"The Grizzly"

[WalkingBoy]

Yes it would be. I can see the dismay on peoples faces walking along a Sydney street, what's that guy wearing? Yep he's insane.
but in Tasmania its perfect. Which is were I'll be moving to after I get back from London/UK were I'm now.
Tasmania is kinda like Scotland but south, and without Aero. A grizzly would be lovely when antarctica gales blow from the
south. And thanks for the suggestions by the way to all.

 

[marineabilly]

Hi Feraud

I was wondering if there might be a chance to see more photos of this stunning jacket. I've been thinking about this jacket for over a week now ( a long time to be fixated on it but it's that beautiful) I'm drawing up plans/specs for a custom Grizzly just like this, and I wanted to ask if you had any close up shots of the jacket re: close up of lining, labels, cuffs and pocket details. I'm very intrigued by the lining and collar set-up and how the slash pockets are made. Please, if this message somehow makes it your way, I'd love to see more of this jacket. Cheerio, martin.

I'm not 100% positive, but I think this Kat owns the jacket

 

[slicker63]

new to the site.... And just ordered a aero grizzly in fqhh in brown..... Will def post as soon as i have it to hand.... Im not as cool as mr mud 4 sure... But i love the jacket.....

 

[WalkingBoy]

Can't wait to see the pics..and oh, can you place an order for me while you're at it. on your account :0
cheers old boy. I'm new-ish too...so welcome.

 

[deluxestyling]

That Laskinlamb Grizzly

I'm not 100% positive, but I think this Kat owns the jacket

The other pictures of this Griz are from Rin Tanaka's book Motorcycle Jackets: Ultimate Biker's Fashions and ownership is credited to the king of vintage himself Larry McKaughan. Could be he let it go and it's now owned by the lucky guy in this picture. Maybe there's two identical survivors?

 

[flat-top]

http://www.himelbros.com/index.php?p=page&page_id=musher-jackets

 

[WalkingBoy]

For all you Grizzly nuts, found this on a casual google walk...

http://www.sidewinder1968.com/special_11.html

I think a Japanese (who else) collector got excited and posted them. This one is simply stunning. Button down cuffs, which you don't normally see, and this maker I've never seen/heard of. And what about the lining! Beautiful. Imagine one lined with a heavy tweed, which this looks to be..too weighty to be Tartan.
The grizzly is now my all time favourite. Grizzly envy, big time.
Now back to my pills.

Martin

 

[DoubleXX]

Yep, that's a nice one. You really ought to get a Lost Worlds Grizzly....they're very close to originals.

 

[WalkingBoy]

I'm not sure who to go to now. My original bet was taking my spec sheet to Aero for a highly customised version...but then David at HimelBros do great work and their attention to detailing is second to none, with some intriguing design elements built into his jackets..so maybe i'll wait a little longer till David is better set up to do more customised work...with a few more leather options. ( I'd want an aniline mid - brown horsehide, medium weight). Lost worlds I've thought about too, but haven't contacted them about customised options...also, their horsehide, as i've read here on the forum, looks so bloody heavy and thick...and the finish looks too 'plasticky' and coated with something. So I'm not convinced by them...in any case at well over a Grand, I'll have to do some serious saving, which may take a while...
canvas all options i suppose..
in the meantime I can gaze at the beauty above

 

[DoubleXX]

@WalkingBoy
"Lost worlds I've thought about too, but haven't contacted them about customised options...also, their horsehide, as i've read here on the forum, looks so bloody heavy and thick...and the finish looks too 'plasticky' and coated with something. So I'm not convinced by them"

-I beg to differ. I have a Lost Worlds Grizzly, and had an Aero horsehair-on-hide. They're both top-notch, but I prefer the Lost Worlds.
http://www.lostworldsinc.com/Grizzly_Horsehide_Mouton_Jacket.htm

This claim of a "plasticky" coating is total bullshit...don't know where that came from. Scroll down to "authenticity":
http://www.lostworldsinc.com/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm
The horsehide IS thick and heavy, just like it's supposed to be.

 

[Edward]

Language, please! I think we can discuss differences of views without stooping to such vocabulary. There may be ladies present, you know - they do occasionally venture outside the Powder Room.

Grizzlies are one of those things of which my opinion seems to be changing.... A few years ago, I really did not like Irvins, now I love them. Wasn't a fan of the Grizzlies for a long time, but I'm really coming round to them. My sole worry would be practicality - much as I think the Aero Pinto and Palaminos I've seen look superb, white fur..... dangerous in something I can't machine wash! I'm curious as to the heat factor. I get that they will be warmer than a jacket with no hair on it, but how do they compare to a more conventional sheepskin jacket? As I understand it, what makes an Irvin so warm is that the fleece traps a layer of warm air against the body in the airpockets between strands of fleece. Presumably a Grizzly doesn't have quite that effect with the fleece on the outside? I'd love to see one in Aero's seal colour goat with a layer of the rust mouton on the body.

 

[WalkingBoy]

DoubleXX..thanks for your expert advisement. When time comes I'll contact both Aero and Lost Worlds and go from there...

and Edward, apologies for the inflamatory dialogue when i saw that Grizzly I thought, damn look at the tailoring. its so hardcore and i'm amazed they got the lining in at all, it looks so thick.
I agree with your initial impressions about Grizzlies. When I first saw them, I thought, do the fur panels come off? Wasn't a fan. It looked weird, and wondered how functional and wearable they were. Too heavy. too hot. I'm thinking maybe they're not too hot because the mouton is on the outside, not as insulator inside. Kinda makes sense.
But the more I see them my opinion is changing. I realised that I was completely wrong, for no sound reason at all.
Now I love them, if one can't tell.
What's interesting is that virtually everyone I've seen ( which is about 6) is different in some way. No two are alike, as opposed to say the jackets made by the Hercules, or Windward stables which were off the rack identicals.
p.s I wonder if it's still possible to find a lining like that today? Is it Tweed or heavy Tartan?
Time to get in my time machine and head back to Milwaukie, 1926.
geez what a time to get leather jackets made. wonderful.

 

[WalkingBoy]

More Grizzlies in case you didn't ask...

http://fcancan.blogspot.com/2010/09/grizzly-style.html

beautiful stuff.

 

[DoubleXX]

Nice pics on that link; cheers!

 

[flat-top]

Borrowed from the French Cancan blog:

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Well, i'm now the proud owner (barring any seller mishaps) of an original 1930s grizzly jacket. I got a stonking deal on it, because it needs a lot of work. But the work is very doable. Can't wait for it to arrive. Gotta love the internet.

 

[WhiskeyTangoFox]

Nice purchase, Baron. It looks pretty rough but appears to be all there. Is that a Laskinlamb/Lakeland tag I see in the lining? Very nice!

Noel

 

[Baron Kurtz]

It is pretty rough, with some mouse chewing issues. It was apparently found abandoned in a log cabin in Wyoming. The shearling panels are apparently in good shape, which is nice.

I plan to remove and replace the inner leather portion around the zipper, and use it to carefully patch/introduce new panels where needed. But it looks rougher than it really is, IMO (at least from looking at the pictures). I'll know more when it arrives of course.

It is indeed by Laskinlamb.

bk

 

[mattfink]

I envy your rotting mouse chewed grizzly!!! Nice on Baron!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I've been envying everyone else with their great vintage or way-out-of-my-league-financially Japanese repops for many many years now. As the Baroness says: "at least you'll stop pining now."

To be honest, i'm astonished that I ever found an affordable one (should come in under £300 even if H M revenue and Customs get their filthy little paws on it) in my size. This is the first vintage grizzly i've ever seen sell for less than $1300, in any condition, in the eBay era.

eBay's weird sometimes. Seller didn't help themselves by not mentioning the word "grizzly".[huh]

bk