How many new jackets do you have coming (and how many potential ones)?

[Monitor]

Absolutely 100% agree. Were people that much shorter in the 1940s? I'm 5-9, not tall by any means.

People were the same. Pants were higher. What Ton said, most 50's MC jackets are about 22" with 24" being maximum. Buco's in Long sizes are like 25" back.

Argh, I wish I could find those photos from a 1950's car show that someone had posted a year or two ago. Lots of leather jackets on 'em and all fit extremely short. Shorter than the one you just posted.

Which, by the way, looks good on you. It's a true vtg cross zip. That's just how these jackets used to be. Short. I'd wear it for what it is.

 

[Dr H]

Arriving Wednesday. I’ll post fit pics up when it arrives.

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Is that one of Dave’s? I recognise that flooring and those French seams!
I think that I’m just behind you.
Fine looking jacket!

 

[hondurasdave47]

Is that one of Dave’s? I recognise that flooring and those French seams!
I think that I’m just behind you.
Fine looking jacket!

Indeed it is!


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[HoosierDaddy]

Here again, I wouldn't wear a Cross zip MC jacket that short no matter how it was 'supposed' to be at one time. Who would want to walk around looking ridiculous in 2019 just because that may have been the style fifty-sixty years ago. I see folks here wearing well fitting suits, etc, from the '30s, '40s and '50s that even look very sharp and well tailored in 2019. Very few in zoot suits. I started riding and wearing MC jackets in 1964. Never saw any one wearing one cut above his belt. He would have been laughed off the highway just as now.
HD

 

[handymike]

@hondurasdave47 That is Flat-Out Gorgeous!!!!!

 

[ton312]

^Agreed. And that collar is absolutely

 

[Monitor]

Yep, that's how a collar on a leather jacket is suppose to look like! Funny how just a few degrees of angle have such a profound effect on an entire jacket.

 

[Monitor]

Like yours, this 1940s Windward is very short (21" length from the bottom of the collar). The leather, which I believe is horsehide, isn't very impressive. Conditioning might help a little, but it doesn't compare to my 1950s FQHH Rich Sher. The snaps and belt buckle are also smaller and cheaper in comparison. I like the red wool lining and the side zips. The squared off epaulettes are interesting. But overall, my Rich Sher beats this Windward hands down. The later 1950s Windwards with quilted linings look a step above this one.

I'm sending this one back due to the short length, inaccurate measurements from the seller, some undisclosed damage (paint on one sleeve, lining rip at a seam, leather separation at a shoulder) and a god-awful smell of cigarettes and mothballs.

I know men wore high-rise pants back in the 1940s, but the dimensions of this jacket are odd. And in the photo, I've got my pants hiked up as far as they'll go.

EDIT: After taking a closer look at the leather, it's definitely horsehide. For kicks, I applied a little dab of leather conditioner in a couple spots. It absorbed immediately. A Lexol/Pecards treatment would most definitely help revive this horse.

View attachment 151865 View attachment 151866 View attachment 151867 View attachment 151868 View attachment 151869 View attachment 151870 View attachment 151871 View attachment 151872 View attachment 151873 View attachment 151874

 

[tmitchell59]

I read your review. Interesting. I have not seen the side zippers before. I don't recall seeing MC jackets with this 40s Windward label. I don't always look that closely at MC gear, but that era label stands out on that style of jacket. Here is one of my Windward labels with Horsehide. If you don't have Horsehide on the label as this one, it may be steerhide. You have it in hand so can tell better. Steerhide was used, I have Police jackets from the 30s that are marked steerhide, as is my late 40s Pugh.

It has this zipper:

I call this their 50s label. This label typically designated the leather.

As to the leather. Here is my same era, late 40s Sportclad. It has leather that compares well with any leather produced today. I've had it next to a shinki Himel and it looked/feels similar.

Leathers varied even in that day.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/**Lx-zVeq84_sTQmvByEqtJCOSUrjYiKgTCF4gSXLM_z6Z5fKYIStGJHhuP2a78NXh8QfVVPrar2_RgcRpT46Xd63EITWAkLwrpqsBg2-wA-VeuGWwO5xBLPtZ0uCTVeTCoX-F2g_EXuZC2FNspugvVVl_Dq3ROOhE8aGVqxCoqgRJEtbMe-PzURUrqTVydjGdqxt3_tC_A6s4Yq_J0J0lzixaI-MAlHcvg65JD-ghQl2APJD36QuczO-wR2PFNIYfl6PStpKAFukW5SOmAT2t2y5jdAMLhGK3E4dam56553N7UKUzdFf5rahyCgztgG3eJjlH8ZeMYRHrKcIqwe0x9IBEp85l1GO4Zqyuvw0rUFPIGbLFUFNeumrmhVwPKnF0W4kDZHIIMDIYrdGCzOI_ck4_YyBQIZgJtxy8Izy0D4Z6kO8gdfrYg6ht_dsti2yTX7K-PPg3CxklsLMOWcp3EIUWrPoN2AKgwhK741fIsgFeOv-KRchmi0I0qoccEbWdJ2oyWWpTeCK-v1jQ1Ynqr4-RePC9_QjAi8jG1oju-Z4l8G3lRc7-KErkEqLbJ04YvdYAkbolJrjztsLz-z5exAYVlO77TZKRW38iQa8fJbIPnczkOKUz38vPI-ZOqXoHn_gfAb8808ULrEFLoZ2c2xblpreQQepTYve_gq-kkhH1dGkIj_FZOPhve_tlZKE_n_DdJUq8wHa8_Lfnc=w963-h639-no

It does look a bit short for wearing today. This Sportclad appears a bit longer, but not much. This was taken a few years back.

I've seen a couple of other Sportclads like this with the same leather. It really stands out. This particular jacket is basically unworn. From 1948

 

[Superfluous]

Arriving Wednesday. I’ll post fit pics up when it arrives.

That is gorgeous!!! Love the French seams. DS is starting to hit the radar in a big way. Congrats. Looking forward to your review.

 

[zebedee]

My cafe racer is 24.5 inches at the back- by far the shortest jacket that I own. I'm not at the point where I'd buy higher-waisted jeans to raise the belt level- if that's how Aero made it, it's how it's probably supposed to be. It covers my belt (just) but I wouldn't want it to be any shorter. It certainly 'reminds' me when I am carrying too much weight.

Next one will be a Teamster in a very dark brown. After I've sold others to fund it.

 

[steve u]

Is that one of Dave’s? I recognise that flooring and those French seams!
I think that I’m just behind you.
Fine looking jacket!

And I think I'm just behind you....too.
steve

 

[tmitchell59]

Arriving Wednesday. I’ll post fit pics up when it arrives.

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look forward to seeing more of this guy. looks like a Hercules.

 

[El Marro]

Arriving Wednesday. I’ll post fit pics up when it arrives.

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What a beauty!
Really looking forward to seeing more photos of this one once it arrives. Congratulations Dave!

 

[hondurasdave47]

look forward to seeing more of this guy. looks like a Hercules.

Yessir. Here’s an original Hercules Dave used to build my jacket.

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[willyto]

Like yours, this 1940s Windward is very short (21" length from the bottom of the collar). The leather, which I believe is horsehide, isn't very impressive. Conditioning might help a little, but it doesn't compare to my 1950s FQHH Rich Sher. The snaps and belt buckle are also smaller and cheaper in comparison. I like the red wool lining and the side zips. The squared off epaulettes are interesting. But overall, my Rich Sher beats this Windward hands down. The later 1950s Windwards with quilted linings look a step above this one.

I'm sending this one back due to the short length, inaccurate measurements from the seller, some undisclosed damage (paint on one sleeve, lining rip at a seam, leather separation at a shoulder) and a god-awful smell of cigarettes and mothballs.

I know men wore high-rise pants back in the 1940s, but the dimensions of this jacket are odd. And in the photo, I've got my pants hiked up as far as they'll go.

EDIT: After taking a closer look at the leather, it's definitely horsehide. For kicks, I applied a little dab of leather conditioner in a couple spots. It absorbed immediately. A Lexol/Pecards treatment would most definitely help revive this horse.

View attachment 151865 View attachment 151866 View attachment 151867 View attachment 151868 View attachment 151869 View attachment 151870 View attachment 151871 View attachment 151872 View attachment 151873 View attachment 151874

That measurement is not strange to me to be honest. I have a few vintage jackets (Wool and Leather) that are meant to me that short. I have some with 21-22 inches. Certain styles like sports jackets, aviator, cycling, motorcycles are meant to be shorter than usual and this is on the shorter end.

They are made to be worn with other leather trousers or high rise denim so those jackets will be short for any other style that doesn't have the same rise.

I would rock the hell out of that short jacket but then I use high rise trousers so the jacket would cover my belt entirely without problems.

 

[ton312]

Yessir. Here’s an original Hercules Dave used to build my jacket.

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*IF* I ever revisit a standard HB this would be the pattern I’d want to go after as well. I semi regret not going for Aero’s OG Herc when I ordered my second HB. I’d love to see a dedicated thread on your jacket. I’ve been toying with the idea of going through DS for awhile now. Maybe you can force my sworn only 3 to 4.

 

[Bfd70]

Arriving Wednesday. I’ll post fit pics up when it arrives.

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If I saw someone in The Radler wearing a jacket like this I’d start a conversation for sure!

 

[hondurasdave47]

If I saw someone in The Radler wearing a jacket like this I’d start a conversation for sure!

[emoji38][emoji38][emoji38]


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[Seb Lucas]

People were the same. Pants were higher. What Ton said, most 50's MC jackets are about 22" with 24" being maximum. Buco's in Long sizes are like 25" back.

Argh, I wish I could find those photos from a 1950's car show that someone had posted a year or two ago. Lots of leather jackets on 'em and all fit extremely short. Shorter than the one you just posted.

Which, by the way, looks good on you. It's a true vtg cross zip. That's just how these jackets used to be. Short. I'd wear it for what it is.

Not wishing to start anything. 2016 figures from the World Health Organisation indicates American men are 3 inches taller on average today than the average height of 5'7" back in the early to mid 20th century. A 22-23 inch back at 5'7" to 5'9" is manageable, especially with high pants. I noticed in Sears period ads for half-belts from the 1940's-50's that they proudly advertise 25.5 inch standard back lengths. Again, at 5'7" to 5'10", that seems longer that I would have imagined. I think once you are six one or over the back length needs to leave behind off the rack period accuracy.