Sears Motorcylce Jacket History 1949-1963

[tmitchell59]

A CSC with one of the rarer blanket linings up on ebay (for an eye watering price) at the moment. Not sure I've seen regular zippers on pockets before. Replacements?

I just commented on this jacket, or one like it, on instagram. Since they are quite rare I would assume it is the same jacket.

This jacket was made by California Sportswear Co., it is their horsehide tag. Blatt of Chicago made the earliest wool lined MC jackets going back to 1947. These early wool lined came in several configurations before the lining changed to nylon.

The Blatt jackets ended around 1950, 1951 and the MC production was taken over by CSC, Roughwear, and Appalachian. This CSC wool lined was most probably a transition model made in small number prior to nylon lining.

I have one of these that I bought on ebay several years ago. I have seen one other like this.

The lining does not look very MC to me! Thanks for posting this rare jacket. I don't recall I posted mine here.

 

[tmitchell59]

California Sportswear wool lined jacket with a 1951 Hercules map pocket made by Appalachian

 

[tmitchell59]

This jacket was in the album with the above jackets.

This is the First Generation Hercules MC jacket as pictured in the 1948 Sears flyer. This jacket came in horsehide and Goatskin. This jacket is the goat model with the faded black and white lining. There is no right hand warmer pocket.

This jacket has lost the label. They were made by Blatt of Chicago, the home of Sears Roebuck.

 

[NAB]

I just commented on this jacket, or one like it, on instagram. Since they are quite rare I would assume it is the same jacket.

This jacket was made by California Sportswear Co., it is their horsehide tag. Blatt of Chicago made the earliest wool lined MC jackets going back to 1947. These early wool lined came in several configurations before the lining changed to nylon.

The Blatt jackets ended around 1950, 1951 and the MC production was taken over by CSC, Roughwear, and Appalachian. This CSC wool lined was most probably a transition model made in small number prior to nylon lining.

I have one of these that I bought on ebay several years ago. I have seen one other like this.

The lining does not look very MC to me! Thanks for posting this rare jacket. I don't recall I posted mine here.

Many thanks, always appreciate the insight! A great-looking jacket, and while the lining may not be very MC, it's pretty fetching all the same, definitely elevates it over the nylon version I have.

 

[NAB]

California Sportswear wool lined jacket with a 1951 Hercules map pocket made by Appalachian

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Excellent double act, both in incredible shape. Wish more of the map pockets had been made, I've been trying to track one down for quite some time.

 

[tmitchell59]

Wish more of the map pockets had been made, I've been trying to track one down for quite some time.

I've had several map pockets. That one came from New York state purchased at Sears in 1951. That may be the first year they had a Sears label. The Appalachian tagged jackets go back to late 40s.

The jacket contined in the Sears lineup through out the 50s.. I have one with a Fieldmaster label.

This is from the 1963 Appalachian catalog.

 

[tmitchell59]

Many thanks, always appreciate the insight! A great-looking jacket, and while the lining may not be very MC, it's pretty fetching all the same, definitely elevates it over the nylon version I have.

It is a great Quality jacket, most were during the early 50s. Interesting, Appalachian was a lower quality jacket and have to be scrutinized. The never have "front quarter" on their leather tag, just Horsehide. They did make some cool jackets and good ones can be found.

 

[Bfd70]

California Sportswear wool lined jacket with a 1951 Hercules map pocket made by Appalachian

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You and @jeo should open a museum

 

[NAB]

I've had several map pockets. That one came from New York state purchased at Sears in 1951. That may be the first year they had a Sears label. The Appalachian tagged jackets go back to late 40s.

The jacket contined in the Sears lineup through out the 50s.. I have one with a Fieldmaster label.

This is from the 1963 Appalachian catalog.

View attachment 784016

Thanks for posting, very cool to see. I'll keep looking out for one, didn't know they were also Fieldmaster labeled.

 

[blm14]

Finally scored an oakbrook d-pocket that fits me! it's about 23.75" pit to pit and about 27.5 inches in length from the top of the collar. Tagged size 44T, so I was surprised that it ran large. "T" box Talon main zip, serval sleeve zips, a zip at the inside collar seam, attached half-belt, and the "sears the men's store" tag I think date it pretty definitively to 1965-1968. I think Ralph Edwards was making them at the time (but feel free to correct me!).

Leather is nice and supple and only a little bit of top-coat loss on the sleeves. Just applied a thin layer of Pecard's leather dressing to it, paying special attention to the sleeves.

I want to see if I can get a mouton collar for it. An original if possible, but I'm willing to get a new replacement too. Any suggestions?

Obligatory pics:

and one of fit (I'm wearing shorts now, which I obviously wouldn't do if I were wearing it for real lol)

 

[tmitchell59]

I think Ralph Edwards was making them at the time (but feel free to correct me!).

Congratulations on finding such a unique size. I do believe they were made by Ralphs Edwards. I just sold one with the zip neck with the Edwards label. I was curious.

Until yesterday I had not seen the zip on collar. This jacket is on ebay with the collar.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/366649499992

 

[blm14]

oh man thats way more than i paid for the jacket lol

 

[photo2u]

Great fit, friend. Your jacket needs a little TLC.

1. Brush well with a horsehair (recommended) brush.
2. Clean with saddle soap.
3. Condition with good old manteca de rez (beef tallow)
4. Brush again to work in the tallow.

If the back has paint on it? I have a short YouTube video that will properly remove the paint. I personally like that Sears model. The fit is great, and I rock it often.. A fine member traded a top-of-the-line Californian made model with me, but that is a party-only jacket. LOL

 

[NAB]

Another near-mint Sears on ebay at the moment, though priced a bit too high for now. Steer with brass talon zips. This one a Fieldmaster but is more usually tagged Oakbrook also and the nicest version to me. Aside from the fact that it isn't horse, they're near identical to late Hercs excepting the larger zipper pull. I have one in rather worse condition that I put a smaller pull on.

www.ebay.com/itm/188769043363

 

[tmitchell59]

Another near-mint Sears on ebay at the moment, though priced a bit too high for now. Steer with brass talon zips. This one a Fieldmaster but is more usually tagged Oakbrook also and the nicest version to me. Aside from the fact that it isn't horse, they're near identical to late Hercs excepting the larger zipper pull. I have one in rather worse condition that I put a smaller pull on.

www.ebay.com/itm/188769043363

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This is a Roughwear Clothing jacket. The "big" zipper was mentioned in catalog around 1958.

 

[NAB]

This is a Roughwear Clothing jacket. The "big" zipper was mentioned in catalog around 1958.

Interesting, thanks, I'd assumed it was early 60s. The larger pull is definitely easier to grab but as shown above, won't sit flush, which I wasn't a big fan of.

 

[Bfd70]

I've had several map pockets. That one came from New York state purchased at Sears in 1951. That may be the first year they had a Sears label. The Appalachian tagged jackets go back to late 40s.

The jacket contined in the Sears lineup through out the 50s.. I have one with a Fieldmaster label.

This is from the 1963 Appalachian catalog.

View attachment 784016

Love that he has rabbits feet on the pulls in the ad

 

[tmitchell59]

Here is a Roughwear I owned with the original rabbit foot pull.

 

[blm14]

Just nabbed this one for a really good price. Have a feeling it will be too small - if it is I'll give you guys first dibs

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Does anyone have an idea what year and model this jacket might be? The liner says Sears but I'm not savvy enough to say for sure what kind or era. These are the only photos I have.

I note circular zipper pulls on the front pockets, smaller-than-normal epaulets and a straight kidney panel. I can't make out zipper names and the belt buckle is a heel bar. There are also snaps for a fur collar.

I've watched this for a while on eBay as the seller kept dropping the price. Finally it got down to something a bit absurd so I bit. I actually really like this art and the patches - I just hope I don't get assaulted for wearing it (I did ask ChatGPT about gang patches but it can't find any. I might remove the Thundercocks patch just in case).

Thanks for any insight, I looked all over this thread and tried Google a bunch of different ways, but can't find a good match.

(Edit: there are a few more photos but without any better details, but here is one showing maybe a small point on the kidney panel? If there is a point, it doesn't look prominent at all)