Sears Motorcylce Jacket History 1949-1963

[tmitchell59]

Here is a rare Survivor early 1950's Oakbrook Steer Hide jacket I have posted on eBay. All original.

This is an interesting jacket in the Sears MC history. I recall discussion of this model earlier in this thread. I haven't looked, it may be the same jacket.

Yes Oakbrook started in early 60s as a replacement for the Hercules label. Each decade is often a turning point. The label ended with the addition of "the Leather Shop" wording, then completely dropped. Oakbrook, Illinois is a suburb of Chicago and then home of Sears.

These changes reflected the changing times, something new, fresh, more modern. The Hercules label had been around for years and used in connection with all manner of products sold by Sears. Today Hercules garments are the most recognizable use of the label.

That is California Sportswear leather tag and their belt. CSC, along with Roughwear Clothing, and Appalachian Tanned and Tailored are the documented makers of Sears jackets. CSC goes back to the early 50s and made a variety of styles in Horsehide and Steerhide.

My theory of this jacket. It is both first and last. The first Oakbrook jackets and the last 12 CSC MC jackets. The remaining production was by Appalachian Tanned and Tailored. It may be that Appalachian continued producing for the Men's shop label but under their new name, Taylors.

These early Oakbrooks were the last of the high quality jackets sold by Sears.

 

[photo2u]

I can photograph the newer and older Oakbrook's. I also can throw the Hercules in the mix. The older oak brooks have a slightly different label than the newer one. If you take out some room of the shoulders of the Herc, the Oakbrook is a near perfect image of the Herc.

 

[tmitchell59]

Here I am strutting around in a couple of the most cool Hercules jackets. I started up my youtube channel. I will do several videos featuring these 2 braided trim.

this video is a preview. check out my channel for more exciting videos!

 

[photo2u]

Thanks for posting this jacket. I have never seen this Sears MC jacket. I can make out Sears on the label, but the label is unusual. I'm thinking it is a Canadian jacket? The leather looks very light weight, like a 70s leather? I'm just guessing.

Looks like someone has seen this odd Sears jacket.

Lol! I had 5* making me this

This looks like a very well-made interpretation of the HD cycle king. Love it. Are you selling?

 

[tmitchell59]

How does one identify a good Sears Oakbrook with a low-quality one? Is it by the early label (like below) and inspecting the leather through the screen?



I would agree the early Oakbrook labels, as pictured, are the best indication of quality. This Steerhide label is a Roughwear Clothing tag, California Sportswear and Appalachian were also making jackets with the Oakbrook label. The quality will decline through the life of this label.

There are nice Oakbrook jackets pictured in this thread.

 

[jchance]

1968:

1969:

1970:

1971: beginning of the Leather Shop era

1972:

 

[tmitchell59]

1968:

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1969:

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1970:

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1971: beginning of the Leather Shop era

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1972:

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Thanks for this Great edition to the Sears MC history. I have not seen these catalog shots. Nice you documented the beginning of the "leather shop" tag on the label.

The thread had stopped at the early Oakbrook jackets. I was not sure how long the label and quality lasted.

Each jacket has to be taken on merit, whatever the label. So many choices in the cross zip MC style, old and new.

 

[tmitchell59]

I owned this Cafe Race. I will have to track a picture down, I don't recall the label.

 

[tmitchell59]

This was a nice quality jacket.

 

[jchance]

One thing has always intrigued me is the price of a leather jacket back then. Take the 1949 Sears Crosszip for example, $27.95 at the time (which converts to $378.81 in 2025 dollars after accounting for inflation), with $3 down payment and the rest paid over time. In 1949, a working man’s average salary in the US is $3600/year, or $300/month. Sales tax at the time was 2.5-3% in California and Florida, for example. So a leather jacket costs in total a little less than 10% of a working man’s average monthly salary.

 

[Peacoat]

Reminder: This is a thread specifically about the history of Sears motorcycle jackets from 1949 through 1963. It is a resource thread, and is easily found in the "Important Links" section at the top of the Outerwear forum.

Occasionally, I will go through and deleted comments that aren't directly related to the thread's specific topic.

​

 

[Hideandseek]

Here’s a unique one. I’ve done some extensive research on here as well as online and haven’t been able to find anything about the 40s/50 Hercules D Pocket being offered in a single button snap lapel as opposed to the standard double button snap lapels. It does have Conmar zippers throughout. Belt rivets. Green buffalo plaid liner. White label. Is anyone familiar with this style?

 

[tmitchell59]

Here’s a unique one. I’ve done some extensive research on here as well as online and haven’t been able to find anything about the 40s/50 Hercules D Pocket being offered in a single button snap lapel as opposed to the standard double button snap lapels. It does have Conmar zippers throughout. Belt rivets. Green buffalo plaid liner. White label. Is anyone familiar with this style?

This appears to be a Late 40s Hercules built by Blatt of Chicago. They made the earliest of the Sears MC jackets. He Hercules label is late 40s, the horsehide label was used by Blatt on these jackets. The riveted zipper pull is also seen on these jackets as riveted belt loops. Pictures of the full jacket would confirm.

Interesting it does not have a full set of snaps . All I can say is, they forgot to install them. As you stated all from this vintage appear to have 4 snaps.

 

[Hideandseek]

This appears to be a Late 40s Hercules built by Blatt of Chicago. They made the earliest of the Sears MC jackets. He Hercules label is late 40s, the horsehide label was used by Blatt on these jackets. The riveted zipper pull is also seen on these jackets as riveted belt loops. Pictures of the full jacket would confirm.

Interesting it does not have a full set of snaps . All I can say is, they forgot to install them. As you stated all from this vintage appear to have 4 snaps.

Here’s a few full pictures of the jacket. Thank you for your input!

 

[tmitchell59]

It is a late 40s Hercules, second generation. The green lining is more often seen than the red lining. You can see the rivets on the belt loops.

I've owned a couple of this style, they are great jackets.

 

[AHP91]

Here's a first generation jacket that sold a while back. I actually had an opportunity to buy this one - probably should have. This is one of the coolest.

 

[AHP91]

Here’s one I haven’t personally seen before this photo, earliest model Hercules with the plain back.

 

[tmitchell59]

This is an early one, no hand warmer pocket, half-belt in back. Hard to find red lining.

I believe this jacket is a later version with no half-belt. Also no rivets on the belt loops, although it is a Blatt made jacket. I will have to look through my pictures, I may have a picture of a similar jacket.

 

[jeo]

I believe this jacket is a later version with no half-belt. Also no rivets on the belt loops, although it is a Blatt made jacket. I will have to look through my pictures, I may have a picture of a similar jacket.

View attachment 727861 View attachment 727862

These are very rare. I’ve only seen two others. I believe they came out in tandem with the first versions circa 1948. Note the upper lapel snaps on both.

Note the rare leather label on this one. Yes, these are all made by Blatt of Chicago.

 

[jeo]

Here’s a second generation with the hand warmer pocket made by Blatt but not for Sears!