Aero Hooch Hauler and Freewheelers Sun Set

[Bigbenbs]

Hi all,

Just came across the Sun Set on Freewheelers blog and found it interesting how close it is to the base model Aero Hooch Hauler. Both are 1930s halfbelts.

The Sun Set photos are from 2017, while Aero only introduced the Hooch Hauler in June 2018. Not sure if there was any influnce.

To make some obvious comparisons, the Sun Set has a deeper of a yoke. Hooch halfbelt has a reverse western yoke while Sun Set is flat. Sun Set has 3 back slats (not sure if that's the term) while Hooch has 2, and also a simpler central slat design. Sunset has a more angled front pocket, as well as d pocket stitching on the front. Also, Sun Set meant to be in Deerskin, while Vicenza seems to be the standard leather for the Hooch. Base model color for Sun Set is yellow ochre, while for Hooch it is russet. Otherwise interestingly similar models.

Perhaps this is a totally common model, and so isn't really worth pointing out. Still, it's not something I've come across much while poking around.

Price wise, Sun Set deer hide is around $2000, pre shipping and tax, while the Hooch is $1100 (w/ Vicenza)

 

[Carlos840]

It's not like either of them are original back designs, both variations were present and were pretty common at the time:

Dave Himel uses the same design on his Chevalier and Avro.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Nice, but $2000...? Seems that Sun Set may well sunset soon with little fanfare...

 

[ton312]

It's not like either of them are original back designs, both variations were present and were pretty common at the time:

Dave Himel uses the same design on his Chevalier and Avro.

Freewheelers took a page out of the Peters of San Fran design too. The "San Mateo" is nearly a pattern repro of that jacket:

 

[Mich486]

Similarity aside, what strikes me the most is the main zipper. The freewheelers one is soo much neater! Aero I think tend to use too much leather piping around zippers which ends up all wavy after some wear. I think their idea is to conceal the zipper as much as possible but I think it doesn’t end up necessarily looking neater.


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[ProteinNerd]

These are all reproductions, it’s not surprising at all they have similarities.

How could you possibly have a number of companies all reproducing jackets from the same time period and NOT have very similar models?

 

[Colin G]

I like the Aero better. The Japanese jacket looks like it has a vagina on the back.

 

[ton312]

I like the Aero better. The Japanese jacket looks like it has a vagina on the back.

Sleeve of wizard. It's sleeve of wizard kind sir.

 

[Monitor]

That Japanese jacket in the OP is really perfect, though. They got it down to the tiniest possible detail. Even the awkward early Depression era fit; the straight, tube like body of the jacket with extremely high arm holes and broad shoulders. Front drop, pocket position... I'm actually amazed.

 

[ton312]

That Japanese jacket in the OP is really perfect, though. They got it down to the tiniest possible detail. Even the awkward early Depression era fit; the straight, tube like body of the jacket with extremely high arm holes and broad shoulders. Front drop, pocket position... I'm actually amazed.

Button cuffs and dropped HB aren't too shabby either. If I had to throw a dart blindfolded at both and got to keep the one I hit...I'd be happy either way.


Other than the dart hole.

 

[dannyk]

That Japanese jacket in the OP is really perfect, though. They got it down to the tiniest possible detail. Even the awkward early Depression era fit; the straight, tube like body of the jacket with extremely high arm holes and broad shoulders. Front drop, pocket position... I'm actually amazed.

It is an exceptionally well put together piece. I also have been itching to get a jacket made out of deer or elk hide. I have shoes made out of both elk and deer and I love the grain and feel of them but at that price point it probably will not be this one. Unless I get lucky second-hand.

 

[Edward]

They're both influenced by the same original designs; as has been said above, given the limited pool of surviving originals, it's not uncommon for several to produce a similar detail. Of course, the Japanese companies tend to work on the basis of copying the original down to the finest detail; Aero's design model is to take inspiration from original pieces and then produces jackets that could have been made back when with the materials then available and design mores of the time rather than to produce exact replicas of specific jackets per se. Different strokes. I like both - the one thing I'm not s keen on on the Japanese jacket is how low and close the chest pocket is to the left hand side handwarmer. Looks somehow off to me, but is is nonetheless a perfect replication of the layout on the original jacket, one that was common on such crosszips in the 20s & 30s.

 

[TheMarriedHermit]

Freewheelers took a page out of the Peters of San Fran design too. The "San Mateo" is nearly a pattern repro of that jacket:

What book are these pages out of?

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[Edward]

https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Jackets-Century-Leather-Design/dp/0764325191

 

[ton312]

What book are these pages out of?

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The necronomicon

 

[Seb Lucas]

I'm not keen on either of these above designs, period accurate or not. For my taste the back's details are fussy and unattractive. But hey, personal taste. I WAY prefer the Bootlegger.

 

[Edward]

My Bootlegger is still one of my favourite jackets, but I also like the Hooch Hauler. I've long fanced the idea of aBL in goat; I might look into a HH in goat instead. EAsier for me to justify more jackets if there are interesting differences in detail. I also love me some Aero goat.... probably my favourite hide, alongside the Horween CXL FQHH.

 

[Luminor]

First post. Hello everyone. I am obsessed with the Freewheelers jackets. I tried contacting them but have not heard from them yet. If anyone has dealt with them, please shoot me an email. I would really appreciate some advice about ordering from them.

 

[Carlos840]

First post. Hello everyone. I am obsessed with the Freewheelers jackets. I tried contacting them but have not heard from them yet. If anyone has dealt with them, please shoot me an email. I would really appreciate some advice about ordering from them.

Welcome to the lounge.

I contacted them about a year ago on their info at freewheelers.co.jp and received an answer the same day.
I wanted to know if they did custom sizing, they did for a 100.000jpy fee. Last i heard they don't customs offer if they are too busy at the time.
I ordered my Freewheelers in japan on the Mirror Ball store, nothing bad to say about them.

 

[Luminor]

Thank you Carlos840.