thinking. The main zipper is a YKK, the rest are all KKK. So stupid! It's a cool jacket otherwise and fits so nice.
Replacing pulls is what I meant, just gotta find some nice chain pulls.

 

[JMax]

Haha, I dunno what they were thinking. The main zipper is a YKK, the rest are all KKK. So stupid! It's a cool jacket otherwise and fits so nice.
Replacing pulls is what I meant, just gotta find some nice chain pulls.

That’s one I’ve yet to see. Maybe just scrape off a K? Lol.

 

[Monitor]

That’s one I’ve yet to see. Maybe just scrape off a K? Lol.

It's pretty hilarious in a way. Took me a good minute to actually process the fact that's what on the zippers. I mean, it doesn't have any meaning where I am of course but it's a nice jacket and I'd much prefer it with chain pulls. Might make a project out of it.

 

[Guppy]

Anyone want to own up to being the high bidder on this one? It shot way up in the last hour.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363044217370

Happy ending for me. The high bidder apparently backed out and I got a second chance offer, which I accepted. That's only the second time that's ever happened for me. It'll probably be a few weeks before it will arrive.

Haha, I dunno what they were thinking. The main zipper is a YKK, the rest are all KKK. So stupid! It's a cool jacket otherwise and fits so nice.
Replacing pulls is what I meant, just gotta find some nice chain pulls.

Maybe just get a dremel tool and grind down the bottom diagonal stroke on the first K so that it looks like a Y...

 

[JMax]

It's pretty hilarious in a way. Took me a good minute to actually process the fact that's what on the zippers. I mean, it doesn't have any meaning where I am of course but it's a nice jacket and I'd much prefer it with chain pulls. Might make a project out of it.

It has to be a mistake made by the YKK factory. Or custom made by some idiot somewhere? Seems a petty mod but hey, that ain’t how I think.

 

[Guppy]

Anyone want to own up to being the high bidder on this one? It shot way up in the last hour.

Happy ending on this one for me. Apparently the high bidder backed out, because I got a "second chance" offer from eBay on it today, and accepted it. I'm worried it'll be tight on me, but we'll see. It looks like a nice heavy horsehide center-zip police jacket. Listing said '40's vintage, but I am sure it's not that old. Maybe more like '60s. Any guess as to maker? I don't think it's a Cal, maybe it could be Taylor's or Appalachian, but I have no clue honestly. Doesn't seem to have any maker's tag or size tag in it, and that means I probably paid too much.

 

[JMax]

Happy ending on this one for me. Apparently the high bidder backed out, because I got a "second chance" offer from eBay on it today, and accepted it. I'm worried it'll be tight on me, but we'll see. It looks like a nice heavy horsehide center-zip police jacket. Listing said '40's vintage, but I am sure it's not that old. Maybe more like '60s. Any guess as to maker? I don't think it's a Cal, maybe it could be Taylor's or Appalachian, but I have no clue honestly. Doesn't seem to have any maker's tag or size tag in it, and that means I probably paid too much.

View attachment 249475
View attachment 249476

Californian has those type of belt loops, far as I can tell from pics. Vintage Golden Bear too. In any case, it looks quite nice.

 

[RockSolid]

Dremel the KKK inscription so you don't have to replace them

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Do you really think that people will look that closely at your zipper pulls? Seriously..??

 

[Guppy]

Do you really think that people will look that closely at your zipper pulls? Seriously..??

I would.

 

[El Marro]

Haha, I dunno what they were thinking. The main zipper is a YKK, the rest are all KKK. So stupid! It's a cool jacket otherwise and fits so nice.

There is probably a perfectly reasonable explanation for how someone decided to call their business “The KKK Zipper Company” and yet you would think that someone else would have had the good sense to stop them before they went into production...
I’m surprised that Excelled used them on their jackets, kind of disturbing actually.