Was Roughwear The Original Manufacturer Of The Iconic Hercules Jacket?

[tmitchell59]

I researched under „Hercules and Rough Wear“ but i couldnt found anything similar because of the inner vest. Theyre mostly as yours or with sherpa lining. Pre-war sounds very possible.

Dumb question, but how much value would you estimate for your Type of Hercules coat?

I will post a better pic. It has the standard blue wool lining with a Hercules label. It is pictured in the late 30s Sears catalog. I assume the vest is original? The leather on my jacket is among the best I have handled, a cut above. There have been a couple of others on ebay with no label

Value? Mine is not for sale. $1000 +?

 

[tmitchell59]

I don't recall where I found that pic. Probably Japan and priced at $3k!!

 

[AHP91]

A rare brown Hercules sold earlier today in a large size. Right around 1940/41 if I recall correctly.

 

[RiteStuffBryan]

Here’s a very rare generic/unbranded model just posted on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKoL9ASfyH/?img_index=2&igsh=eTg3bTdxMDBlanBw

 

[jchance]

Unlabeled Roughwear crosszip (not Hercules D-Pocket), but still has HH label. Same lining as the jacket below.

Compare with:

 

[jchance]

1940s Windward with Roughwear HH label:

 

[jchance]

History of Roughwear on ELC website:

In 1928, “two hundred people were employed, ninety-five of whom were in the stitching room. Many of the hides that were used were of domestic origin, although a large percentage of hides were received from France and Sweden, but raw material also arrived from South America, South Africa, and Australia.

…. The Middletown factory was well known. Their fleece-lined jackets were in demand-the employees took pride in their work. In 1934 they made the sheep-lined and leather coats and jackets for Admiral Richard Byrd’s expedition to ‘Little America.’
…
In the 1940s, Rough Wear made custom motorcycle jackets for the New York Police Department, and during the World War II, under contract to the US Government, the factory manufactured over half a million leather jackets and flying suits for the Air Force and the Quartermaster Corps. During these years the company produced about 12,000 garments a week.

They were issue a total of 5 contracts for type A-2 flight jackets between 1940 and 1942 producing over 119,000 of the iconic garments in total using horsehide, cowhide and goatskin. The average cost per jacket at this time was $8.25.“

Eastman Leather Clothing Blog

blog.eastmanleather.com

 

[jchance]

Rough Wear for Skaggerac Sportswear

RW for 50s Hercules, Crown zipper

 

[Iron Horse]

A rare brown Hercules sold earlier today in a large size. Right around 1940/41 if I recall correctly.

I just purchased an almost identical one, this model was sold in the Sears F/W 1941 catalog only; the Talon zip on mine is stamped M1 which corresponds to Dec. 1941. It was listed as top grain cowhide but it looks and feels like horsehide so the tanning process must have been the same as the horsehide models.

It has a number of flaws but it's still great fun and I might get those issues repaired eventually.