Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

[JMax]

It's from a time machine! Looks new!

Such a cool jacket too. Love the design, front and back.

 

[Yamahana]

Horsehide Excelled. In a style that I haven’t seen before. Seller says it’s from 30’s but don’t know what he’s basing it off of. It is an older earlier one though.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-19...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

 

[Yamahana]

Sears Fraternity Prep
Definitely not a deal or a bargain

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1950s-Frat...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

 

[photo2u]

Sears Fraternity Prep
Definitely not a deal or a bargain
View attachment 385467 View attachment 385468 View attachment 385469
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1950s-Frat...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Just a little over my price range.

 

[Coriu]

...some perspective. Believe it or not, there was a day when one had to "write for a free catalog." This often involved sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope...so it cost one money and it might take a couple of weeks for the catalog to arrive.
I feel blessed to have experienced both worlds. Today, with a few keystrokes, I can see what would have involved a long wait in the past. However, if I have to wait for something good, that's OK, too. I think the heads of some of my present students would explode if they were transported back in time and had to wait that long for anything.

 

[Coriu]

Johnson Leathers Custom HH 23.5 P2P $359 BIN
https://www.ebay.com/itm/194586438871?hash=item2d4e416cd7:g:NpUAAOSw2XxhoWd4

 

[Wildhorses]

German vintage thick leather, not too bad
VTG German Horsehide? Buckle Back Motorcycle Brown Leather Jacket Men's XL? | eBay

 

[Coriu]

...for the ladies... Strathtay Cape Coat L/XL time capsule piece NWT Strathtay of Scotland is a cottage knitter still around today and known for its gorgeous sweaters.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/334242750361?hash=item4dd26b9f99:g:2tUAAOSwjh1hq2r8

 

[Coriu]

Size 42 HH Trucker from Japan $400 bid or $750 BIN
https://www.ebay.com/itm/165220304823?hash=item2677e5c7b7:g:8JIAAOSwQadhrpTh

 

[tmitchell59]

Horsehide Excelled. In a style that I haven’t seen before. Seller says it’s from 30’s but don’t know what he’s basing it off of. It is an older earlier one though.
View attachment 385461 View attachment 385462 View attachment 385463
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-19...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

These Excelled are from early 60s, fit great but the leather is lower quality.

 

[Claybertrand]

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...ou-wearing-today.82949/page-1031#post-2624625

Gamma’s masterpiece is on this page

Ahhhhh......Yes this is as advertised---*****en. I really like that Vertical zip pocket adding something a little different. I know this is blasphemy, but I don't really love the D pocket design iconic as it was. I like the cross zips that are more basic with less going on up front OR that have something a little different than the standard Perfecto style. It could be a unique zipper location or a different type of pocket. I'd like to see what an original Lawrence looks like but this is an excellent one by Johnson. Thanks @JMax for digging that up for me.

 

[Claybertrand]

...some perspective. Believe it or not, there was a day when one had to "write for a free catalog." This often involved sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope...so it cost one money and it might take a couple of weeks for the catalog to arrive.
I feel blessed to have experienced both worlds. Today, with a few keystrokes, I can see what would have involved a long wait in the past. However, if I have to wait for something good, that's OK, too. I think the heads of some of my present students would explode if they were transported back in time and had to wait that long for anything.

Hey Guys, I know we are all blinded by the leather jackets and the Olden Days prices that look like the jackets are almost free.......

But I find the MISSING MOTORCYCLE section to the right of the Ad interesting. It lists Missing Bikes with ID #s and actually gives the information to the public on who the registered owner is and their actual address etc. It just strikes me as something interesting that you wouldn't see these days. Its especially interesting to me being that they just called to tell me that the California Highway Patrol has found my GMC work truck after it was stolen in January. It has been stolen and recovered now 3 times in 2 years (my worker who uses it lives in Perris, CA so--like, don't leave your car there overnight) and the 3rd time is the charm as this time, it's completely stripped . RIP.

In Hunter S. Thompson's book on the the Hells Angels and in Sonny Barger's book too, it is at least touched on that the Angels were rampant bike thieves. These missing bikes pre-date the Angels I believe but still, I find it an interesting piece of history to see they posted these notices and how open they were in identifying the owners etc. A DIFFERENT TIME INDEED.

 

[tmitchell59]

These Excelled are from early 60s, fit great but the leather is lower quality.

The ebay jacket is a bit different, although not from the 30s, late 50s early 60s.

Here is the jacket I owned. @ton312 had one also

 

[Yamahana]

The ebay jacket is a bit different, although not from the 30s, late 50s early 60s.

Here is the jacket I owned. @ton312 had one also

I remember now @ton312 posting a similar Excelled earlier this year

 

[ton312]

Wish I hadn’t sold that one. It was killer

 

[Claybertrand]

Someone---likely someone we know---recently picked this one up on eBay. I was pretty sure it was an Excelled when I saw it and now with these postings from @tmitchell59, I am just a bit more certain. I have handled the Excelleds from this era and still have one. I agree that the hide quality is not what other makers offered at the time but they are still cool jackets. This is the one I think is an Excelled..... Perhaps the new owner will come forward with more info.

Has the same angled pocket as the Excelled....

Same Generic HH tag, same liner, same inner collar

The Back is different----a HB with the lower side adjusters.

Maybe it isn't an Excelled but I think it has a lot of similarities.

 

[tmitchell59]

The Back is different----a HB with the lower side adjusters.

it is an excelled

 

[Claybertrand]

it is an excelled

I just caught that its identical to yours. When I wrote that post, I was more focused on the other HB that you posted with the adjusters ON THE BELT but this clinches it. Absolutely correct---Its an Excelled.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Excelled though I do own a couple. The older stuff is cool but still a bit of a lower end jacket. Nothing wrong with that. Just relative to other options, its a little lower grade. Lower price point too when they were sold I imagine. Excelled--Lesco--Fidelity--Later Brooks-- I sorta see these as all on par with each other more or less.

But there is ONE Excelled style I've seen that is more of a Fonz/Bomber type---I have only seen them in small sizes and only once in person. The leather on it was pretty thick compared to most Excelleds. I saw another one on eBay 2 years ago that just languished until the Seller's price was so low I think they just pulled it. I kept sending it to people I know it would fit. They were asking like $20 for it!!!!

 

[tmitchell59]

This one always got positive comments. I just think these were late 50s early 60s. The label is often lost since it was just glued on.

as nice and shiny it had deterioration.

 

[Pandemic]

seller offered $95 plus shipping.