1940s Hercules Aviator leather jacket

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281464398498
This vintage leather jacket was made c.1947 and was sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co under their Hercules label, used for leather jackets and workwear. The jacket is an “aviator” style, a style originated in the 1930s, and defined by its offset zipper front, coat style lapels, interesting pocket setup and usually by its fancy back. This example has handwarmer pockets, a chest mounted map pocket and an angled cuff detail with decorative buttons. The back is belted and has bi-swing shoulders. It has a scalloped back yoke. The main zipper is a Talon, identifiable as being made immediately post-war by its marked U shaped stop box design and square hole on the pull. The chest zipper is also a Talon, with a chain style pull and a transitional style slider. With a 42″ chest, this will best fit someone who wears a size 38.

Chest (pit to pit): 21″ (doubled = 42″)
Shoulder to shoulder: 17-1/2″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 23-1/2″
Length (base of collar to hem): 23-1/2″

1960s-1970s Beau Breed Cafe Racer leather jacket

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281459957232
This vintage leather cafe race motorcycle jacket was made by Beau Breed in the late 1960s- 1970s. It is made of brown steerhide, with two breast pockets, bi-swing shoulders, a band collar with two male snaps and one female. It has a late starting zipper, similar to Beck jackets. The main zipper is a Crown / Coats Clark and sleeve zippers are Serval. The jacket has a quilted lining with a corduroy strip at its base.

Chest (pit to pit): 22″
Shoulder to shoulder:18-1/2″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 25″
Length (base of collar to hem): 26-1/2″

1930s canvas saddlebags

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281424920712
This vintage canvas bag was made in the 1930s. It has early talon zippers, with the D shaped stoppers at the top (before they switched to the solid metal stops in the ’40s) and a rare variant of the bell-shaped pull. The slider is of the plain-back style (no stampings) which was used in the early-mid 1930s. The end of the opening on the bag is leather reinforced. Unlike regular saddlebags, which are essentially two bags with a separate connection piece, these are a single, continuous bag, shaped roughly like a barbell. The ends are bucket-bottomed, and have drainage grommets both in the bottom and on both sides. The zippers open the entire bag and run vertically, as opposed to the horizontal openings usually seen on this type of bag. The heavy canvas started out life as a deep forest green, as can be seen in the last photograph, but has faded heavily over time. This is perfect for motorcycles or just as a rugged over-the shoulder carryall.

1950s Bullseye Bill fishing jacket

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281337372551
This vintage jacket was made in the 1950s and was sold under the “Bullseye Bill” label. I have had several of these jackets, dating from the 1930s-1950s, and other than the hardware and labels, the overall design barely changed. This one has a “Wiz” zipper front, where as earlier models generally had button fronts. There are pockets on both of the arms, wraparound pockets, a large rear game pocket, a breast pocket, fly rod loop and a sheepskin patch for flies. There is a D-ring on the back of the jacket to attach further gear to, and two internal patch pockets Most people who wear these as streetwear remove the fly pad. This one is made of light, summer weight canvas.

In case if you don’t know wher to buy water shoes for this part.

Chest (pit to pit): 23″ (doubled = 46″)
Shoulder to shoulder: 18″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 24″
Length (base of collar to hem): 22″

Similar in cut to this “Snag Pruf” jacket

Merrill Woolens plaid jacket

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271489386897
This vintage jacket was made in the 1940s by Merrill Woolens of Merrill, Wisconsin. With its square bottom, boxy cut, and coat style collar, the cut is reminiscent of a Hollywood jacket. The plaid fabric and zipper breast pocket put it in a woodsier category altogether.

Chest (pit to pit): 21″
Shoulder to shoulder: 18″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 24-1/2″
Length (base of collar to hem): 30″

1950s Abercrombie and Fitch nylon swimsuit

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281321134006
This vintage men’s bathing suit was made in Austria in the mid 1950s. It is made of 100% Helanca Nylon, in an elastic waisted brief cut, with a zipper coin / key pocket. The pocket is closed with a German Zipp brand zipper. The suit was sold by Abercrombie and Fitch, back when they were still a high quality men’s shop and outdoor outfitter.The suit has a built in supporter panel made of the same nylon.

Tagged size: L
Waist (unstretched): 12-1/2″ (doubled = 25″)
Waist (stretched): 18″ (36″)
Side Seam: 7-3/4″
Rise: 13″

Deadstock 1940s/1950s swimsuits

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

Medium http://www.ebay.com/itm/281321108323

Large http://www.ebay.com/itm/281321112134

This vintage swimsuit was made in the early to mid 1950s. It is a brief style, with an elastic waistband and zipper coin/key pocket. The zipper was made by Savoy. The un- belted brief men’s bathing suit came into style around 1948 and remained popular through until about 1958. The 1940s models generally had flapped pockets, whereas by the later 1950s, most had lost the pocket altogether. These stylistic changes help with the dating. The suit is deadstock, that is, it was never sold originally and has never been worn. It still has the creases from having been folded for the last sixty years or so.

Tag Size: Medium
Waist (unstretched): 11″ (doubled = 22″)
Waist (stretched): 16″ (doubled = 32″)
Side Seam: 7-1/2″
Rise: 13-1/2″

Tag Size: Large
Waist (unstretched): 12″ (doubled = 24″)
Waist (stretched): 17″ (doubled = 34″)
Side Seam: 7-1/2″
Rise: 14″

Ralph Lauren Deck Jacket

Posted on April 11, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271449035189
This jacket was made by Ralph Lauren under the Polo label. Its design is heavily influenced by early pattern USN N-1 deck jackets. It blends the styling of the button and the hook front ones. It is made from 100% cotton, in a soft knit. The jacket has a bell shaped Talon zipper, knit collar, cuffs and waistband. It has semicircular patch pockets, ventilation grommets at the underarms, a fly front and a buttoned throat latch / chinstrap.

Tagged Size: L
Chest (pit to pit): 24″ (doubled = 48″)
Shoulder to shoulder: 19-1/2″
Sleeve (shoulder to end of cuff): 25″
Length (base of collar to end of waistband): 27″

Drybak “The Feather”

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

This vintage hunting jacket was made by Drybak in the 1940s. It is made of their “The Feather” lightweight canvas, and has a ton of great detailing. The handwarmer pockets form both the pocket flaps for the cargo pockets as well as covers for the shotgun shell loops. The cargo pockets are saddlebag style to allow for expansion when full. The jacket has a belted action back. The shoulders are a double layer of canvas for extra reinforcement. The collar is corduroy and has a flap and strap on the back which buttons down – a sort of half-hood to keep the elements out when the collar is flipped up. The bottom panel of the sleeve is extended to form the panel which would usually be a football shaped gusset. The game pouch buttons open, has scovill snaps to extend it, bellows-style, and bell shaped Conmar zippers to open it fully for easier loading, unloading and cleaning.

Chest (pit to pit): 23″
Shoulder to shoulder: 18″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 25″
Length: 30″

Deadstock mid 1930s Talon Fantail Zippers

Posted on February 8, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281262585415
This rare vintage zipper was produced by Talon from the early to mid 1930s. In their advertising, this style was the style 110, while the slightly larger version was known as the style 109. The last photo shows a 110 and a 109 side by side for size comparison purposes. It is a pin lock style, with D-shaped stops at the top. According to original advertisements, these were sold with white cotton tape so that they could be dyed to match. These are a closed end, open top style, perfect for sleeve openings on motorcycle jackets and the like. The zipper track measures 3″, while the tape from end to end measures 4-1/2″.

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