Marc mndt
I'll Lock Up
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- 7,361
I really like Just Leather’s older work from the 1970s with the gold and black label.I looked at the tag, it’s San Diego leather not Just Leather, who is in NorCal. They did seem to produce similar level jackets, hence my confusion. Pretty sure both are 70s makers. Bates competitors? Good stuff. I tend to like the Just leather stuff better imo, the older stuff. Hide can be thicker looking and a bit glossier finishes.
Though mostly cheaper made fashion level jackets, I have handled 3 older Reeds (One CR and 2 Cross Zips) that seemed to be really surprisingly good quality jackets. The leather had really nice graining and was fairly heavy. 99% of Reed jackets I wouldn't look twice at. But I have seen a couple lately that fall into the 1% of nice ones. Sorta similar to Excelled....... Most are okay.....lower end jackets. Not total junk--just lower end. But I have seen a couple that must be really old because they are much higher quality than the majority that you see.
As we know, many of the makers evolved into cheaper production, cheaper material mass produced fashion jackets over the years. What I take from this is that even makers that are not widely known for their Vintage quality MAY have made really cool stuff if you go back far enough. The extreme examples being Golden Bear and perhaps Belstaff where the original stuff they made is really cool vintage leather and the stuff they make now is unwearable (IMO of course).
Though mostly cheaper made fashion level jackets, I have handled 3 older Reeds (One CR and 2 Cross Zips) that seemed to be really surprisingly good quality jackets. The leather had really nice graining and was fairly heavy. 99% of Reed jackets I wouldn't look twice at. But I have seen a couple lately that fall into the 1% of nice ones. Sorta similar to Excelled....... Most are okay.....lower end jackets. Not total junk--just lower end. But I have seen a couple that must be really old because they are much higher quality than the majority that you see.
As we know, many of the makers evolved into cheaper production, cheaper material mass produced fashion jackets over the years. What I take from this is that even makers that are not widely known for their Vintage quality MAY have made really cool stuff if you go back far enough. The extreme examples being Golden Bear and perhaps Belstaff where the original stuff they made is really cool vintage leather and the stuff they make now is unwearable (IMO of course).
I was going to ask, and you answered. Most Reed seem like perfect knock around jackets. And a fair number of posts here seem to confirm that. But then, every now and then, an outlier. Either a photo of a nice looking Reed or a very positive comment about the maker. I figured I’d post the sale and let it sort itself out.
I’m eyeballing a Albert Richard MC jacket that looks amazing, but may be a inch too small in the chest. Asking price is too high for me to wing it. But the jacket leaves no doubt as to the quality.
Someone should buy this one. $199 for an awesome jacket.I think @ton312 just sold (or at least listed) an AR in the last week. It was a Car Coat/Surcoat if I recall.......... I have seen some nice ones from that brand. I've never had one so can't attest to the quality or anything but they look to be nice true vintage jackets. Not knowing much about the brand, I don't know where it would fall on the hierarchy of vintage jackets but usually when I see them, they are cool.