German sheepskin jacket

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281022585410

This vintage brown leather motorcycle jacket was made in Germany. It is shearling sheepskin, with leather detailing on the edges, pockets and adjuster straps.  It has decorative stitching, a double breasted front and two handwarmer pockets.  The female part of the middle snap is missing, and there is some discoloration on the collar.  It has raglan shoulders, and is marked a German size 46, which equates to a US size 36.  Due to the style of sleeve attachment and the cut, the chest measurement is significantly larger than the tagged size, but there is a dramatic drop from chest to waist, so please regard the tagged size of 36 as accurate.
Chest: 24″ (doubled =48″)
Waist: 18″ (doubled = 36″)
Length (collar to hem): 29″
Sleeve (Center of Collar to cuff): 34″
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Albert Richard leather jacket

This vintage leather jacket was made by Albert Richards.  It is their “Shetland” model, made of “Satintan” horsehide, with a “Beavertex” mouton collar.  It has an alpaca lined body and quilted lined sleeves.  The main zipper is a post-war Talon.  The prong is still attached to the zipper tape, but is coming away from the body of the jacket, so a new zipper may be in order. The pocket zipper appears to have had the puller chain replaced with a piece of wire some time back.  The jacket has a one piece back, knit waistband and cuffs, epaulettes and flannel lined handwarmer pockets.  The leather is heavily grained with a great patina.  There is definite wear to it, and some small light patches of paint, but there are no holes or tears.  The knits have some mothing, and it looks from the difference in color that either the cuffs or the waistband are are replacement.  The aplaca pile lining shows wear, where bits of the pile have worn down to the fabric. There are three ventilation grommets under each arm.
Chest (pit to pit): 22″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 24″
Shoulder to Shoulder: 19-1/2″
Length (collar to hem): 26″PhotobucketPhotobucket

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Brown Columbia CHP jacket

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271103006052

This vintage leather jacket is in the “Coumbia” motorcycle style, the type worn by the California Highway Patrol. This one probably dates from the late ’50s or 1960s.  Usually they come up in black, so the brown leather on this one is unusual. This style was made by most of the big California makers, Langlitz still makes a nice version.  Due to the lack of tags, it’s hard to be positive whether the jacket is horsehide or a heavyweight steerhide. One way or another, it has killer grain and patina.  The jacket bears stitch marks from a previous zipper, indicating the current ’70s manufactured one is a replacement.  Likewise, it appears the jacket has been relined at some point, going by the different color collar snaps on the inside.  The sleeve zippers are Serval, and the pocket zippers have brass chains. The main zipper is missing the prong and is in need of replacement.  The zipper on the right sleeve has jumped its track.  There is heavy wear to the left cuff, and wear and patina to the leather throughout.  There is a half inch stab through the leather near the main zipper which goes clean through the front of the jacket when zipped, through at least four layers of leather.  There must be a story there.  There are mouton panels in the cuffs to keep the wind out when the sleeves are zipped.  The are attachment snaps for a detachable collar, now long gone.
Chest: (pit to pit): 23″ (doubled = 46″ = size 42)
Shoulder to Shoulder: 20″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 25″
Length (collar to hem): 27″

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Wheels of Man suede cafe racer

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271103039663

This vintage leather jacket was made in the late ’60s or 1970s.  It is heavy roughout cowhide suede.  It has a talon main zipper and talon cuff zippers.  The top collar snap bears the logo of the maker, Wheels of Man.  The jacket has an action back, two handwarmer pockets and zippped cuffs.  There is general wear and staining to the suede throughout the jacket.  The left cuff is worn and the stitching at the end of the seam has let go.  The right cuff has similar damage, and several small tears around the zipper.  The lining also bears the logo of the company and is stained, especially towards the bottom hem.
Chest: 23″ (doubled =46″)
Shoulder to Shoulder: 19″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 26″
Length (Collar to Hem): 28″
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WWII sheepskin gauntlets

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271098561346

These vintage mittens were made during WWII and are named to a Captain Bill Grall.  They are fully sheepskin, with a tanned finish on the hand and a raw finish on the gauntlet.  They have what looks to be a horsehide reinforcement pull panel on the gauntlet, as well as a horsehide gusset. The leather is still supple and the sheepskin is in great shape.  Though they appear to be a handmade, non issue item, they would match a wartime sheepskin B-3 or Irvin, or are perfect to go with a vintage motorcycle jacket.
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Early Issue G-1 leather flight jacket

This vintage leather jacket was made for the USN.  It is goat, with a real mouton collar.  It has an action back, knit cuffs and waistband, a windflap and an interior gun pocket.  There are stitch marks from a nametag from when it was issued.  The town, “Poultney, VT” is written in the lining.  The cuffs are replacements, and all the knits are in need of replacement.  The main zipper is Conmar, with what may be a replacement conmatic puller. The prong of the zipper is missing, as are some teeth by the neck.  The mouton is worn through and flaking. The lining is torn and repaired.
Chest: 22″
Sleeve: 24″
Shoulders: 17″
Length: 28″  PhotobucketPhotobucket

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Monarch leather jacket

This vintage leather jacket was made by the Monarch company, a legendary leather jacket company of the golden era, who held an A-2 contract during the war.  This is an aviator / motorcycle style, with an asymmetrical front zip , two flapped pockets, and two map pockets.  It has epaulettes, belted sleeve cuffs, and a bi-swing half-belted back.  The main zip is a triple marked sunburst Talon. The tab on the male side (the side without the puller) is missing.  It’s still zip-able, but it takes a little bit to get the teeth to mesh initially.  The chain zippers on the two map pockets are also talons. There are two ventilation grommets under each arm.  The jacket is made of colt leather, a type of horsehide.  There is damage to the cuffs, and cracking to the collar.  The left shoulder has some flaking and the lining has wear and some moth damage.  This jacket has been worn and has acquired a fantastic patina over the years.
Chest: 22″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 25″
Shoulder to Shoulder: 18″

 Top of Collar to Hem: 28″

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