Hello fellow loungers,
Well, it has been set into motion...
A few years ago I was living in Germany. I met a coworker, who later became a friend, and he introduced me to TFL. As he described to me his love for the classics, be it cars, motorcycles, vintage wear, etc., I became intrigued. I began to troll the pages of TFL and to educate myself. He told me of a new jacket he'd ordered from Gasoline Alley, in Munich, and described it to me. "It's Front Quarter Horsehide" he said. It's from a company in Scotland that has been making hand-made, high quality leather jackets for years. He said "they are one of the few companies that source the material and still make things the old-fashioned way." "They use Horween Leather, from Chicago, IL."
I was mystified. I soon took a trip to Gasoline Alley myself. I fell in love. In love with the cool sailboat models, the Ferrari paraphernalia, the Red Wing boots, worn leather goods, vintage cigarette lighters, etc. I wasn't in a position to buy, but boy did I want to.
As the years went by (along with the controversies over Alexander Leather vs Aero) I kept educating myself. I kept watching, learning, imagining myself in that thick, rich hide.
Last year I purchased a Schott G-1. It looked good, but it was too light in color and it wasn't FQHH. Here is is:
This year I became particularly weak and decided to start looking for a used jacket. Should I go with Alexander? Yes, I think I will. An eBay auction. No, wait, then it wouldn't be an Aero. This is what I fell in love with, right? This is what I wanted. So lets search Aero. Wait, I should measure a jacket that fits me, right? Yes, I think so. 26.5 inch sleeves. 28 inch length. 19.5 inch shoulders. Check. Let's look for an Aero jacket. Here's one..wait, 25" sleeves? Here's another, 25" length. This is going to be hard. I think I'll try TFL classifieds. Here's an offer for a FQHH Cafe Racer, (thanks pawineguy). 19.5" shoulders, 27" sleeves, 27" length. It's perfect! I'll take it, but wait..it's a 42 and I'm a 44. It's okay...that's what everyone says, right.
So I get the jacket and try it on....oh man. It only measured 26.25" in length. Uh-oh. The armpits were tight (I knew I needed a 44) BUT THE LINER IS BEAUTIFUL! No, The fit doesn't work. (sick feeling). I'll sell it.
So I begin looking again. It's the wrong leather, too short, too light, too dark, ugh!!!
Then I ran across this jacket from 06911s. Oh baby. Then another from mowgli222. Oh baby. Now, THIS is what I was after. Not too Highwayman, not too Cafe Racer...not too rugged, not too refined. My "goldilocks" of jackets, "just right".
So imagine this:
Mixed with a little of this
...all while trying to avoid this:
Yes, I finally did it. A custom order from Thurston Bros. Everything to address my broad shoulders, chest-to-waist ratio, and long torso. Let's hope this does the trick. Many thanks to pawineguy, 06911s, mowgli222, Thurston Bros (Carrie), and the many other users who have answered my questions, offered me their jackets for sale, etc. You have all been great. Now the waiting game begins.
Here are the final jacket specs:
STYLE- Sheene (standard Café Racer with Highwayman collar) with three-pocket front, no shoulder gussets, no kidney panel, with single-point “V” yoke and two-piece arms
SIZE- 44
LEATHER- Heavy CXL FQHH (customer request grainy hide)
COLOUR- Brown (customer requests darkest brown possible)
ZIPPER METAL TYPE- Antique brass Talon with antique brass bell pulls with horsehide pulls on handwarmers pockets and antique brass diamond pull on chest pocket
LINING- Ogilvie of Airlie Ancient lightweight wool lining with brown cotton drill in sleeves
STORM CUFFS- No
SLEEVE LENGTH- 27 inches
BODY LENGTH- 28.25 inches
INSIDE POCKETS- Left vertical interior pocket with no closure
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS –
1) Three-pocket front design—left side horizontal chest pocket and two handwarmers
2) No shoulder gussets
3) No kidney panel
4) With single-point “V” yoke
5) Please construct jacket with two-piece arms
6) Regular Aero Label
Fingers crossed.
Well, it has been set into motion...
A few years ago I was living in Germany. I met a coworker, who later became a friend, and he introduced me to TFL. As he described to me his love for the classics, be it cars, motorcycles, vintage wear, etc., I became intrigued. I began to troll the pages of TFL and to educate myself. He told me of a new jacket he'd ordered from Gasoline Alley, in Munich, and described it to me. "It's Front Quarter Horsehide" he said. It's from a company in Scotland that has been making hand-made, high quality leather jackets for years. He said "they are one of the few companies that source the material and still make things the old-fashioned way." "They use Horween Leather, from Chicago, IL."
I was mystified. I soon took a trip to Gasoline Alley myself. I fell in love. In love with the cool sailboat models, the Ferrari paraphernalia, the Red Wing boots, worn leather goods, vintage cigarette lighters, etc. I wasn't in a position to buy, but boy did I want to.
As the years went by (along with the controversies over Alexander Leather vs Aero) I kept educating myself. I kept watching, learning, imagining myself in that thick, rich hide.
Last year I purchased a Schott G-1. It looked good, but it was too light in color and it wasn't FQHH. Here is is:
This year I became particularly weak and decided to start looking for a used jacket. Should I go with Alexander? Yes, I think I will. An eBay auction. No, wait, then it wouldn't be an Aero. This is what I fell in love with, right? This is what I wanted. So lets search Aero. Wait, I should measure a jacket that fits me, right? Yes, I think so. 26.5 inch sleeves. 28 inch length. 19.5 inch shoulders. Check. Let's look for an Aero jacket. Here's one..wait, 25" sleeves? Here's another, 25" length. This is going to be hard. I think I'll try TFL classifieds. Here's an offer for a FQHH Cafe Racer, (thanks pawineguy). 19.5" shoulders, 27" sleeves, 27" length. It's perfect! I'll take it, but wait..it's a 42 and I'm a 44. It's okay...that's what everyone says, right.
So I get the jacket and try it on....oh man. It only measured 26.25" in length. Uh-oh. The armpits were tight (I knew I needed a 44) BUT THE LINER IS BEAUTIFUL! No, The fit doesn't work. (sick feeling). I'll sell it.
So I begin looking again. It's the wrong leather, too short, too light, too dark, ugh!!!
Then I ran across this jacket from 06911s. Oh baby. Then another from mowgli222. Oh baby. Now, THIS is what I was after. Not too Highwayman, not too Cafe Racer...not too rugged, not too refined. My "goldilocks" of jackets, "just right".
So imagine this:
Mixed with a little of this
...all while trying to avoid this:
Yes, I finally did it. A custom order from Thurston Bros. Everything to address my broad shoulders, chest-to-waist ratio, and long torso. Let's hope this does the trick. Many thanks to pawineguy, 06911s, mowgli222, Thurston Bros (Carrie), and the many other users who have answered my questions, offered me their jackets for sale, etc. You have all been great. Now the waiting game begins.
Here are the final jacket specs:
STYLE- Sheene (standard Café Racer with Highwayman collar) with three-pocket front, no shoulder gussets, no kidney panel, with single-point “V” yoke and two-piece arms
SIZE- 44
LEATHER- Heavy CXL FQHH (customer request grainy hide)
COLOUR- Brown (customer requests darkest brown possible)
ZIPPER METAL TYPE- Antique brass Talon with antique brass bell pulls with horsehide pulls on handwarmers pockets and antique brass diamond pull on chest pocket
LINING- Ogilvie of Airlie Ancient lightweight wool lining with brown cotton drill in sleeves
STORM CUFFS- No
SLEEVE LENGTH- 27 inches
BODY LENGTH- 28.25 inches
INSIDE POCKETS- Left vertical interior pocket with no closure
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS –
1) Three-pocket front design—left side horizontal chest pocket and two handwarmers
2) No shoulder gussets
3) No kidney panel
4) With single-point “V” yoke
5) Please construct jacket with two-piece arms
6) Regular Aero Label
Fingers crossed.
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