Extra Large Hudson’s Bay Blanket Coat

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271246957324
This vintage coat was made by the Hudson’s Bay company from their iconic point blanket material. It is in their “Olympic” pattern, a belted double breasted style, with handwarmer pockets and flapped patch pockets. In this particular example, the points of the four point blanket are on the inside of the coat on the wearer’s right shoulder. The coat is fully lined in gray. It is tagged a 46, but I would say it fits more like a size 50 or 52.

Chest (pit to pit): 29″ (doubled = 58″)
Shoulder to Shoulder: 21″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 27″
Length: 34″

A bit about the Hudson’s Bay Blanket Coat:
The Hudson’s Bay Company introduced their distinctive striped “point” trade blanket in 1780. The blankets were used in the fur trade, traded in exchange for pelts. The “points” represented the size and weight of the blanket. The blankets were soon being tailored into hooded, belted “Capotes”.
In 1811, 40 greatcoats were commissioned for soldiers stationed at Fort St. Joseph in Jocelyn, Ontario. They were made under the direction of John Askin, fur trader, and keeper of the King’s Store at that fort. Running short on proper supplies and in need of adequately warm coats for the men, Askin had the coats sewn from point blankets. The modern mackinaw was born.
The Hudson’s Bay blanket material was advertised for its, “warmth, durability, retention of color, non-shrinage”, for being “non-hardening when exposed to the elements”, and for their water resistant qualities. Combined with its heavy weight, and thick fluffy nap, the Hudson’s Bay Blanket made for ideal material in a harsh environment. They remained popular with fur traders through the 18th and 19th centuries. Along with their mackinaw-cloth relatives, they also proved popular with Lumbermen on both sides of the border.
Coats made from Hudson’s Bay point blanket material were truly investments, costing significantly more than identical coats in other fabrics. Some examples: In 1937, an Albert Richard coat in heavy mackinaw cloth cost $12.50. That same coat in the HBC fabric cost $22.50. In 1936, a different manufacturer was offering 32oz melton coats for $5.95. To upgrade to point blanket fabric doubled the price.
These coats were the ultimate in rugged, high-end outdoors garments. At the top of the price range for short coats, they were sold by such high-end outfitters as Abercrombie & Fitch and Von Lengerke & Detmold. By the 1930s, sportswear companies like Albert Richard and Maine Guide by Congress had joined the act. The Hudson’s Bay blanket coat enjoyed a surge of popularity on the United States market in the mid through late 1930s. Mirroring the Mackinaw craze of 1912-1915, the style was brought over the border to the US by tourists and seasonal workers who had seen the coats in use in Canada and been impressed with their warmth and durability. They briefly became a university fad in the 1930s, but really stuck with sportsmen who could afford the best.
Hudson’s Bay blankets were originally made in England. In the middle of the 20th century, they switched manufacture to Canada. Currently, they are again produced in England, by John Atkinson. Former competitor Woolrich Woolen mills has the contract to import Bay Blankets to the US, and other former competitor Pendleton now makes the blankets used in the coats sold by HBC.
As the 20th century wore on, the Hudson’s Bay point blanket coat remained a Canadian icon. It was the Canadian team uniform at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics.

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Custom made Pendleton blanket coat

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271232918925
This vintage coat was handmade from a Pendleton Indian blanket. It is buttonless, probably meant to be worn with a belt, and has a hood. There are identical pockets on the inside of the jacket as the outside, which would seem to suggest that it is reversible. The finishing on the seams inside the sleeve suggests otherwise. There are holes in and by the pocket, by the corner of the cutaway and the start of one by the collar seam.

Chest (pit to pit): 23″
Shoulder to Shoulder: 17″
Sleeve (Shoulder to Cuff): 22″
Length (bottom of hood to hem): 29″

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1960s Penney’s Towncraft swimsuit

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281124831988

These vintage swim trunks were made in the 1960s. They are a long legged style, with a patterned waistband.

Waist (unstretched): 15″ (doubled = 30″)
Waist (stretched): 20″ (doubled = 40″)
Side Seam: 14″
Rise: 12-1/2″

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NYPD Leather Jacket

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271192753634

This vintage leather jacket was originally used by the New York Police Department. It is a heavy leather, in a classic utility jacket. The previous owner de-policed the look by removing the false breast pocket flaps and buttons, as well as the patches. It has two-directional talon zippers. The epaulettes have brass buttons with the seal of New York. The design of the NY seal was changed in 1977 to bear the date 1625. This is the earlier variant, with the date 1664. The jacket has a removable pile lining, attached with a Talon zipper. There are two interior pockets, and a pen pocket. There are stitch marks where there was once a label. The jacket has been heavily worn.
Chest (pit to pit): 22″
Shoulder to Shoulder: 18″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 24″
Length: 24″

From the last owner:

I found this jacket in a dumpster on broadway in soho (just north of prince street) in the early 80’s. it still had the police equestrian patches and “brass” on it. I thought it was a godsend, fit me perfectly. I wore this jacket for years. I wore it on a trip through japan and china in 1986. this jacket is VERY near and dear to me, hence why I’m trying to sell it despite it’s poor condition, I can’t BEAR to throw it away, it breaks my heart to part with it, I swear I’m teary eyed typing this. I tried to give it away to 4 of my successive girlfriends throughout the years but I either got it returned to me or they told me to “hold on it for them”. I’m hoping someone with a strong desire to own a nice (“cool”) leather jacket who wants to buy one cheap will come along who also has substantial sewing skills and wants to invest the time in making the sewing repairs necessary. oh, one tidbit, one side of the zipper was starting to come undone while I was in china and I met a street tailor in beijing who kindly sewed it back in place for me. I was absolutely OVERJOYED. me, I think this is a lovely jacket, it has a magnificent patina of age and wear, I think it’s PERFECTLY aged and patinaed. if it would fit me I’d continue to wear it!!

 

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Walter Dyer motorcycle jacket

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271176491850

This vintage leather jacket was made by the Walter Dyer company of Massachusetts. It is made of a thick, heavyweight leather, probably steerhide, perfect for motorcycle usage. I’ve heard this style of theirs referred to as a “Luftwaffe jacket”, but really, it’s a standard Cafe Racer style with a collar. There are two handwarmer pockets and two zipped breast pockets. There is an action back, and zipped cuffs. All the zippers are brass and were made by Talon. The jacket has a quilted lining, which has what looks to be an ink stain on it. Great wear and patina to the leather. The “Walter Dyer” tag is of the early leather style. It would have originally had the name in script, written in gold, but has mostly worn off.

Chest (pit to pit): 24″
Shoulder to Shoulder: 18″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 23-1/2″

 

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LL Bean blanket stripe coat

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281078325621

This vintage coat was made by LL Bean. It is a classic striped point blanket style, made famous by the offerings of the Hudson’s Bay company. The HBC version had four stripes, of indigo, yellow, red and green. This version has broader stripes, of black, red and yellow. These coats were very expensive new, with their high quality blanket material, and were generally offered by the higher end outdoors outfitters of the time. This is a somewhat newer version, produced in the 1960s or 1970s, but its style is extremely classic with the biggest difference being its warm, bright red acrylic pile lining. It is a single breasted style with handwarmer pockets and flapped patch pockets.

Chest (pit to pit): 24″ (doubled = 48″ = size 44)
Shoulder to Shoulder: 19″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 25-3/4″

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William Barry leather jacket

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271137548637

This vintage leather jacket was made by William Barry, under their “Score One” label.  It is very close to a ’30s or ’40s halfbelt pattern, but with a bigger collar and front yoke. Halfbelt back.  Brass talon zipper.  The leather is relatively light weight. Chest: 21″Shoulder to Shoulder: 17″Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 25″    Photobucket

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