Cafe Racer Identification

[Corky Corcovado]

Anyone recognize the maker of this jacket? My friend scored it with no tags.

 

[ton312]

I'd say that's a Brooks. Could be Esprit (they made these as well in the 70's).

 

[Monitor]

Yep. My first guess would be Brooks but there was Esprit. Also, Brooks was making their standard cafe racer for Harley Davidson as well so... Could be that too?

 

[ton312]

^Good point! The AMF years jackets.

 

[tmitchell59]

Yep. My first guess would be Brooks but there was Esprit. Also, Brooks was making their standard cafe racer for Harley Davidson as well so... Could be that too?

Interesting information on the Brooks connection. It should have Brooks on the collar buttons If it is a Brooks label product.. not sure what would be on an AMF jacket.

 

[Monitor]

Interesting information on the Brooks connection. It should have Brooks on the collar buttons If it is a Brooks label product.. not sure what would be on an AMF jacket.

I'm not 100% sure but I think AMF Brooks had plain chrome snaps without any branding. Talon teardrops seem about right and... Okay, I could be wrong on this, but most of these jackets in this particular color that I have seen, had an AMF label. Brooks brown was usually darker. But that all could just be a coincidence. I don't know, I just associate this color with AMF...

 

[Superfluous]

I'll add that . . . . I have no idea who made the jacket, but I sure am glad that we have people here like Ton, Monitor and TM to share their wisdom and experience on a daily basis, and educate us in the process. Thanks guys!

 

[ton312]

Actually the tan brooks/AMF jackets had an Art Deco star type snap at the collar, they didn't emboss them with the brooks name.

The Esprit that I had sported shiny brass w/Esprit embossed on the snaps

 

[ton312]

Here's a better pic.
Brooks/AMF:

Esprit:

 

[Seb Lucas]

I had an Espirit cafe racer at one point similar to this but it said made in Korea on the label. Did Brooks have any jackets made there?

The deco star snap was used on jackets labeled Brooks and some other makes too.

Reed Sportswear had a very similar jacket as well.

 

[Monitor]

I had an Espirit cafe racer at one point similar to this but it said made in Korea on the label. Did Brooks have any jackets made there?

The deco star snap was used on jackets labeled Brooks and some other makes too.

Reed Sportswear had a very similar jacket as well.

Brooks actually did move production overseas at some point though I'm not exactly sure versions would those be. They were all the same since the earliest version of the Gold Label. Latest, black tag Brooks were also made in the USA but what's been made in-between... Dunno. Same as I've no clue what connection did Esprit have with Brooks but the pattern looks just about the same.

Reed and... Uh, another maker, forgot the name... Ah, right! Kehoe! Reed and Kehoe basically shared the same design, except for the sleeve zipper position. Reed had 'em on top, I think? Kehoe too.

 

[Corky Corcovado]

You guys rock! I'll verify the snaps with my buddy!

 

[ton312]

You guys rock! I'll verify the snaps with my buddy!

That'll get you the answer. If they have that Deco snap it's a brooks/ AMF. It's a nice one. I love these tan versions.

 

[tmitchell59]

I'll add that . . . . I have no idea who made the jacket, but I sure am glad that we have people here like Ton, Monitor and TM to share their wisdom and experience on a daily basis, and educate us in the process. Thanks guys!

I'm out of my league with cafe racers and these two guys.

There is such a wide variety of cafe racers and some you guys just know one from the other. I do see the AMF color on this one more than the Brooks. I did have a couple of those mustard Brooks and they're not quite the same as this jacket

Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk

 

[ksozay]

I'm going to second the Brooks identification.

Not sure if this will help but I just happen to have the exact same jacket in the collection. Same color, mine has the labels and is by Brooks. I will snap a quick pict when I get home later and will post it up for comp.

 

[technovox]

Not sure about AMF- at least the AMF cafes I've owned that have been made for Harley Davidson. They differ in a number of ways...different snap, different stitching on the front.
Here's an old AMF I sold a while back.

 

[ton312]

Not sure about AMF- at least the AMF cafes I've owned that have been made for Harley Davidson. They differ in a number of ways...different snap, different stitching on the front.
Here's an old AMF I sold a while back.

View attachment 111988

That one wasn't made by Brooks...the AMF Brooks models look like this:

More specifically: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Dav...050501?hash=item239c6a0a45:g:R20AAOSwol5Y1HEv

 

[Monitor]

Not sure about AMF- at least the AMF cafes I've owned that have been made for Harley Davidson. They differ in a number of ways...different snap, different stitching on the front.
Here's an old AMF I sold a while back.

View attachment 111988

This one is an even earlier model. I think they produced these right after the Sportster. It was afterwards that they went with Brooks. AMF Brooks is just a regular Brooks that has been branded as AMF / HD. Ton recently got one. Outstanding jackets.

Couple of examples:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Dav...SPORTSTER-AMF-MINT-Cafe-Racer-42/222890844192
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Dav...Sportster-Vintage-1970s-TALON-34/222867407273

I think they did the same for the Brooks cross zip.

 

[Oakbark]

Looking at those details and considering the lining's color it might be a Brooks, though is not the same cafe racer 's model in these pics

 

[Oakbark]

Mmm this is Amf