Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

[onstar]

And just got it. Certainly a steal and fits me well over a tshirt, I can surely wear a thick sweater underneath too.

View attachment 808883

Absolute steal for the price. Still smells like new leather jacket.

Where you get it

 

[Zoro]

I was a bit gutted you got to this first… if you decide to move it on, please let me know!

I'll let you know, I do have someone ahead who offered already before you, so I would honor them first tho.

So far, in the still >30ºC weather, I've worn it at home for 2 minutes in vest and shorts. I can only tell that it fits and it also fits like I like it, that being slimmer, not as boxy as a normal A2. The thing I'm not as keen on is the lining, as it feels a tad loose, which is just nitpicking on my end.

I'll make my decision about keeping it or letting it go once I can actually wear it for like a week or so, but so far I would be inclined towards keeping it and perhaps sell my Chinese half belt.

Edit: Oh, and I must admit, part of why I got it was FOMO. At first I thought against it, but then I thought that if someone got it when I had actually had the chance to do so, I would had been thinking it should had been me, lol. It was cheaper than a Chinese jacket through a middleman, it was a no brainer.

Where you get it

Vinted.

 

[itsme]

I'll let you know, I do have someone ahead who offered already before you, so I would honor them first tho.

So far, in the still >30ºC weather, I've worn it at home for 2 minutes in vest and shorts. I can only tell that it fits and it also fits like I like it, that being slimmer, not as boxy as a normal A2. The thing I'm not as keen on is the lining, as it feels a tad loose, which is just nitpicking on my end.

I'll make my decision about keeping it or letting it go once I can actually wear it for like a week or so, but so far I would be inclined towards keeping it and perhaps sell my Chinese half belt.

Edit: Oh, and I must admit, part of why I got it was FOMO. At first I thought against it, but then I thought that if someone got it when I had actually had the chance to do so, I would had been thinking it should had been me, lol. It was cheaper than a Chinese jacket through a middleman, it was a no brainer.

Vinted.

I checked out Vinted for the first time. I find the site a bit cluttered and confusing. Is there any way to set up alerts so you get notified if something pops up in the right size from the brands you're looking for?

I also find the search function to be really poor. For example, I type in 'Eastman' and it shows me things that have absolutely nothing to do with it. It almost feels a bit like AliExpress..

 

[Zoro]

I checked out Vinted for the first time. I find the site a bit cluttered and confusing. Is there any way to set up alerts so you get notified if something pops up in the right size from the brands you're looking for?

I also find the search function to be really poor. For example, I type in 'Eastman' and it shows me things that have absolutely nothing to do with it. It almost feels a bit like AliExpress..

No alerts AFAIK. The Search isn't great, easiest way to filter by brand is........ Filter by brand. If you simply type Eastman, you'll get anything that has Eastman in its name or description.

There's plenty of people who would sell, for example, a Schott jacket and input "Eastman Aero Real McCoys Freewheelers Thedi Vanson Himel Johnson Simmons Bilt Flat Head Double Helix YourMom YourCousin AllYourFamily" in the description, so that will throw off your searches.

Also, do not expect a lot of high end jackets, there's very few and often they're quite overpriced. For example, there was a Vanson I've seen for close to 1000 euros or an Addict for 1600. At those prices it's basically like buying new.

 

[Zoro]

Vanson Comet size 44 for 420€

https://www.vinted.com/items/9939496003-vanson-comet-jacket?referrer=catalog

Not particularly cheap but not particularly expensive either.

 

[Leather Walker]

Pretty nice 80s Vanson! BIN $150: eBay

 

[itsme]

No alerts AFAIK. The Search isn't great, easiest way to filter by brand is........ Filter by brand. If you simply type Eastman, you'll get anything that has Eastman in its name or description.

There's plenty of people who would sell, for example, a Schott jacket and input "Eastman Aero Real McCoys Freewheelers Thedi Vanson Himel Johnson Simmons Bilt Flat Head Double Helix YourMom YourCousin AllYourFamily" in the description, so that will throw off your searches.

Also, do not expect a lot of high end jackets, there's very few and often they're quite overpriced. For example, there was a Vanson I've seen for close to 1000 euros or an Addict for 1600. At those prices it's basically like buying new.

Thank you!

Concerning prices: Yes, but that's also an issue on ebay. While 600 or 700€ for a used Aero is totally fine, I don't see a point in paying significantly more than that on the second hand market.

 

[Bfd70]

 

[Leather Walker]

What a bargain! A Schott IS-674-SM for $95 OBO, size 40. In very good shape despite being 50 y.o: eBay

 

[JackBroChill]

View attachment 809062

This is a pretty great jacket.

But nothing drives me more insane than people listing the size as what it 'fits like' and not the damn tagged size!

You can say it fits small in the description and of course post measurements, but post the actual size in the title FFS!!

 

[Welts and Wefts]

posting some stuff I found on Etsy:
size M horsehide aviator
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/4527545440/motorcycle-jacket-size-medium-1930s?ls=s&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=1930s+aviator&ref=sr_gallery-1-12&sts=1&content_source=b318d7e2-bb3f-439d-9f63-4f02ce646829%3ALTcb31c81973a649d03a47f050645d0eabcfbdb90f&organic_search_click=1&logging_key=b318d7e2-bb3f-439d-9f63-4f02ce646829:LTcb31c81973a649d03a47f050645d0eabcfbdb90f

 

[Welts and Wefts]

Size Medium goatskin
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1208829938/vintage-1930s-leather-jacket-1940s?ref=shop_home_active_26&sts=1&logging_key=825a9516f6861d3e5079e6d921ed1b271964690d:1208829938

 

[Welts and Wefts]

1940s german deerskin, size L
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/446...b3:LTa00cf10f3995ee34185526c012f906dc090be109

 

[Welts and Wefts]

size L horsehide
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/441...a8:LTbed95cf70f36cc27aac0079a040267420f171709

 

[agordon256]

let us know how it turns out!

Just got the jacket and I gotta say I'm kinda disappointed. The seller didn't note that the right sleeve zipper pull was missing, there were tears in the lining at the armpits, and that one of the epaulettes had come unstitched. The leather is also really thin and mushy. It's definitely steerhide, and not good steerhide either. Given the reputation of Cals I expected it to be thick and heavy but instead it fills like a cactus label Perfecto. That is to say it drapes and doesn't hold a ton of structure. It definitely doesn't feel as substantial as I would have liked it to. I guess I just need to keep looking for a horsehide Cal. At least I can use this one as a fit reference for the future since I'm really happy with the sizing.

 

[blm14]

sorry to hear that bud. Does the seller accept returns?

 

[nirvana42]

View attachment 809192

Just got the jacket and I gotta say I'm kinda disappointed. The seller didn't note that the right sleeve zipper pull was missing, there were tears in the lining at the armpits, and that one of the epaulettes had come unstitched. The leather is also really thin and mushy. It's definitely steerhide, and not good steerhide either. Given the reputation of Cals I expected it to be thick and heavy but instead it fills like a cactus label Perfecto. That is to say it drapes and doesn't hold a ton of structure. It definitely doesn't feel as substantial as I would have liked it to. I guess I just need to keep looking for a horsehide Cal. At least I can use this one as a fit reference for the future since I'm really happy with the sizing.

Since there are undisclosed issues, like the tears, you can open a return with ebay using the "item not as described" option. That should cover you even if the seller doesn't accept returns.

 

[Leigh H]

Size Medium goatskin
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1208829938/vintage-1930s-leather-jacket-1940s?ref=shop_home_active_26&sts=1&logging_key=825a9516f6861d3e5079e6d921ed1b271964690d:1208829938
View attachment 809187

thats been up for sale for quite some time.

 

[Leigh H]

View attachment 809192

Just got the jacket and I gotta say I'm kinda disappointed. The seller didn't note that the right sleeve zipper pull was missing, there were tears in the lining at the armpits, and that one of the epaulettes had come unstitched. The leather is also really thin and mushy. It's definitely steerhide, and not good steerhide either. Given the reputation of Cals I expected it to be thick and heavy but instead it fills like a cactus label Perfecto. That is to say it drapes and doesn't hold a ton of structure. It definitely doesn't feel as substantial as I would have liked it to. I guess I just need to keep looking for a horsehide Cal. At least I can use this one as a fit reference for the future since I'm really happy with the sizing.

i think the quality of the hides changed during the late 60's / 70s but yours has a paper clip zipper which i makes me think thats early 50s so the hide should be good. It's always a gamble when buying vintage, you don't know how these jackets have been stored over the years and that can have major effects on the leather.

As for broken zipper and ripped linings, that's quite common with these jackets, the lining tends to rip on cals. But if they haven't mentioned the issues then thats not cool.

The jacket does looks great on you though!

 

[Leather Walker]

^ Agree with @Leigh H on the quality of the hides. However, as I mentioned in a previous post, I get the impression that this Cal is made of supple, pliable cowhide—just judging from the pics. One of my Cals actually has a very similar soft feel and texture to this one. My guess is that these jackets were designed to be comfortable to wear in sunny or warm weather, whether riding or patrolling.
I'd also guess that your Cal, @agordon256 , was made in the first half of the '70s. The Scovill paperclip pull is actually a replacement, but the main zipper is Serval (only the pull tab was changed), combined with Talon teardrops on the pocket zippers: that's a pretty common combo of this period.