Finds and Deals - Leather Jacket Edition

[JMax]

I took a flyer on this jacket. Apparently, @JMax and I both suffer from the same rare form of insomnia where we awaken late at night and buy jackets we don't need.......

I have been on a Cafe Racer kick the last few months and I always wanted to try a Cal. I have been circling a few lately but they always tend to go for higher than my budget allows at the time. I don't know if the size will even work out for me. It is admittedly at the small end of my size range so it could well be on the move if it doesn't work out.

For the price, I could not resist giving it a try. If it doesn't work out, I'm sure someone here take it in and if not, the Seller does accept expedient returns (14 days). The snap is one of the easiest fixes to have to do and I could even send it up to Ventura to have Cal do it.

All of these factors plus a sleepy, groggy and shall we say....... temporarily diminished mental state had me hitting the buy button.

Tonight I gotta try Nyquil.........

Yes! Doesn’t look like the early hide that I love, but still an awesome jacket. And you may even like this hide more. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Claybertrand]

Yes! Doesn’t look like the early hide that I love, but still an awesome jacket. And you may even like this hide more. Let us know how it goes.

Yeah........it looks to be a more recent model and the hide looks a bit pebbly. Serval zips........ Really the price and fairly unworn condition (not that someone didn't wear it---but it doesn't exhibit many signs of wear) made me bite on it to give it a try. Being that a lot of Cals---like other riding gear---tend to be custom in some form or fashion, a spot on fit may be wishful thinking. I am hoping its at least wearable........... I am hoping the P2P is a bit larger than stated. Often enough that P2P measurement isn't of the jacket fully stretched to the max. But this guy has a lot of jackets on hand listed so I would tend to think he knows how to measure properly. We shall see.

BTW---I wonder if its overthinking things to start a REPORTING BACK thread............. for all of us who want to report back to the Lounge but perhaps the original subject is too stale to just bring up again in the Finds and Deals thread. The concept would be the thread would be called REPORTING BACK---and posters would post a brief background on the subject jacket and then report back to update the lounge on how it worked out etc. Does that sound like something that might suit the Lounge or is it just micromanaging???

 

[Kenan]

Yeah........it looks to be a more recent model and the hide looks a bit pebbly. Serval zips........ Really the price and fairly unworn condition (not that someone didn't wear it---but it doesn't exhibit many signs of wear) made me bite on it to give it a try. Being that a lot of Cals---like other riding gear---tend to be custom in some form or fashion, a spot on fit may be wishful thinking. I am hoping its at least wearable........... I am hoping the P2P is a bit larger than stated. Often enough that P2P measurement isn't of the jacket fully stretched to the max. But this guy has a lot of jackets on hand listed so I would tend to think he knows how to measure properly. We shall see.

BTW---I wonder if its overthinking things to start a REPORTING BACK thread............. for all of us who want to report back to the Lounge but perhaps the original subject is too stale to just bring up again in the Finds and Deals thread. The concept would be the thread would be called REPORTING BACK---and posters would post a brief background on the subject jacket and then report back to update the lounge on how it worked out etc. Does that sound like something that might suit the Lounge or is it just micromanaging???

Would be very cool and interesting to see where they jackets end up and how they fit. +1 for that idea

 

[ojaw]

BTW---I wonder if its overthinking things to start a REPORTING BACK thread............. for all of us who want to report back to the Lounge but perhaps the original subject is too stale to just bring up again in the Finds and Deals thread. The concept would be the thread would be called REPORTING BACK---and posters would post a brief background on the subject jacket and then report back to update the lounge on how it worked out etc. Does that sound like something that might suit the Lounge or is it just micromanaging???

That sounds incredibly useful, would it be for new purchases as well, not only vintage?

 

[Claybertrand]

That sounds incredibly useful, would it be for new purchases as well, not only vintage?

I would think it would be best to make it for all things new and vintage so that we can basically not clog up the other threads 2 weeks after the initial subject jacket is brought up. It keeps the other threads on point......... I can be a serial thread derailer with my various ramblings..........

 

[JMax]

Awesome Black label Branded. CW-like hide. 46. Tempting.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3942212181...CJi9omFSVa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[Claybertrand]

Awesome Black label Branded. CW-like hide. 46. Tempting.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3942212181...CJi9omFSVa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

View attachment 447955

Its been said before-----perhaps the most underrated American made jacket maker. At least---one of them anyway. Very sturdy jackets and VERY affordable prices. Sometimes shamefully so. I'm sad they are no longer in business. They made a solid product.

 

[photo2u]

Awesome Black label Branded. CW-like hide. 46. Tempting.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3942212181...CJi9omFSVa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

View attachment 447955

There is another hide from BG that I like better. It has a reddish tone to it. It's thick and supple. But max, I think this one size is big on you. I have a 46 on the leather I am talking about. I can send you the measurements. My 46 fits me two sizes too big. Not for sale because I am planning to give it to a friend in Portugal.

 

[JMax]

There is another hide from BG that I like better. It has a reddish tone to it. It's thick and supple. But max, I think this one size is big on you. I have a 46 on the leather I am talking about. I can send you the measurements. My 46 fits me two sizes too big. Not for sale because I am planning to give it to a friend in Portugal.

Please do. For educational purposes as I probably won’t bin it. My P2P is 23-24”.

I had the hide with the reddish tint. A NYPD jacket. So nice. Thick, supple, amazing.

 

[photo2u]

Correction. The measurements look like our size. Perhaps is label wrong? The older BG label is nice and the 42-44 is my sweet spot. Also, the sleeves are nice (for me) in a size 46. Normally, BG are true to size on the sleeves.

 

[photo2u]

Please do. For educational purposes as I probably won’t bin it. My P2P is 23-24”.

I had the hide with the reddish tint. A NYPD jacket. So nice. Thick, supple, amazing.

I will pm you with the info.

 

[Claybertrand]

Speaking of size 46............... CAL CHP---decent condition. Interesting low auction start vs. BIN price........

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1342152666...u|tkp:Bk9SR6jtppTeYA&LH_ItemCondition=3000|10

 

[Bluechel]

Awesome Black label Branded. CW-like hide. 46. Tempting.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3942212181...CJi9omFSVa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

View attachment 447955

What’s with the nuance on the black label? I have a few, but just own them because they’re a fantastic deal ( quality versus price). Not aware of the label stuff. Fill me in? MC Orchard?

 

[Claybertrand]

What’s with the nuance on the black label? I have a few, but just own them because they’re a fantastic deal ( quality versus price). Not aware of the label stuff. Fill me in? MC Orchard?

I'm interested in this as well. Having 3 CRs from them-----I can say that I do not believe the Orchards ever had a label. My understanding is that Orchard was the name of the district or the street where the place was located in the Garment district area of NY. The jackets I have and have seen from this earlier era did not have labels.

I have seen the black and gold Branded labels as well as the black leather ones. I have a feeling the black and golds are earlier than the leather embossed labels.

Someone here, perhaps @photo2u will know more on this.

 

[photo2u]

I'm interested in this as well. Having 3 CRs from them-----I can say that I do not believe the Orchards ever had a label. My understanding is that Orchard was the name of the district or the street where the place was located in the Garment district area of NY. The jackets I have and have seen from this earlier era did not have labels.

I have seen the black and gold Branded labels as well as the black leather ones. I have a feeling the black and golds are earlier than the leather embossed labels.

Someone here, perhaps @photo2u will know more on this.

Orchard did have labels. Several in fact. Remember, Orchard was an official military contracted company. If my memory serves me correctly, on the black label jackets you can see an orchard name by the Made in America label. I will share some images if I can. I will go to my containers to locate some of my BG jackets/vest or chaps.

 

[JMax]

I'm interested in this as well. Having 3 CRs from them-----I can say that I do not believe the Orchards ever had a label. My understanding is that Orchard was the name of the district or the street where the place was located in the Garment district area of NY. The jackets I have and have seen from this earlier era did not have labels.

I have seen the black and gold Branded labels as well as the black leather ones. I have a feeling the black and golds are earlier than the leather embossed labels.

Someone here, perhaps @photo2u will know more on this.

Yes, black and gold is earlier. I’m no Branded historian mind you. Just that I really like this hide. It’s like CW. So I investigate when I see the label.

Here is the black leather branded label with the little label stating orchard M/C.

Not all had the orchard label. Different hide, much more supple for one thing, and the only one I dig is the hide with the red undertone. Lots of examples of these hides on TFL

That’s all I got. All are great jackets for the price, it’s just that my preference in hide usually leads me to the early label jackets.

 

[photo2u]

Yes, black and gold is earlier. I’m no Branded historian mind you. Just that I really like this hide. It’s like CW. So I investigate when I see the label.

Here is the black leather branded label with the little label stating orchard M/C.
View attachment 447969

Not all had the orchard label. Different hide, much more supple for one thing, and the only one I dig is the hide with the red undertone. Lots of examples of these hides on TFL

That’s all I got. All are great jackets for the price, it’s just that my preference in hide usually leads me to the early label jackets.

That leather label has the orchard name on it and on the flag. Nice!

 

[AeroFan_07]

For those who make things -- or do repairs, @iknowleather and others - how about some extra Lost Worlds Horsehide leather - from them directly: https://www.ebay.com/itm/393989700447?

 

[photo2u]

For those who make things -- or do repairs, @iknowleather and others - how about some extra Lost Worlds Horsehide leather - from them directly: https://www.ebay.com/itm/393989700447?

I think is a little expensive. I know how Stu works. He squeezes all the parts out of the best leather.

 

[Marc mndt]

The concept would be the thread would be called REPORTING BACK---and posters would post a brief background on the subject jacket and then report back to update the lounge on how it worked out etc.

I'd love to hear about @jeo 's Kit Karson.