Bill Kelso timeline of leather, with a little wear thrown in...

[Skip]

Matt, did you literally just receive these samples? Are you ordering a jacket?

Hey Brett,

I contacted BK a good month or two ago pretty much when i started this thread. I wanted to get an idea how much their Liberty had changed from when I originally purchased a Liberty hide jacket a good 5 years ago, as the idea was a comparison between the early hides and the new. Anyhoo they had issues with their server and didn't get my message till a month ago, so they sent it snail mail a good 4 weeks ago, so I just received it today. The weathered samples I received from M3Cavalry who didn't require them anymore so sent them to me once he found out how long BK was taking etc. Good in a way that both samples can be displayed together to see the difference in hides received from the tanneries.

Also been thinking of going a Dubow, but I'd also like an original, but as I said in another post waiting on the dollar/pound ratio to improve which at present doesn't look likely, so which ever comes or bites me first I guess. Time will tell.
If you want samples mate I can send them along , just let me know.

 

[Brettafett]

Hi Matt,
Yes, I have dropped them another mail to check if they can send some...
Its great to see side by side comparisons... I have a bunch of ELC Havana russet samples from very recently to the last few years. They are all different in colour and character. Interesting.

 

[Ole]

You may notice that the tone of the left sample is slightly more redder so it looks like it will very between differing shipments of leather that not only BK receive but all makers of course.

Or, they were the same color and the one on the right darkened after all that you did to it including Pecards.

 

[M3Cavalry]

I bet you’re lots of fun at parties.

Matt, thanks for posting this. Great to see, although I’d have to agree the dark seal looks perhaps the most interesting. From their Facebook, looks like I’ll find out soon.

 

[Earloffunk]

I bet you’re lots of fun at parties.

Matt, thanks for posting this. Great to see, although I’d have to agree the dark seal looks perhaps the most interesting. From their Facebook, looks like I’ll find out soon.

Dark seal ist a great color! Once I get my "good" DSLR back into working condition I might post some pictures of the dark seal after some time of regular wear.

 

[Ole]

yes, especially when I do the trick where you touch the fake dog poop which isn't fake.

 

[stanier]

Those leather samples look really good. Looking at a BK post on FB of jackets they’re making for customers before the end of April, they do look busy although mainly civilian styles I think but that’s no issue, just an observation and I’m glad they’re busy.

Really hope they’re able to impress us with quick reliable deliveries.

 

[M3Cavalry]

Happy to see that I ordered the right thing.
Thx for sharing.

What color did you go with?

 

[Skip]

Or, they were the same color and the one on the right darkened after all that you did to it including Pecards.

Yeah Ole, thats a possibility, but they've all been sitting in the Aussie sun for about a month and in this hotter than average March/April have dried out enough back to original. You can see in the first photo that there is minimal colour differences in the seal and dark seal but a definite change in hue in the russet.

I bet you’re lots of fun at parties.

Matt, thanks for posting this. Great to see, although I’d have to agree the dark seal looks perhaps the most interesting. From their Facebook, looks like I’ll find out soon.

Mate, always take a leather sample with you. Its great for those awkward moments when the conversation drops out and your all left standin' around wonderin' what to look at. Besides, girls go all weak at the knees when you show em a leather sample

Dark seal ist a great color! Once I get my "good" DSLR back into working condition I might post some pictures of the dark seal after some time of regular wear.

Be great to see 'em Earl, thats what this thread is for

 

[M3Cavalry]

Yeah Ole, thats a possibility, but they've all been sitting in the Aussie sun for about a month and in this hotter than average March/April have dried out enough back to original. You can see in the first photo that there is minimal colour differences in the seal and dark seal but a definite change in hue in the russet.



Mate, always take a leather sample with you. Its great for those awkward moments when the conversation drops out and your all left standin' around wonderin' what to look at. Besides, girls go all weak at the knees when you show em a leather sample



Be great to see 'em Earl, thats what this thread is for

Oh, I think you know that was for our resident troll Ole. But sage advice nonetheless.

Been debating whether dark seal would have been a better call. Just don’t want to have a nearly black jacket in the time it takes for wear to appear and the undertones to show through.

 

[Skip]

Mate you will know soon enough, and I'm sure it will be a nice colour and style to add to your collection. You might just have to order an Aero or Dubow, maybe a Civvie in Dark Seal ?

Its interesting isn't it. Obviously the wear I did on those samples was fairly heavy handed as I wanted to see what tones were underneath, not sure how long it would take with normal wear to bring them out either. The hides don't seem to have the depth undertones of the old hides I knew of BK, but at least these don't squeak as you walk around. Diamond Clothing Co uses the same hides and when you look at Dave's FB site you see there is a nice sheen on them and some gentle patina going on, more than what you seem to get in the samples. Maybe BK use the grainy areas of the hide for the jackets and the leave the offcuts for samples?

https://www.facebook.com/diamondclo...7644553387641/965674676917957/?type=3&theater

 

[D97x7]

Was it anyone on here that won the Victory Roughwear on the bay last week? I had a punt but was soundly beaten, looked to be a great jacket.

 

[Pilot]

Not me, but yes, I saw it... Great jacket/hide, 750,—US$ plus shipping...
IMHO, now playing in the same ligue with GoodWear ...possibly The Real McCoy’s Japan.

 

[D97x7]

If I'm honest I probably would have gone that far myself, always wanted a seal victory ever since receiving the samples some years ago, but I'd just placed an order for an Irvin to beat the ELC price rise, ah well just bad timing, one day may be.

 

[Pilot]

If I'm honest I probably would have gone that far myself, always wanted a seal victory ever since receiving the samples some years ago, but I'd just placed an order for an Irvin to beat the ELC price rise, ah well just bad timing, one day may be.

In 46”, I would have pulled the trigger.
Maybe next time...

 

[Pilot]

Mate you will know soon enough, and I'm sure it will be a nice colour and style to add to your collection. You might just have to order an Aero or Dubow, maybe a Civvie in Dark Seal ?

Its interesting isn't it. Obviously the wear I did on those samples was fairly heavy handed as I wanted to see what tones were underneath, not sure how long it would take with normal wear to bring them out either. The hides don't seem to have the depth undertones of the old hides I knew of BK, but at least these don't squeak as you walk around. Diamond Clothing Co uses the same hides and when you look at Dave's FB site you see there is a nice sheen on them and some gentle patina going on, more than what you seem to get in the samples. Maybe BK use the grainy areas of the hide for the jackets and the leave the offcuts for samples?

https://www.facebook.com/diamondclo...7644553387641/965674676917957/?type=3&theater

Never saw a Bronco contract with collar studs “open” inside the garnment. Would love to see an original like that, since all good Bronco repros have these studs covered or hidden by the liner.

 

[M3Cavalry]

If I'm honest I probably would have gone that far myself, always wanted a seal victory ever since receiving the samples some years ago, but I'd just placed an order for an Irvin to beat the ELC price rise, ah well just bad timing, one day may be.

Smart man. I should have done the same. What style/size did you get?

 

[D97x7]

I ordered the 1940 version in size 44

 

[Pilot]

Never saw a Bronco contract with collar studs “open” inside the garnment. Would love to see an original like that, since all good Bronco repros have these studs covered or hidden by the liner.

Any Bronco ( original) contract with the open collar studs inside the garnment? Just wondering...Never even saw a repro from Aero, GW or AVILTHR like that.
Please share pics/ info

 

[Skip]

Any Bronco ( original) contract with the open collar studs inside the garnment? Just wondering...Never even saw a repro from Aero, GW or AVILTHR like that.
Please share pics/ info

Hey Pilot, According to Gary Eastman's Book this jacket you're querying as seen in DD's Facebook link above is the latter of the 2 Bronco contracts, this one being contract W33-038ac 1761, made in 1943. The book stipulates that the large dome capped eyelets used on the collar stud are not cloth covered. Whereas their previous contract of 18th May 1942 w535ac 29191 42-19172P appears to have them cloth covered as in Goodwears example in the link below

http://www.goodwearleather.com/pages/gwbronco_images6.html