Field jacket

Found this field jacket at the flea market. It looks like the British field jacket but it seems to be one from the french army.

The Ike Jacket

The short field jacket M44 worn by commanding general, Dwight D. Eisenhower. In extreme cold, a sweater, flannel shirt, and wool-cotton T-shirt could be worn under the Ike jacket.

Swedish Army Coat

Today at the Saturday fleamarket Markus wore a perfect vintage coat with warm inlet by the Swedish army. I took the light-brown leather jacket with the lamb inlet.

Benelli Citybike

Just another rigid frame bike in the Burrito Bros. Garage taken from a friend. The Benelli Citybike was built from the 60s until the 90s and with its 49cc engine, its small dimension and lightweight was the Citybike perfect for Camping. It fits in any car and runs without any problems 40km/h. The concept from Benelli was similar than the Honda CZ100 and later the Honda Monkey, only with a 2-stroke engine but also with 5 zoll wheels, moving seat and a smart handlebar. With two steps you unfold the handlebar and move the seat, kick the engine and let's go!

The small motorcycle must now be cleaned and looked through, then it can be driven...

Sportsmen Inspirations

via LOC

Big Bear Run Motorcycle Races

Dr.Acula from the Speedboys Blog posted this rare footage of the classic Big Bear Run motorcycle races. The event started in the 1920's with the final race being held in 1960. For more history infos and photos you should go to TheFastHouse.com. Btw, the music in this video is by Pavulon Twist.
The vid is an summary and look back for vintage design of sweater, shirts and jackets.

Dupli-Color Metalflake

Paint ad. 1972, via Lawrence Peregrine-Trousers

Today's scene ist customising, at the "touch-o-ah" aerosol button with... Dupli-Color Custom Colors (Advertising 1972)

Mister Freedom

Mister Freedom is created by Christophe Loiron, a french expatriate in California since 1990. The store in LA is in a brick building at 7161 Beverly Boulevard which is filled with a huge inventory of vintage clothing, footwear and accessories for men and women from the 1850s to the present. The store also offers rare textiles, vintage books as well as antique props for deco. This extensive eclectic collection of vintage items is collected around the world and updated daily with new finds.

You should visit his website at misterfreedom.com and read about this (small & honorful Ed.) humble contribution to JAPAN Disaster Relief.

One and one together

One of my all-time-favorites photos. Seen a thousand times and still good. Don & Marge Fera, 1940s. Photograph by © Bob Magill. Via Jockeyjournal.com and The Selvedge Yard

Traditional Swap Meet "Karl am Kanal"

Great weather today and every second sunday every month is traditional Karl am Kanal swap meet. Imagine a small, dirty because slippy parking place near the Ruhr canal in the heart of the Ruhrgebiet between Essen and Gelsenkirchen. Old men discussing about DKW, NSU or BSA (sometimes!). Lots of them siting together at the Bratwurst-Stand, eating some fat stuff and drinkin' coffee. Nice atmosphere since more than 30 years.

More photos at my flickr

It's better in the wind

Following the book in 2010 now a short film. Release date summer 2011. Great shots and perfect music. Filmed and Edited by Scott G Toepfer.

via Itsbetter in the wind

Hand-Painted Jackets

via Devyn Haas

Since Beginning from the 1940s and the WWII many Air Force pilots had painted their jackets with symbols, signs or pin-ups similar to their aircrafts like nose art. Later in the Corean and Vietnam War you found lots of this painted jackets and shirts. It was a short step to adapt this jackets as biker jackets.

#1,2 via acejackets

Original A-2 Jacket

via chinook-helicopter

Isn't it art?

Ok ok, use a motorcycle to go from A to B. But the passion of motorcycling is more. Much more. And it does not depends how many ccm or hps you have.

Avenger Helmets. Found this at the Madeira Drive Shop in Duesseldorf. Very cool style. Flakes. Pure 70th.

Dellorto UA 18S Carburetor. This little piece of metal is a great example for the difference between functions only and form follows function with aesthetics. Carburetor is restored and ready for his one 'n only function...

Two Chopper links you must visit

Found these two links. So start with a lot of useful hints of the past:

Honda Chopper Bible

and then jump into Vintagepureheaven:

AVON: From past til now

One of the famous brands for tires is AVON. Since 1904 is AVON for tires at trucks, cars and motocycles a well-known brandname. Their Racing experience is enormous and an AVON tire like the Speedmaster is similar the famous Firestone a must-have for custombikes.

Technical sheet for Speedmaster MkII

Speedmaster AM6
Code Groesse Trag Felge empf.
1727410 300-19 TT* 54S 1.60 - 2.15
1658410 300-20 TT 50S 1.60 - 2.15
1659401 300-21 TT* 57S 1.60 - 2.15
1657501 325-19 TT 54S 1.85 - 2.50
1657601 350-19 TT 57S 1.85 - 2.50
1655501 3.25-17 TT 50S 1.85 - 2.50
Safety Mileage MK II AM7
1727610 350-19 TT 57S 1.85 - 2.50
1646801 400-18 TT 64S 2.15 - 3.00
1647801 400-19 TT 65S 2.15 - 3.00
1694901 500-16 TT 69S 3.00 - 3.50
1645501 3.25-17 TT 50S 1.85 - 2.50
Speedmaster AM6
1727410 300-19 TT* 54S 1.60 - 2.15
1658410 300-20 TT 50S 1.60 - 2.15
1659401 300-21 TT* 57S 1.60 - 2.15
1657501 325-19 TT 54S 1.85 - 2.50
1657601 350-19 TT 57S 1.85 - 2.50
1655501 3.25-17 TT 50S 1.85 - 2.50
Safety Mileage MK II AM7
1727610 350-19 TT 57S 1.85 - 2.50
1646801 400-18 TT 64S 2.15 - 3.00
1647801 400-19 TT 65S 2.15 - 3.00
1694901 500-16 TT 69S 3.00 - 3.50
1645501 3.25-17 TT 50S 1.85 - 2.50

Mad Men drive stylish

Take the right oil

Seems to be an advert from Castrol GTX posing at an 1968 FORD F3L - btw the best choice for old engines.
via KarzNshit