A beautiful example of a completely
original 1950s Two-Tone Trojan Motorcycle Jacket. This may be a (custom) variant
on the so-called "Night Rider" configuration, dispensing with the
kidney-shaped left chest pocket for a biased one. The distribution of
the Black and Cream panels is fascinatingly done as well. Two-tone
original motorcycle jackets are highly sought after and Trojan is an
elite maker of very small production.
This gem was also ordered without the snap-on Mouton Collar.
Despite the company label claim to be largest leather factory in
California, Trojans are scarce, although the firm may have done private
label contract work or possibly been connected with California
Leatherwear of Ventura, whose heavy horsehide police highway patrol
jackets show evident resemblances to Trojans and are much more common.
James Dean road his bike in a CHP (the generic term for this generation
of heavy leather riding jackets.
This jacket shows very little use. There's no lining wear at all, which supports
abbreviated use as original nylon linings can wear quickly. The original belt
shows moderate aging, typical for this kind of belting cowhide, and very
demonstrative of the differences between dry-stored horsehide and cowhide as
well as chrome and vegetable tanning.
The lining is star- (or beached
porpoise!) pattern quilted nylon and all zippers are brass Talons. Curiously the
left lower pocket chain pull has the squared diamond shape while the other front
two are circular, but the jacket shows no indication of repair anywhere and the
zipper tape colors and aging of all match. Almost certainly the operator
absentmindedly installed the squared example without thinking or ran out of the
round ones. Vintage motorcycle jacket manufacturers are cheerfully inconsistent
with zipper matching and many, if not most, will show a nickel or pot metal
alloy frontal zipper with brass or copper sleeve and pocket examples. Another of
our original Trojans uses a #10 Crown for the frontal and squared pull chain
brass Talons everywhere else. No problem!
The label indicates the Inglewood, Cal.
Trojan location, which is where the company moved from its presumed 1940s
downtown LA storefront (momentarily visible in the 1948 film noir classic
The
Street With No Name).
