Good Harrington or Barracuda Jacket..

[Edward]

Sorry that I’m a bit late for the party here but being a Harrington fan for 60 odd years now I felt the need to share. Forget JTG, Merc and the likes. They’re not proper spec Harringtons. Baracuta may be nice but way overpriced. Also the company behind the brand name is not the original that introduced the Baracuta brand back in the 30’s. I have a vintage Baracuta that has nothing to do with the current company. The brand name then was owned by Van Heusen of shirts fame as is made clear of the label of my Baracuta. For my money I’d give this company my business I were in the market for a new one: https://www.realhoxton.com/product-category/outerwear/harrington/?amp

I've always been very happy with my Merc jackets - though of course the lack of a raglan sleeve is a dealbreaker for some. I will probably try a Real Hoxton next, though. The interesting thing especially there is they're the only affordable option I think I can recall seeing that has the open-vent on the back. It's a feature I've shied away from in the past, but am now curious to try. I very much like the look of their orangey-tan "pumpkin" model.

With all respect if it doesn’t have raglan sleeves and/or a knitted waist band it’s not a Harrington. I’m guessing that’s why the inverted commas on the name in your post.

The raglan sleeve element does attract strong views (which I understand - I don't think a Telecaster is a 'real' Telecaster if there are six rather than three saddles....). Notably, Jump The *** do both, as there are those who prefer the slimmer fit that a set in sleeve can facilitate, apparently.

Lack of knits on the waist was another, associated style in Baracuta, wasn't it - a G4 rather than a G9, if memory serves?

It's interesting though how there has evolved a general notion (barring varying views on specific details) as to what a "Harrington" is, given that was never applied specifically to or as a single brand.

 

[John_Z]

I've always been very happy with my Merc jackets - though of course the lack of a raglan sleeve is a dealbreaker for some. I will probably try a Real Hoxton next, though. The interesting thing especially there is they're the only affordable option I think I can recall seeing that has the open-vent on the back. It's a feature I've shied away from in the past, but am now curious to try. I very much like the look of their orangey-tan "pumpkin" model.




The raglan sleeve element does attract strong views (which I understand - I don't think a Telecaster is a 'real' Telecaster if there are six rather than three saddles....). Notably, Jump The *** do both, as there are those who prefer the slimmer fit that a set in sleeve can facilitate, apparently.

Lack of knits on the waist was another, associated style in Baracuta, wasn't it - a G4 rather than a G9, if memory serves?

It's interesting though how there has evolved a general notion (barring varying views on specific details) as to what a "Harrington" is, given that was never applied specifically to or as a single brand.

Ryan O’Neil played Rodney Harrington in Peyton Place in the 60’s. He wore a G9. John Simmons opened a shop in London selling Ivy League clothes. He was a fan of Peyton Place so he sold G9’s as Harringtons. The origin of the G9 being known as a Harrington. So IMO any variation that does not conform to the G9 spec is not a Harrington, despite many sellers claims. An open back vent, amongst other details, is a must.

 

[Edward]

Ryan O’Neil played Rodney Harrington in Peyton Place in the 60’s. He wore a G9. John Simmons opened a shop in London selling Ivy League clothes. He was a fan of Peyton Place so he sold G9’s as Harringtons. The origin of the G9 being known as a Harrington. So IMO any variation that does not conform to the G9 spec is not a Harrington, despite many sellers claims. An open back vent, amongst other details, is a must.

I remember the Simons story. Last time I was in the store in Covent Garden, years ago before it moved, they'd switched to selling the Grenfell version (which fifteen years ago was nearly £300..... eeps). It's interesting where different folks draw the line.... I'm indifferent on the open back vent and raglan sleeves, but for me if there's no knits, different pockets, different collar....

The open vent is the first thing I see typically discarded, I expect because it renders it more complex/ expensive to put together. Still, always a plus to have options available at a wide range of price points.

 

[Tom71]

The Baracuta company founded by John and Isaac Miller in Manchester in the 30s is still around and still making the same jackets.

Sometime in the 70s Baracuta licensed US production to Can Huesen. Quality on these jackets started out as equal to the UK product and declined rapidly. At some point I think Van Huesen moved production to Asia, which was the final straw leading to Baracuta pulling their licensing deal.

It is true that they are overpriced these days. Real Hoxton do a good version. Just as authentic as JtG. Merc is slightly less authentic to the original specs but is a good quality and has its own benefits.

Are your saying EU-made Baracutas are still the real thing, while US-made iterations are outsourced versions of lesser quality?

That could be one explanation for the “Baracuta is too expensive for what they offer” argument. I have a UK-made Baracuta G9 of ca, 2015 vintage which I absolutely love, and which I find to be of outstanding quality, so I never minded the price tag (whatever it was , back in the day; perhaps some EUR 290???)

 

[Pandemic]

Are your saying EU-made Baracutas are still the real thing, while US-made iterations are outsourced versions of lesser quality?

That could be one explanation for the “Baracuta is too expensive for what they offer” argument. I have a UK-made Baracuta G9 of ca, 2015 vintage which I absolutely love, and which I find to be of outstanding quality, so I never minded the price tag (whatever it was , back in the day; perhaps some EUR 290???)

My understanding is that all the cloth Baracuta jackets are now made in the UK.

Back in the late 1980s they withdrew the licensing deal with Van Huessen for the US market - partly because VH were outsourcing their production to Asia.

 

[Tom71]

My understanding is that all the cloth Baracuta jackets are now made in the UK.

Back in the late 1980s they withdrew the licensing deal with Van Huessen for the US market - partly because VH were outsourcing their production to Asia.

Thank you! Didn’t know that, but then it is some time ago. The ”Made in UK” Point was specifically raised when I bought the jacket.

 

[Edward]

Picked up a pair of these over the last few months, one black, one ivory; wearing them in the recent warmer weather:

Combat Royal 62 Harrington Jacket Black-Made in England-Ben Nevis Clothing

Royal 62 Harrington Jacket Open Vent Made In England since1962, at an unbeatable price for the very best English craftmanship. Based in the Heart of London.

bennevisclothing.com

This "upgraded" version has an open back vent; their regular one has a closed yoke. Very pleased with these. Cost about what I paid for my Mercs nearly twenty years ago. In due course I'll pick up a navy one too.

In due course I'd like another bright red one, might try Real Hoxton for that, though on the website they can look oddly long in some shots.

 

[Pandemic]

^
Merc was my favorite, twenty years ago. With JTG a close second. Except in bright red - the clash with the tartan lining never appealed to me. So for red I went with Ben Sherman.

 

[Edward]

^
Merc was my favorite, twenty years ago. With JTG a close second. Except in bright red - the clash with the tartan lining never appealed to me. So for red I went with Ben Sherman.

I actually considered the Sherman for a red, but they've started adding a logo on the chest. :-(

Anyone ever encountered one of the new Brutus Harringtons in the wild?

 

[Pandemic]

I actually considered the Sherman for a red, but they've started adding a logo on the chest. :-(

Gross!

Anyone ever encountered one of the new Brutus Harringtons in the wild?

Wow. Back from the dead? I thought they went under a decade ago.

 

[theeprimitivesound]

Growing up in the UK in the 70s-80s all we could afford was the ones from the market, cheap and cheerful, i picked one up 5 years ago in Camden market for 20 pound, ive since had a new zip put in it, but i love it.

 

[Edward]

Growing up in the UK in the 70s-80s all we could afford was the ones from the market, cheap and cheerful, i picked one up 5 years ago in Camden market for 20 pound, ive since had a new zip put in it, but i love it.

The really cheap ones can be a ****shoot, but some of them really are surprusingly good.

 

[Edward]

Gross!



Wow. Back from the dead? I thought they went under a decade ago.

Mn. Been digging around. I saw them on a Reddit thread that was older than I realised, from 2015. Can find a couole of places that seem to be selling shirts, but only shirts.

 

[Pandemic]

Mn. Been digging around. I saw them on a Reddit thread that was older than I realised, from 2015. Can find a couole of places that seem to be selling shirts, but only shirts.

Gotcha. I got a couple of the shirts 15+ years ago. The material was nothing special but back then it was incredibly hard to get something that fitted and with a super short sleeve. I could just barely fit my biceps into them. I used to feel like the Incredible Hulk in those, hahah. Now, every trashy mall brand is selling everything in ‘super slim fit’, and a more relaxed fit is a sign of quality.

Spier and McKay occasionally do a double zipper Harrington without ‘correct’ tartan lining that looks ok.

I have a friend with a Private White Ventile Harrington-ish jacket. If you’re not a purist for authentic details and just any a good looking rainproof light jacket, it’s hard to beat. Not cheap though.

 

[Edward]

Gotcha. I got a couple of the shirts 15+ years ago. The material was nothing special but back then it was incredibly hard to get something that fitted and with a super short sleeve. I could just barely fit my biceps into them. I used to feel like the Incredible Hulk in those, hahah. Now, every trashy mall brand is selling everything in ‘super slim fit’, and a more relaxed fit is a sign of quality.

Spier and McKay occasionally do a double zipper Harrington without ‘correct’ tartan lining that looks ok.

I have a friend with a Private White Ventile Harrington-ish jacket. If you’re not a purist for authentic details and just any a good looking rainproof light jacket, it’s hard to beat. Not cheap though.

Yeah, the PW stuff is nice but way beyond what I'd spend... TBH, I'd happily just stick with Ben Nevis if they did all the colours I wanted.... Though I'm enjoying the open vent back on their Royal 62 version, I might just forget about that and replace my old sky blue with one of their standard Combat Classic 237. Same jacket as the open vent, but with a stitched down yoke. Alas they don't do a bright red, though. I'm just gonig to have to find a London stocking of the Real Hoxton and try one o to see if they really are crazy long. The bright red one I have - which was my first Harrington - was just an ebay no-name. Turned out to be a great one, but I don't know where I'd start to find the same source again - bought it twenty years ago. It's only real fault is it shrunk in the wardrobe...

 

[omega1848]

Barracuda are good but over-priced. Their claim to being ‘the original’ is dubious.

Merc are good, but lack the raglan sleeves. Jump the *** were a bit flimsy but I’ve heard they are better now. Lambretta are still a bit too thin and have a poor zip. Ben Sherman use a house tartan for the lining, but are well made.

If you are in North America, I would look at Spier and McKay.

I second that, the Ben Sherman is a good fitting alternative, the "Amazon remakes" a IMHO to "plastic" in most cases and fit.