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Just won this 1940s beauty

J. M. Stovall

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,152
Location
Historic Heights Houston, Tejas
I've seen labels from the 70's that looked just like that too, just "retro" styling. That's why I was asking if there were any other labels, at all, to help date it. With the info I have now and the two photos the only thing I could say with any certainty is that it was probably made between 1935 and 1975.[huh]
 

MudInYerEye

Practically Family
Messages
988
Location
DOWNTOWN.
I used to own that same Trailblazer jacket you won but it has passed through several hands since. The labels are all original, one the manufacturer's the other the retailer's. The jacket was made between 1939-1941. It is made from a beautiful cape sheepskin and has very little wear. The leather damage is from improper storage. As an everyday beater jacket it is a fine pick-up.
 

Estevan

One of the Regulars
Messages
271
Location
mmmm
J. M. Stovall said:
Have you found a Union Label? It should have one it it's that old. I suspect it might actually be more of a 60's or 70's jacket. Is there a tag that says what the lining is made of?


Check the zipper, it's a dead giveaway as to its age. Unless it's a replacement of course.[huh]
 

Estevan

One of the Regulars
Messages
271
Location
mmmm
MudInYerEye said:
I used to own that same Trailblazer jacket you won but it has passed through several hands since. The labels are all original, one the manufacturer's the other the retailer's. The jacket was made between 1939-1941. It is made from a beautiful cape sheepskin and has very little wear. The leather damage is from improper storage. As an everyday beater jacket it is a fine pick-up.


Mystery solved....:)
 

J. M. Stovall

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,152
Location
Historic Heights Houston, Tejas
That's a great looking jacket aswatland! It's very similar to one I have that has a '36-'39 Union Label, especially the sleeve cuffs. Mine's goat instead of horse though. And it took a whole tub of Pecards before it looked that good.

I only have these photos from when I bought it, I haven't gotten around to shooting it all cleaned up yet.
cuff.jpg

3bc3_1.jpg
 

Alan Eardley

One Too Many
Messages
1,500
Location
Midlands, UK
I have a Rich-Sher jacket very like that one but in black horsehide. When I bought it it had literally been worn once since the Korean war, when the owner was killed. It is in excellent condition apart from the lining at the neck, which has suffered from contact with a slim hanger. It has also lost its quarter belts (as has the one above) but Eastman makes a coat with quarter belts and I intend to ask them to sell me two spares. It makes all the difference with this style of jacket.

Alan
 

Estevan

One of the Regulars
Messages
271
Location
mmmm
Nice looking jackets gents.....Andrew, what a winner you've got there and the BIN...Wow! Outstanding!
 

jamespibworth@n

One of the Regulars
Messages
253
Location
Bedford England
MudInYerEye said:
I used to own that same Trailblazer jacket you won but it has passed through several hands since. The labels are all original, one the manufacturer's the other the retailer's. The jacket was made between 1939-1941. It is made from a beautiful cape sheepskin and has very little wear. The leather damage is from improper storage. As an everyday beater jacket it is a fine pick-up.

Great news

That has made my day:) . Thanks Mud.

Cheerio for now

James.
 

jamespibworth@n

One of the Regulars
Messages
253
Location
Bedford England
Two Half Belts

Here is my £25.00 bargain: late30s/early 40s ‘Daniel Boone’ half belt.

It is a very fine jacket, very soft cape skin and feels great.


I have carried out some repairs to some pretty awful tears on the shoulder by using flexible glue to stick down the torn flaps of leather. I then applied boot polish followed by some Pecards.


The next is a quite different half belt!

It’s front quarter horsehide, I think 40s or 50s and is thick, supple and tough.



I may have paid a bit much for it (£150.00) but just had to have it!!

Cheerio

James.
 

himelator

Vendor
Messages
121
Location
toronto
Your Jacket

The jacket looks to be calf skin, or pony. The grain is very fine, and the tannage has left the jacket open to a very soft wear, this was typical of early 40s late 30s jackets in order to make a more flexible jacket, easier to break in and wear. Whats really interesting about the jacket is the back shell pattern. It is extremely typical of Canadian jackets of the period. In fact the two other repondents bought Canadian jackets..the pics posted and the lightining zipper jacket. The jackets were made 9 out of 10 times in Toronto, Canada by four companies long since demised, names like Perfect leather, Score Sportsware etc...If your talon deco zipper is original, and it looks like it is, then the jacket is a unique american example which may have been parroting the Canadian style (which was derivative of a british/euro design). The most common source of this style was surprisingly west coast..far away from Canada where the more decorative shell back is quite common. Of course the decorative back served two other purposes. One: it saved money as you didnt have to use one large piece on the back, minimising your leather selections and secondly:

Two: before the biswing back of ww2 , the center pleat was the expansion pleat, not efficient, but it worked

check out my blog "the art of vintage leather jackets"
 

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