Lawrence biker jacket - Thoughts?

[J00i]

Hello!

Just got this Lawrence biker jacket from the 1950s (1940?) and I thinks it is an awesome jacket! Customized by the previous owner and seems to have been used alot with grain as a result. Many resown seems and some old broken ones. Replacement zipper, a broken original lining and cut of epauletts. This jacket has had a rough life for sure!

My plan was to restore the jacket over the winter, replacing seem thread where needed and maybe replacing the liner.

Other then Just showing of the jacket i wanted to know your thoughts on replacing an original liner on such a old jacket, is that something you do should I rather try an preserve whats left of it? Also does anyone know anything about the Lawrence brand? Very scarce information on the internet.

Thanks!

 

[jchance]

I’ve run across that brand before in the “vintage outwear of the past” thread. If you reverse-image search the label, you’d find a bit more info on it.

You can just keep the lining as is and wear what’s left of it. Only you would be the one that notice what’s gone and what’s left of the lining. Not like people inspect the inside of your leather jacket. The lining doesn’t look that bad to me.

If the lining is shot, I’d just remove it and wear it unlined, unless it’s super cold where you live. Once the lining is removed, you can DIY restitch or reinforce a lot of broken seams.

Company Info: “the company's beginnings, Arthur C. Lawrence, along with his partner Horace A. Southwick, came to Peabody Massachusetts in 1894 looking to consolidate leather working operations under one company. They took over the plant of the Sanger Glue Factory, off of Lowell Street. They began in sheep leather production, and later diversified their production to also include calf leather. By 1909, Lawrence employed 2,150 workers in 32 buildings. Immigrants provided a steady stream of labor, hailing from Turkey, Armenia, Greece, and countless other countries. They became one of the premier leather jacket manufacturers on the East Coast, along with Kurland, Sportclad, Wolf Outerwear, and others. They disbanded in 1991.”

 

[J00i]

Oh, look at that, thanks! Thats way more info then I was able to find. I'll try the reversed image search method.

And yes I would have easier access to some of the broken seems remowing the liner i suppose, im going to have to think about it. I think I want some sort of lining though, just to extend the time of year you can wear it here in Sweden.