tweedydon
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,253
- Location
- Pennington
VINTAGE AERO LEATHER 'MOTORCYCLE JACKET'
Made in Scotland of Connolly steerhide--rose-tanned leather that is absolutely gorgeous, and no longer available.
Tagged size 44 (likely fit 42/44); measurements:Made in Scotland of Connolly steerhide--rose-tanned leather that is absolutely gorgeous, and no longer available.
Chest: 23 1/4 (Measured seam to seam)
Chest: 24 1/2 (Measured like a sports jacket, including the additional leather that extends beyond the seams when the sleeves are up for measuring)
Sleeve: 25 (Measured straight down)
Sleeve: 25 1/4 (Measured around the curve)
Shoulder: 19 1/2
Length: 24 (from the bottom of the collar)
FROM AERO'S WEBSITE:
The jacket made famous by Marlon Brando in "The Wild One".
Our classically designed Motorcycle Jacket was inspired by the jacket commissioned from Aero in 1987 for the Brando exhibit in the world famous Madam Tussaud's Waxworks in London.
This heavy Steerhide Jacket features two deep zip closing hand-warmer pockets with heavy linings, a deep breast pocket with zip and a small stud-down ticket pocket, studded epaulettes and swing gussets in the back for extra movement.
The sleeves have adjustable zip cuffs and the jacket is fastened by a brass centre zip. Waist adjustment is by an attached belt with solid brass buckle.
This classic Aero jacket.... has an internal leather kidney protector panel.
DESCRIPTION OF *THIS* JACKET:
As Aero's description, above, but with THREE important differences!
FIRST, this is an older Aero, and was made from Connolly steerhide leather. The Connolly leather that Ken Calder used in his early Aeros was rose-tanned--a process similar to vegetable tanning except that rose extract is used instead of the typical vegetable oils. (New rose-tanned Connolly leather smells vaguely of roses as a result!) This process is prohibitively expensive..... but the results are worth it: Despite its toughness Connolly leather is so soft that it is a joy to wear a jacket made from it, and it develops the most beautiful grain. Connolly leather is now made only in very small, very expensive batches, and as far as I know its expense prohibits any jacket maker from using it.
Put simply: jackets made from Connolly leather are no longer available.
SECOND, while the standard Motorcycle jacket comes with black cotton drill lining this one features a wonderful wool "blanket" lining, which not only makes this an extremely comfortable jacket to wear, but is also reminiscent of the original 1950s jackets that were designed to be worn in all weathers--and you needed to be warm when it was cold, as leather alone doesn't really keep you warm.
THIRD, this jacket has the rare Aero "Thunderbay" label--possibly one of the coolest labels in Aero's inventory!
In addition to these features this jacket is in excellent used condition. The main zipper works perfectly. The left hand lower pocket has a leather zip pull rather than the ball and chain pulls that are on the other pockets; there is a leather pull on the right hand sleeve, but not the left. (Obviously, this isn't relevant to the zip itself!) There is some very minor and completely normal wear to the edges of the cuffs and to the leading edge of the front placket, especially at the lower end--but this is all completely normal. There is a small blemish from wear on the stud on the lapel on the right--again, completely normal! All of this patina is shown in the pictures.
The grain on this jacket is beautiful!
Ready to give you decades of service, this is just $575, OR OFFER, boxed, shipped, and insured in the USA. And offers are very welcome!
ALSO interested in trading for a 42 or 44 Lost Worlds jacket in black, with cash for any difference in value.
