Montgomery Ward (Windward) Motorcycle Jacket History 1947-1963

[Biff42]

California Sportswear Speed King, again, courtesy of @semolina_pilchard and his post:


California Sportswear Speek King with Ad from 1950:

 

[tmitchell59]

Hi guys I'm posting my new to me MW jacket by California Sportswear at the request of

thanks for posting, the jacket looks quite nice. It is the boxy Speed King chassis. I just sold my last Speed King.

I found this combination of labels earlier in this thread. No doubt the last of that label. Many things changed around the decade change, more modern logos/labels, linings, styles. Seems to happen in each decade, They changed labels again by the decade end.

California Sportswear was also making jackets under the Sears Hercules label. Actually competing against themselves! A Win, Win for CSC. They were also selling under their own logo through out the country.

I have never seen that 1950 Speed King ad. Most interesting time for leather jackets. A lot of transitions during this time, new developments, change in leathers, change in fashion styles.

 

[Leigh H]

Hi guys I'm posting my new to me MW jacket by California Sportswear at the request of OG @tmitchell59 . I rolled the dice on this one and got a decent survivor. I do note some similarities to the California Sportswear Speed King, and I'm adding some pics for comparison courtesy of @semolina_pilchard and his pristine example.

View attachment 816147 View attachment 816148 View attachment 816149 View attachment 816150 View attachment 816152

what a find!! in such great condition.

 

[Leigh H]

California Sportswear Speed King, again, courtesy of @semolina_pilchard and his post:


California Sportswear Speek King with Ad from 1950:

View attachment 816155

$39.50 in 1950 has the equivalent purchasing power of about $549.03 today.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

$39.50 in 1950 has the equivalent purchasing power of about $549.03 today.

I've seen those kind of numbers before and I question their accuracy.

My dad talks about getting a soda for a nickel when he was a kid in the fifties. Now it costs 2$. That's a 40x markup. 40x40$ =$1,600.00.

That makes more sense to me.