Authentic 1930's jacket

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:23 pm

I have ordered and received my authentic 1930's aviator style jacket from Ghost Motor Clothes. Now I have an actual jacket from the same time period as our hero, that has a few of the features of the Wested, but are still unique and authentic. I have just given it a dose of Pecards and will take more pictures soon. It should go well with my 1930's Stetson

Side straps (right side)

What do you think? I will not have to artificilally distress it

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:25 pm

Great jacket! Yeah, the Pecards will certainly help preserve the jacket. All you need are the goggles!

bink

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:16 pm

Interesting find Rick - what's the leather?

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:23 pm

Nice Rick,
Does it fit you? I am assuming that it does. How is the lining? Has it been redone or is it original? I was curious how you were able to determine which time period it is from.
Great find. Enjoy it.

jjkillin · Post by **jjkillin** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:29 pm

That's awesome!!!

RC Halliburton · Post by **RC Halliburton** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:57 pm

What a beaut'! Brings to mind "The Rocketeer" Looks like a great aviator jacket, as well. Nice find.

Post by **Jens** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 4:40 pm

Fantastic! It really screams "adventure", doesn't it?
Yes, please tell us what kind of leather the jacket is ...

IndyBlues · Post by **IndyBlues** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 4:53 pm

Killer jacket Rick. Congrats on that find. I need tons of pics, please send them my way.

I wonder how the sleeve ride up is on that sucker?

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:31 pm

Nice looking jacket right there; I'd never seen the site before, and am currently drooling over some of the other jackets they have! So thanks for the (indirect) tip!

Indianafred · Post by **Indianafred** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 6:16 am

Nice jacket rick!
iv,e just been waiting for someone on COW really get there hands on an authentic leather jacket from the indy-period.

On with the fedora, on with the whip and lets go!!

bye the way Irwin, can you post a link to the ghost motor clothes page?

I would like to see it for myself

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 6:20 am

The leather is supposedly steerhide, but is very soft. There is no sleeve ride-up to speak of since the jacket is cut pretty close to the armpit and it does not have barrel cuffs. It has zippered sleeves to adjust the fit. The website is here:

http://www.spookcycle.com/gmc/index.cfm

Under "Select a product" you can pick jackets from any era. They are refurbished if needed, but otherwise left in original condition.

Nice Rick,
Does it fit you?

Yes

I have always preferred the fit of the older jackets to what is offered today.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 8:34 am

That would be unlikely, given:

(i) You're applying a modern style convention to a 30s jacket.

(ii) The jacket looks to be of a "man's size".

(iii) The people who sell these are experts in leather jacket history.

So do I think it's a woman's jacket? No way. Could it be worn by a woman? Sure.

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 9:16 am

Nice jacket, Rick!!!!! But is it just me, or does that design , with the lines running up the breast to the shoulders , look like it might be a womens jacket? ,,,maybe? What do you think?

I think it is just you.

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 12:08 pm

With all due respect there is nothing innocent about this comment.

Alrighty,,,,,,just askin' ,,no need to get your panties in a wad

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and half the reason I post stuff is to see everybody's opinions. When you are asking me whether I think a jacket that I spent a good deal of money on that I really like is a women's jacket, there are implications there - as in the comment you wrote above. If you are trying to get a reaction, then keep trying, but let's take it off line and keep the comments civil. This is not the place for it.

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 12:12 pm

Here it is a few minutes ago.

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 2:08 pm

NICE!

Post by **Jens** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 5:09 pm

Whohooo!

Minnesota Jones · Post by **Minnesota Jones** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 6:43 pm

Rick, very nice jacket. Very nice indeed.

MIKEY - Can you watch how you phrase items without making them seem like a slam or an insult please? Let's play nice. Otherwise I'll have to go in and start editing Rick's thread, which I don't want to do as it's his jacket and his thread. Thanks.

Indiana Croft · Post by **Indiana Croft** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 7:47 pm

Very nice jacket Rick, I'll have to keep my eye's open when I'm in your area to check it up close.

Wear it in good health.
Croft

Indianafred · Post by **Indianafred** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 7:48 am

it,s look good on you, it would look more nice if you weare the full gear.

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 7:54 am

Indiana Croft wrote:
Very nice jacket Rick, I'll have to keep my eye's open when I'm in your area to check it up close.

I can make it easy. When will you be in the area?

Indianafred wrote:
it,s look good on you, it would look more nice if you weare the full gear.

Yeah, I guess it would, but it was 85 degrees and I just wanted to show how the jacket fit. I seldom wear full gear all at once and certainly not while just hanging around the house

.

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 9:28 pm

Rick,
The jacket looks great on you, very tough. Well done.

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 6:46 pm

Hey! A picture in the recent Star magazine shows Spielberg wearing a similar jacket with the "lines running up the breast to the shoulders."

Close-Up Shot...
http://build.hosting.domaindirect.com/i ... et=tlx_new

zeus36 · Post by **zeus36** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 2:56 pm

That is definitely a Man’s jacket! Very nice one too.

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 4:18 pm

That's a winner on both accounts!

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 4:29 pm

Rick, that's the jacket that Jones WOULD have worn. She's a beaut!

BTW, is that an Optimo Indy brown you are sporting?

Hey, I wonder if Wested made that jacket for Spielberg?

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 4:48 pm

That is definitely a Man’s jacket! Very nice one too.

That's a winner on both accounts!

Rick, that's the jacket that Jones WOULD have worn. She's a beaut!

Thanks! I love this jacket - especially the slanted zippered side pockets, and zippered sleeves. I have damaged more pocket flaps on jackets over the years and I have been looking for one of these for a long time. I got lucky with Ghost Motor Clothes. Most of the jackets that I liked were in the 70's section, but I finally found one from the 30's. It is obvious by the side strap construction that it is older. Not as elaborate as a Wested, but it does use D-rings...

BTW, is that an Optimo Indy brown you are sporting?

It is the ###### Sterling Beaver (behave, everyone

) I do own an Optimo, but it is pecan color. The direct sunlighting makes it lighter than it actually is.

ob1al · Post by **ob1al** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 4:59 pm

A ###### huh? Well I have to say, it looks sweeet! Great bash too. I don't want to drift too far OT, but how is the felt compared to the Optimo?

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 5:13 pm

Try this for a detailed description:
http://www.ricktheriault.com/fedorainformationpage/
There are pages for each hat at the top of the site.

In a nutshell the hats are very different:

The Optimo is very thin and light - and floppy - it takes a long time to train the brim to behave. This hat is very comfortable to wear in the summer, and when styled right it is very Indyish. Mine is past that point now and it cannot be saved by a simple reblock. I will be sending it to Optimo to see what they can do with it. This was my favorite Indy hat.

The ###### is very soft and dense. It is a bit thicker and a bit heavier than the Optimo (a little lighter than an Akubra, weight wise, IMO). The details to workmanship are excellent. This is also a very comfortable hat to wear, as it is luxurious in feel and look. (Before I got it filthy) I do not think that anyone who currently has one of these hats is unhappy with it. It is pliable, yet holds it shape without stiffener. A great hat and although it has a minor setback, it has moved up to my favorite Indy hat.

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 8:10 pm

Back to topic:

I am laughing here because my neighbor came out to empty the trash and I am standing here with my arms up waiting for the timer to go off.

Side Straps Close-up:
http://www.ricktheriault.com/sitebuilde ... cket04.jpg

Sleeve Close-up:
http://www.ricktheriault.com/sitebuilde ... cket03.jpg

Back View:
http://www.ricktheriault.com/sitebuilde ... cket06.jpg

Post by **Jens** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 6:02 am

Awesome! I like the idea of the zippers on the jacket's sleeves. Looks really cool!

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 11:59 am

Rick,
The back of that looks a bit western. It looks cool.

Kilgour Trout · Post by **Kilgour Trout** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:19 pm

What a great jacket Rick

. The style is distinct and classy. Its the kind of thing I would want to buy if it were available. (its all Indy without being Indy) Perhaps...a certain (British) individual might just see this thread...hmmm.
Again...Very nice, enjoy.

Warm Regards
Kilgour Trout

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:34 pm

Thanks Kilgour,
I only wish I could adequately describe the leather. The jacket manufacturer is "Archer" according to the tag. Ghost Motor Clothes refurbished it and said it was steerhide. It is really soft and pliable. This jacket hangs like a shirt when you hold it by the locker hook. I was looking for something between a highwayman jacket;

http://www.legendaryusa.com/product/1519

http://pic2.picturetrail.com/VOL5/14222 ... 376172.jpg

and an A-2 jacket that didn't have the pocket flaps. My only reservation for all the non-distressed camp out there is that this jacket has had 70 years of distressing and it looks this good. You have a long wait ahead of you for natural distressing to occur on your Wested or FS jacket

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 3:55 pm

OoO! More pics

& they show off the great rich colour of that brown

Its the kind of thing I would want to buy if it were available.

That would be part of the beauty of having a jacket that old, now...very individual

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 7:07 pm

Thanks! Canyon, it looks better in person as I am not good at taking pictures. It is a bit darker than they appear in those pictures, but definitely lighter than the Westeds I own. When I was oiling it again for the third time (that sucker is thirsty!) I just realized it only has one seam on the sleeve running up where the zipper is. I like that as well as it is not two mismatched pieces of leather. (I am not implying that any of my Westeds were, but you should have seen the grain difference on some of the jackets I picked up on ebay.) You are right Skippy. For the amount I spent on this jacket I easily could have purchased a brand new one from anywhere. The point is these are not seen everyday and it is 70 years old. Individual for sure.

FLATHEAD · Post by **FLATHEAD** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 11:47 am

Rick:

With the zippers on the sleeves, is your jacket perhaps a motorcycle
jacket?

I have seen alot of jackets with the zips on the sleeves to allow for the
ease of putting on gloves, and then zipping up the sleeves for a snug
fit so air does not get in the sleeve and "poof" it up with air while
riding.

The side adjusters would suggest a bike jacket as well.

Either way, cool jacket!!

Flathead

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 1:20 pm

I would almost guarantee it is a motorcycle jacket. If you look at the group from Ghost Motor Clothes you will soon realize that they seem to cater to the bikers. The zips keep sand and snow out as well. Just for giggles, here is a picture from the 1930's. Plenty of bikes, but no cool jackets:

IndianaFist · Post by **IndianaFist** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 4:08 pm

WOW! That is sharp Rick. It looks like it was custom made to fit you! Nice find! Wear it in good health.

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 4:12 pm

Lay off the cheeseburgers too. That nice jacket will not fit you very long....just ask me...I know all about it.

Regards. Michaelson

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 4:18 pm

Lay off the cheeseburgers too. That nice jacket will not fit you very long....just ask me...I know all about it

Michaelson,
I was just talking to Fist about this an hour ago. I need to diet to get back into my Wested for the Fall!

So, we can all save a lot of money by keeping our weight steady.

Rick:
The picture of the bikers back in the 1930's is really cool. I am surprised at their lack of protection. It reminds me of the photographs of mountain climbers from that time wearing tweed suits and ties!

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 4:28 pm

I'm at that happy age that I just order bigger jackets. $\:D/$

Regards. Michaelson

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 4:55 pm

Michaelson, it took you too long to show up. I thought you would be the first post and it would be heavy on the "use Pecards" theme.

Lay off the cheeseburgers too. That nice jacket will not fit you very long

If I didn't know you better, I would have taken this as an insult.

Actually, I eat more cheesburgers than I used to. Just no buns

. I have been working towards getting my abs to show. It isn't really working. I think I have them in there somewhere because the doctor said so.

It reminds me of the photographs of mountain climbers from that time wearing tweed suits and ties!

Did I ever post the hikers on Mt. Monadnock picture I had? It is exactly what you are talking about. Suits and ties and women in dresses. I like the fact that they did it without special shoes, energy bars and hydration packs. Tough generation.

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 5:00 pm

No insult at all, my friend! This couch potato has been looking at all the photos of this feller climbing mountains all over creation, and thinking to himself...SHEESH, this guy's got to much energy! And he buys a jackt that fits him to boot!

As to the Pecards....as you can tell, just waiting for the other shoe to drop is almost as powerful as the message itself, isn't it? Zen enough for one day? $\:D/$ High regards. Michaelson

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 5:06 pm

And he buys a jackt that fits him to boot!

You as well as anyone, know my quest for a unique but Indy-like jacket.

It took many jackets before I found one that fit the way I wanted. That is definitely an advantage between authentic vintage jackets and copies of authentic vintage jackets. Or even worse, modern loose-fitting jackets :evil: . Hopefully, I can find something new to spend money on now that I have the hat that I always wanted and the jacket. Maybe liposuction?

Authentic 1930's jacket

Authentic 1930's jacket

Maybe Peter should see this?