Taubers of California Horsehide Leather Shirt

[RJR]

Wow!

 

[Dickie Teenie]

On my way through Ventura yesterday, I was able to stop by Cal Leathers, and I spotted a vintage Cal Leathers Shirt that they had in the back archive. (Many thanks to Gwen for letting me look over the vintage stock and being so helpful and knowledgeable about Cal Leathers history.) Sorry about the photo quality, all I had on me was an outdated phone/camera.

View attachment 36514

View attachment 36515

View attachment 36517

View attachment 36516

This picture has it all, just perfect.

 

[ksozay]

This picture has it all, just perfect.
View attachment 106897

I’ve got one, if you’d like to see, can probably take some pics. The nice thing about the one i have is it actually fits me. Love Gwen’s!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ksozay]

Here's mine. Really love the jacket and it's such a great design. Six panel back, padding on shoulders and elbows.

 

[Motorbass]

Western Leather Wear Pullover. Very similar to Terry Mitchell's jacket in the OP. Talon Zippers all around. Anyone seen this brand anywhere else? Was this produced by Taubers for Western Leather Wear?

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

 

[Chevalier]

I dug up this older thread for a couple of reasons:
1. I can’t wait to see if anything comes out of Terry’s Taubers vault for his upcoming sale
2. I found a nice way to test out this style of riding shirt without breaking the bank, if you are unsure about it like I was.

I stopped by Just Leather down in San Jose, California because I found one of their vintage jackets at a local resale shop. It was over 25 years old and still going strong, which I think speaks to their build quality. While I was waiting for them to do a check-up my jacket, I tried on one of their steerhide pullover shirts. I have been looking for a vintage Taubers shirt for ages without any luck. I can never find one that is wide enough in the shoulders or long enough in the sleeves for me. The shirt in San Jose fit me really well. Granted, it is not a “custom” fit, but I think it will break in well. There is finally enough room in the shoulders for me. The gussets give flex without being “blown out” all the time like they can get in a jacket that is too small. I also like the 3/4 zipper on the chest. A lot of the other shirt designs have lacing, which I’m not sure that I am cool enough to pull off It has side and sleeve zippers, to help get a snug fit while still being able to get it on and off. I don’t think it is a super-fancy grade of steerhide or anything, but it has a good combination of both heft and flexibility. It smells fantastic, too. I expected the shirt to be priced somewhere in the stratosphere, and I think my jaw literally dropped when they told me the price. It felt good to support a small, friendly local Nor Cal shop, too. They also sell online, which is why I thought it was worthwhile to post about it here. I’ll post some fit pics once the shirt is broken in.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tmitchell59]

I dug up this older thread for a couple of reasons:
1. I can’t wait to see if anything comes out of Terry’s Taubers vault for his upcoming sale
2. I found a nice way to test out this style of riding shirt without breaking the bank, if you are unsure about it like I was.

I stopped by Just Leather down in San Jose, California because I found one of their vintage jackets at a local resale shop. It was over 25 years old and still going strong, which I think speaks to their build quality. While I was waiting for them to do a check-up my jacket, I tried on one of their steerhide pullover shirts. I have been looking for a vintage Taubers shirt for ages without any luck. I can never find one that is wide enough in the shoulders or long enough in the sleeves for me. The shirt in San Jose fit me really well. Granted, it is not a “custom” fit, but I think it will break in well. There is finally enough room in the shoulders for me. The gussets give flex without being “blown out” all the time like they can get in a jacket that is too small. I also like the 3/4 zipper on the chest. A lot of the other shirt designs have lacing, which I’m not sure that I am cool enough to pull off It has side and sleeve zippers, to help get a snug fit while still being able to get it on and off. I don’t think it is a super-fancy grade of steerhide or anything, but it has a good combination of both heft and flexibility. It smells fantastic, too. I expected the shirt to be priced somewhere in the stratosphere, and I think my jaw literally dropped when they told me the price. It felt good to support a small, friendly local Nor Cal shop, too. They also sell online, which is why I thought it was worthwhile to post about it here. I’ll post some fit pics once the shirt is broken in.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is nice! Just Leather, I've seen that name on ebay. Good looking Shirt. next time you are in there asking them about Taubers, Cal, Johnson, etc. I'd be interested in what they know.

There have been several Taubers shirts on ebay. I think there is a late 60s 70s Steerhide on there now. I always look at them. I've been tempted. If you get the wrong size it will not fit, no way. So I'm always looking.

Thanks for sharing this. I may have a late 50s/early60s Taubers Horsehide Police jacket to put up. Someone else was asking. I just got a 50s Hercules D pocket I actually bought to sell, but now hesitant. Keep your eye on that sale thread. What size?

 

[rockandrollrabbit]

"pulling it off" is exactly how you get out of it. It takes some contortion.

Well done.

 

[Chevalier]

Agreed! It does feel like a wrestling match getting this thing on and off. I’m worried one day I’m going to lose the match and get stuck inside It sounds like you speak from experience. What kind of shirt do you have? What are your thoughts on it?

I’m trying to wear it a lot to break it in. I would like to get some arms creasing and to soften the collar up a bit, especially near the throat.

I’m definitely liking the style, so I’m keeping my eye out for vintage (esp. Taubers) versions that actually fit me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Carlos840]

Agreed! It does feel like a wrestling match getting this thing on and off. I’m worried one day I’m going to lose the match and get stuck inside It sounds like you speak from experience. What kind of shirt do you have? What are your thoughts on it?

I’m trying to wear it a lot to break it in. I would like to get some arms creasing and to soften the collar up a bit, especially near the throat.

I’m definitely liking the style, so I’m keeping my eye out for vintage (esp. Taubers) versions that actually fit me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Keep an eye out on eBay for a Vanson Scout, they were made in the 90s, thick spongey black chap leather, nice pattern, can be had for cheap.
Admitedly i don't wear it very often, but i am glad to have it. (althouh i woudl rather it had side zips than laces)

 

[Chevalier]

Thanks for the idea about the Vanson Scout. I like Vanson and didn’t know they did a shirt design. I’ll keep an eye out for one, since I have decided that I like pullovers.

The fit on yours looks spot on! Thanks for posting the pics. It is easier to tell how a shirt will look when someone is actually wearing it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Chevalier]

I think I finally succeeded in my quest to find a Taubers pullover shirt, although it is not tagged. I bought it from someone in the South Bay who said he got it “in his younger days” in SF. It has zippers and an overall look that is very similar to the shirt posted by Motorbass.

This looks to have been made later than the horsehide one that Terry showed in the original post. It is hard to tell the material on mine. I think maybe goatskin? It is lightweight, but feels pretty strong. The grain is dense like the goatskin flight jacket I have.

Sleeves are also annoyingly short, which is a trait of Taubers that I have heard about

 

[ton312]

I think I finally succeeded in my quest to find a Taubers pullover shirt, although it is not tagged. I bought it from someone in the South Bay who said he got it “in his younger days” in SF. It has zippers and overall look very similar to the shirt posted by Motorbass.

It is hard to tell the material. I think maybe goatskin? It is lightweight, but feels pretty strong. The grain is dense like the goatskin flight jacket I have.

Sleeves are also annoyingly short, which is a trait of Taubers that I have heard about
View attachment 335082 View attachment 335083 View attachment 335084 View attachment 335085 View attachment 335086

That is superb!!

 

[Chevalier]

That is superb!!

Thanks ton312! Vintage is usually too small for me, so finding one that fit made me really happy.

 

[ton312]

Thanks ton312! Vintage is usually too small for me, so finding one that fit made me really happy.

I’ve been after one like this myself. Id love one in suede actually. At one point I had some in my hearts list on Etsy but never followed through. I’d want a cheap one first to see how it wears.

 

[tmitchell59]

This looks to have been made later than the horsehide one that Terry showed in the original post. It is hard to tell the material on mine. I think maybe goatskin? It is lightweight, but feels pretty strong. The grain is dense like the goatskin flight jacket I have.

Looks great! Seems to be a Taubers. I would say Horsehide, never seen a Taubers in Goatskin. I have seen these with the "newer" Taubers logo that were Cowhide.

 

[Chevalier]

Looks great! Seems to be a Taubers. I would say Horsehide, never seen a Taubers in Goatskin. I have seen these with the "newer" Taubers logo that were Cowhide.

View attachment 335378 View attachment 335379

Thanks, Terry! Your original post on these pullover racing shirts and your video was what inspired me in this quest

 

[jonbuilder]

Here my shirt no label but looks like a Taubers

 

[Will Zach]

^^
This looks mint! Seems like the previous owner didn't care for the process of putting it on and taking it off...

 

[Monitor]

Guys ( @tmitchell59 , @jonbuilder ), what do you think would be a realistic price for a Taubers leather shirt in a good condition? Owning one, what is the most you would have paid for it (in a good condition, of course)? Thanks.