Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

[tmitchell59]

I don't know what the expectation is for a jacket of this rarity/vintage. It's bidding at $1200 with three days left.

That is a good question with a few variables. The overall good condition, says working zipper, Mahogany finish may negate the shoulder issue. It is not the same back as the original 1936 model, so I'm unsure about that variable. This jacket also has a very boring interior, they made much fancier linings

We have all seen worse shoulder issues. On a less interesting jacket that issue would stop me and others, but this is a sought after model.

I own a black model with the fancy back. I bought it on ebay severaly years ago. I had owned several reproductions and found them to be too long, Note they advertise these models using their length. Well that build never worked for me, so the jacket has collectors interest, but not a wearer for me. The length and adjustment just hit me in the wrong way, new or vintage. Thats just me.

This model was very popular through the years and always on sale in the Sears catalog, going up and down with the economy. This model was never their most expensive. Yet, so few of them show up?

I believe one of the reasons for their rarity compared to their original popularity is the leather. These were fashion jackets, they are a lighter leather with all the fragile French seems and they just didn't survive. They were worn out.

To me they represent the first "modern" jacket with side gussets replacing the the traditional Cossack style of back to side construction. The "Fancy" back was also a new look, backs were not used to advertise a jacket.

Price on this one will be high, but what does a new Hercules cost from the high end makers?

 

[Biff42]

That is a good question with a few variables. The overall good condition, says working zipper, Mahogany finish may negate the shoulder issue. It is not the same back as the original 1936 model, so I'm unsure about that variable. This jacket also has a very boring interior, they made much fancier linings

We have all seen worse shoulder issues. On a less interesting jacket that issue would stop me and others, but this is a sought after model.

I own a black model with the fancy back. I bought it on ebay severaly years ago. I had owned several reproductions and found them to be too long, Note they advertise these models using their length. Well that build never worked for me, so the jacket has collectors interest, but not a wearer for me. The length and adjustment just hit me in the wrong way, new or vintage. Thats just me.

This model was very popular through the years and always on sale in the Sears catalog, going up and down with the economy. This model was never their most expensive. Yet, so few of them show up?

I believe one of the reasons for their rarity compared to their original popularity is the leather. These were fashion jackets, they are a lighter leather with all the fragile French seems and they just didn't survive. They were worn out.

To me they represent the first "modern" jacket with side gussets replacing the the traditional Cossack style of back to side construction. The "Fancy" back was also a new look, backs were not used to advertise a jacket.

Price on this one will be high, but what does a new Hercules cost from the high end makers?

Great points, thanks for the insight @tmitchell59 .

 

[tmitchell59]

Great points, thanks for the insight

Thanks for asking the question!

Monarch of Milwaukee was considered the maker of the Iconic Hercules until this thread uncoverd the true history. Yes, right here on TFL. The most comprehensive look at this model available anywhere.

Just one of the ground breaking discoveries made on this forum.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...acturer-of-the-iconic-hercules-jacket.110416/