Pics of my RW A-2 (Again)

[fraazierjo]

A2 ROUGH IN

I went to the factory in the 60's - much too young during the war. My uncles were in the AAF and I used to see pilots on leave wearing their leather jackets withal the patches, etc. Totally fascinated since then Have a B3 that's still upholding under use!

 

[Fletch]

Probably the only reason RWs were made in Middletown was the large Army supply depot located there. The leather industry was and is a provincial, family oriented trade, mostly based out of New York, with a few plants in Chicago. Rough Wear in fact was originally started in Brooklyn.

 

[fraazierjo]

A2 ROUGH IN

Who cares where they were made? It's what they looked like on the backs of those pilots and how great they still feel when we wear them that I'm interested in. How 'bout you Steve (or Andrew)?

 

[MudInYerEye]

Probably the only reason RWs were made in Middletown was the large Army supply depot located there. The leather industry was and is a provincial, family oriented trade, mostly based out of New York, with a few plants in Chicago. Rough Wear in fact was originally started in Brooklyn.

???!!!

A large portion of 1920's-1960's American leather jackets were made in California. Wisconsin (mostly Milwaukee) was also home to many major leather jacket manufacturers.

 

[cheaterome]

Damn skippy holmes.


Jerome

 

[WhiskeyTangoFox]

Right, wasn't Monarch based in Milwaukee? I thought that I read that somewhere once.

Noel

 

[Fletch]

I guess I'd forgotten that. In my defense however, Milwaukee is closer to Chicago than many people realize.

The question is why the services, with bases all over the place, contracted only with leather factories in the east and midwest. I can only assume they were better connected.

Finally tho, fraazierjo is right: who cares where they were made.

 

[MudInYerEye]

I guess I'd forgotten that. In my defense however, Milwaukee is closer to Chicago than many people realize.

The question is why the services, with bases all over the place, contracted only with leather factories in the east and midwest. I can only assume they were better connected.

Finally tho, fraazierjo is right: who cares where they were made.

You care because you were the one blowing authoritative hot air all about it.
Block Bilt, Los Angeles Sportogs, Star Glove, Cal Leather, and hundreds of other firms were dotted along California comprised a HUGE leather garment industry way back when. In addition the Boston area (Leathertogs, Blatt, Wolff, Fidelity, etc etc etc) also comprised another huge chunk of the same industry. Do your homework before delivering your lectures.

 

[Fletch]

Sheesh Mud, I did try to back down a little there...obviously not enough...[huh]

 

[fraazierjo]

A2 ROUGH IN

Back to the point - Wow! Being a newcomer,I looked at more of your posts. You have one fantastic collection of Thanks.leather flight jackets - and some other good looking duds as well.

 

[cheaterome]

I think I have posted this once before somewhere.

I restored some rare european sportscars (Bugatti and an pre war Alfa) for this dude and he was the owner of one of the last and largest tanneries in the Milwaukee Area.
Badger State tanneries.
They used to supply Allen Edmonds with all their leather.
Only selling top shelf to American based mfrs. and shipping all the splits overseas.
Man how times have changed.

His quote verbatim .
" At one time from the 1900's to the early 1960's Milwaukee had more leather tanneries and production based leather facilities per Capita than any other place in the WORLD."

Reed (I think)... , Monarch.... Brills bros.

Countless other smaller one off tanneries and meat processing places for deer are the manufacturers and are still doing it today as well.

The guy who used to own Willis and Geiger lives in Madison.

I drove 60 miles one way to a leather specialist/store just because I heard he was a dealer for Reed..

Got there and he knew the family that owned them since the 1950's we talked..saw the Chinese made product and well it was step in line with a Mall leather.

Jerome

 

[MudInYerEye]

Sheesh Mud, I did try to back down a little there...obviously not enough...[huh]

Nothing personal Fletch. But right is right and wrong is wrong. If I was slinging misinformation about saxophones I'd hope you'd break my jaw before I finished eating my foot.

 

[handworn]

Not too likely, unfortunately; I believe the factory building has been turned into apartments.

Now wouldn't it be great to go there and find an old room with a few boxes of mint RWs stored away :eusa_clap