Tale of two Taubers Cafe Racers

[tmitchell59]

I got my first CR, a Brooks, about 6 years ago in a deal. It was a throw in. The other jackets in the deal are long gone. Since then I have owned and sold 5 Brooks..I've owned a couple of other brands that have all passed on, including a 70s steerhide Taubers. I've been an advocate of the inexpensive, reliable, available Brooks. I still am.

The Buco J-100 is the most copied and spoken of CR. I've seen them in steerhide and horsehide, but never owned one. The only Buco I've owned is a Steerhide police jacket. Buco remains the standard in vintage Motorcycle jackets, at least that is my take. I'm not even “into” MC jackets, just not my thing, though they dominate the vintage leather jacket market. You can't ignore their impact.

I was tipped on the Taubers by the fellow who threw in the Brooks on that deal. I'm impressed with the whole bay area leather jacket trade which they were a part of. Taubers goes back to around 1941. That is the first mention I could find in a Bay area city directory. I believe they were in business into the 1980s. They made a variety of Styles in leather. Most seem to be associated with motorcycle riding.

I plan to document their varitey of labels and try to put them in a time frame. I date these Crs as mid 60s due to the Talon tear drop zippers on the pockets. This was a popular zipper. It is on my early 60s Brooks CR, as on my Taubers racing shirt.

What I find interesting is the use of Horsehide leather on jackets in the 60s. I've seen advertisements for horsehide racing shirts in 60s magazines. I believe Cal leather was using horsehide in their 60s jacket. I am not familiar with other makers using horsehide in the 60s. I see popular use of Horsehide ending by the late 50s.

PICTURE ALBUM HERE


These appear to be size 40s. One has the original size tag, 40. This is the "cleaner" of the two.

The 2nd one also measures 20 across the front, but has additional side pieces added. It looks to me like an aftermarket addition, since they did not change the lining only put some additional interior pieces. Some one grew?

Additional side pieces

Note that there is an inside pocket on the modified jacket.

The backs are also different in construction. The modified has inset sleeves and no back yoke.

The "Cleaner" has neither.

 

[tmitchell59]

 

[tmitchell59]

This video goes about 11 minutes and stars the Two Taubers and special guest appearance by a Brooks CR.

 

[Superfluous]

One of each please!

 

[technovox]

Nice write up on the Taubers. One additional mention- it is my understanding that Taubers discontinued the use of horsehide and only used cowhide on their jackets from the 70's on...when they changed their label.

 

[jacketjunkie]

Thanks for the video and pictures! Before, I hadn't really considered them, but now, they have my attention! I particularly like the first one with the clean back!

I liked the Charles Dickens reference too.

 

[Lebowski]

Highly helpful and just very nice video, Terry. Thanks a lot!
You look like a motorcycling legend wearing every of these beauties, I like it Sir!)

 

[tmitchell59]

Nice write up on the Taubers. One additional mention- it is my understanding that Taubers discontinued the use of horsehide and only used cowhide on their jackets from the 70's on...when they changed their label.

What is your estimation when Cal Leather discontinued horsehide? I believe you had a Cal CR in Horsehide from the 60s?

 

[tmitchell59]

Thanks for the video and pictures! Before, I hadn't really considered them, but now, they have my attention! I particularly like the first one with the clean back!

I liked the Charles Dickens reference too.

There is one on ebay now. Looks to be a bit earlier with the different zipper pulls.

 

[tmitchell59]

Highly helpful and just very nice video, Terry. Thanks a lot!
You look like a motorcycling legend wearing every of these beauties, I like it Sir!)

I think it is the Hair!

 

[Bigbenbs]

Someone may want this...too small for me, but looks like a decent deal: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-40...942351?hash=item41e0c5eecf:g:NNYAAOSwtdpa4ofE

 

[Lebowski]

I think it is the Hair!

Terry, your haircut and your beard both are very very cool looking, and you really look like a motorcycling icon in your video above, thumbs up!

 

[Carlos840]

This video goes about 11 minutes and stars the Two Taubers and special guest appearance by a Brooks CR.

Those both look great, i'd keep both just in case you lose some more weight.
It wouldn't take much for the thinner one to fit you.

 

[Gamma68]

Great video and nice comparison to the Brooks CR, Terry. I have a Brooks of the same vintage and you're right, it was no match for the Taubers.

I wish my Taubers had fit better. The steerhide was fantastic and it had a superb felt blue lining. But it was a touch too small and I never felt comfortable wearing it.

When I put mine up for sale, I called it circa 1970s because of the tag design and the fact that it wasn't horsehide. It still had the teardrop Talon zipper pulls, however. It's making someone in Japan very happy now.

 

[tmitchell59]

Those both look great, i'd keep both just in case you lose some more weight.
It wouldn't take much for the thinner one to fit you.

I've thought the same thing, plus I've sold a lot of jackets lately.

 

[tmitchell59]

Great video and nice comparison to the Brooks CR, Terry. I have a Brooks of the same vintage and you're right, it was no match for the Taubers.

I wish my Taubers had fit better. The steerhide was fantastic and it had a superb felt blue lining. But it was a touch too small and I never felt comfortable wearing it.

When I put mine up for sale, I called it circa 1970s because of the tag design and the fact that it wasn't horsehide. It still had the teardrop Talon zipper pulls, however. It's making someone in Japan very happy now.

I can not find pictures of my Taubers orange label Cafe Racer. Probably a little later than yours. It had YKK main zipper which was original. It also had a hand written size. Also had a very nice corduroy lining.

I've been looking at pics of Buco J-100. Both Steer and Horse look very good. I would like to have one in hand

 

[technovox]

What is your estimation when Cal Leather discontinued horsehide? I believe you had a Cal CR in Horsehide from the 60s?

I currently have 3 Cal Leather CR in the horsehide. I believe they switched from horsehide to cowhide in the 70's. But ksozay would be more knowledgeable for answering that...

 

[Chevalier]

Thanks for all the info about Taubers. I just found a jacket locally and had to sell it on EBay because it would not fit. I wish it did fit me; it was a beautiful jacket. I hope the buyer appreciates it. I’m getting really interested in the leather industry here in the SF Bay. Any advice on finding the older (horsehide) Taubers jackets? Is the one listed on EBay now really worth $1000?!?

 

[tmitchell59]

Thanks for all the info about Taubers. I just found a jacket locally and had to sell it on EBay because it would not fit. I wish it did fit me; it was a beautiful jacket. I hope the buyer appreciates it. I’m getting really interested in the leather industry here in the SF Bay. Any advice on finding the older (horsehide) Taubers jackets? Is the one listed on EBay now really worth $1000?!?

I too have a great interest in the San Francisco leather industry. You can look through old San Francisco directories on the internet. They are City directories that list different companies. It gives you some idea of who was doing what when, but not much more than that.

I doubt anyone will pay 1K for that jacket. someone got a great deal on your jacket it was a fairly small size like maybe a 36. That limits the amount of people interested in buying it at any price.

Even the best vintage jackets have to compete with the new jackets