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Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

Raul

One of the Regulars
Messages
115
Location
Italy
I've been reluctant to say anything about Grais. Seems it the same experience others have had. My first leather jacket was a brand new Grais, car coat buttoned in brown with zip out lining. Bought it in 1967 for $40, Cabretta leather.

Like you all mentioned, some of them look really good, others not so. This is an example of making products for a price. There was less quality leather out there given the huge amount of leather that was tanned.

The jacket pictured above is c.1960

My grais is from the 50s, thread here: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/50s-grais-horsehide-lining-restored.101998/
Very good quality hide with great patina, nearly everytime I wear it someone says "wow, that's a nice jacket!"
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/50s-grais-horsehide-lining-restored.101998/
 
Messages
10,646
Windward

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Windward-H...-/164635757564?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

58280C95-4FE3-4324-A3C4-5D7C190025F6.jpeg
 

Claybertrand

One Too Many
Messages
1,548


Perhaps this is sacrilege but I'm really warming to these Cross zips with Standing Collars. I've seen a few of them lately and I dig the look. Its something different. This is a nice combo Cafe Racer Cross Zip. If this was a 44-46 WD, I'd have bought it when I saw it. I think WDs run true to size to perhaps a bit big. But nothing like Aero. Cool jacket. Good price.
 

Claybertrand

One Too Many
Messages
1,548


I've never seen this leather Appalachian Label before. It looks unused. Its clearly an Old Vintage jacket because Appalachian became Taylor long ago from what I know. I have seen the leather Hercules Labels and its very much the same as this one in a lot of ways.

Terry has theorized, with plenty of examples, that Appalachian was likely the maker of the Sears Fieldmaster and Oakbrook jackets. By this same logic, they COULD have made some of the Hercules jackets in the era just preceding the Fieldmasters too. I don't think there is anything definitive in writing confirming the connection here but I feel that it is correct nonetheless as to the connection between Appalachian and some early Sears Jackets. I don't think they made the earlier Hercules jackets. At least, it doesn't appear they did.

But seeing the similarities between this leather label and the early Hercules leather label has be thinking there was perhaps some overlap/connection to the Hercules jackets as well with Appalachian. I don't know how far of a leap this is but there are some intriguing similarities here.
 

tmitchell59

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,763
Location
Illinois

I find this design very appealing, the twin pockets. I have a windward with such pockets, but not vertical pocket. I had thought this style was later in the 50s, but I attribute that leather Appalachian tag to the late 40s/early 50s and short lived. The lining is more in line with that time frame too. Appalachian made jackets for Sears. This is very like their police jackets.
 

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