Singer Featherweight Travel Sewing Machine Model 221J

Posted on by Rob Drews

This is a Singer featherweight model # 221J made in St Johns, Canada 1961. Serial # JE154076.  Numbers starting with JE were among the last to come from the St. Johns factory which operated from 1904 – the early 1960s. There’s a myriad of history and information on the web around these machines as they’re highly prized and collected. As far as I could tell the 221J is a version of the 221K, the third iteration of the machine.  221 were and still are prized for having the capabilities of a full size machine, including attachments, in a relatively light and compact piece. Traveling seamstresses, club quilters and collectors still covet these machines today. I am not a sewing machine expert, but  know enough from growing up with a mom who sewed everything to thread and run this machine. It threads much the same as larger, later model Singers.

Danner 30520 Hiking Boots

Posted on by Rob Drews
Danner 30520 Leather Mountain Light Vintage Boots

These older Danner 30520 hiking boots are the bases for what is now known as the Mountain Light 30876. Though not called the mountain light, this version was made significantly lighter than the previous 6490 version primarily from the move to a Gore-tex lining and lighter sole material. Danner was an early adopter of the revolutionary Gore-TEX fabric which made its entrance into outdoor market in the mid 70s. A similar boots marked 3052 was also made, I’ve not yet determined what the extra 0 found here denotes

Much the same as the current Mountain Light these boots feature:

GORE-TEX lining
Vibram Soles
5 D-rings, 2 hook lace-up
Danner tri-fold tongue
5″ shaft
Are Made in the USA and Recraftable

Tongue Markings:
10 D 30520 23A233
Danner

Tall L.L. Bean Insulate Main Hunting Shoe

Posted on by Rob Drews

Based on the original boot created by Leon Leonwood Bean in 1912, this 1970s version of the boot maintains the character and functionality that launched the brand. Leather uppers and rubber bottoms these boots were meant to lend a good foot feel of the terrain to hunters in soggy lands. This 12″ tall insulated version offers a little more protection from the cold in the form of a lightly lined rubber bottom.  Other past and present iterations of this boot range in height from low-cut shoes to 6,  8 and 10 inch versions and up to 16 inches. Triple stitching attach the uppers to bottoms while double stitching throughout makes for a rugged classic. The hand written font on the label denotes these are an older version from before the company switched to a block font sometime in the 1970s.

Cari-Kit Two Man Backpacking tent – early 1970s

Posted on by Rob Drews

 This two-man  tent is constructed using two poles at front one at rear. The front poles fit together with loops at the top and support the tent body which is ran up over the crossed loops and pulled taut with a staked cord. The single rear pole is shorter and is secured by top and bottom grommets and staked down with a cord. The tent comes to a high point at the front and is only about half as tall at the foot. The tent has a rain fly, but does not offer  a fully enclosed vestibule. It would most likely be considered a two or three season tent.

I received this tent from the original owner who said it was purchased from the original Holubar store in Boulder, Colo. in the early 70s. The tent bears a similarity to Holubar tents of the era and has good reason. Cari-Kit was the label originally used on Holubar’s line of sew-it-yourself products in 1972.  The name was later abandoned and the kits rebranded as Holubar Sew-It-Yourself Kits.

Other popular kit producers of the day include: Frostline, Altra, Eastern Mountain Sports, Country Ways, Mountain Adventure, Sundown and Plain Brown Wrapper. EMS enjoys continued success though the production of kits has since ceased. A newly resurected Holubar label produces fashionable and functional pieces in homage to the company name

Measures approx:

90″ long
60″ across
51″ high at front

Weighs approx:
6.5 lbs

This tent is available for sale.

Lee Riders Sanforized, Union Made Selvedge Denim

Posted on by Rob Drews

Lee Riders, also known as the 101Z debuted in the 1950s and represent  a transition from the company’s work wear history in to more casual, mass appeal wears.

On this particular pair the inside Tag is marked: Lee Riders Sanforized Waist 32 Union Made in the USA.  The Button back is stamped: R.  Zipper is made by Talon. Lee riveted front and coin pockets. “lazy S” stitched on rear pockets.  The “branded” Lee patch is long gone. You’ll notice on Lees, unlike Levi’s the selvedge denim self edged appears on only one side of the outer seam.

As with most items from  time and place predating the “throw-away age”, these jeans are well-worn and have been mended multiple times. There’s a bout a 4.5″ x 6″ patch on the  right thigh.  A 2″ x 3″ patch on the left side below the rear pocket. A hole and repair with red thread on the left knee, a small hole forming below the zipper on the right side front, and a 4″ hole in the left cheek with additional wear below.  Some white paint and other darker stains. Round out the patina that only time can create.

1976 Bell RT Helmet

Posted on by Rob Drews

This is one cool old Bell R-T helmet with a unique paint job. The Yellow and black appear to be part of a customization. The white around the perimeter and down the center was most likely the original color. The black striping is actually a decal of sorts and not paint.  The color scheme and layout hearken the Yamaha YZ of that period and my explain why this particular helmet has extra snap heads have been added around the jaw area, perhaps for a face mask?

Sticker size 7 1/8 or 57cm in place as well as SHCA approval. Chin strap stamped BELL R-T 10-76.

 

1960s Gerry Single-man Backpacking Tent

Posted on by Rob Drews

Gerry Cunningham is arguably the father of light weight camping and that’s the slogan used on this 1960s single man tent. The company he founded lived light weight, innovation and quality and proudly displayed this on their products, books and in their marketing. “warmth without the weight” is another slogan displayed on products of this era.

This innovative-for-its day tent is constructed using piece-together aluminum poles, two front, and one rear. The poles do not use shock cords. Front poles fit into a looped cross member at front and grommets in the rear. The tent goes up easily, but is not free-standing like later dome tents so it’s staked down at the corners and with front and rear guy lines. Includes rain fly and has a front vestibule on the tent body making it good for three or four seasons depending on the type of climate the user was in.

It packs up small at just over 12 inches in length and weighing approximately 5 lbs. Constructed it measures approximately:

78″ long
48″ wide
43″ high at front

Meyer Schuchardt Leather Knickers – German

Posted on by Rob Drews

Solid built leather knickers by Meyer Schuchardt of Hamburg Germany. Constructed entirely of thick soft split grain leather with the split side facing in. Two pockets at the waist, one zipper closed rear pocket and a knife pocket on the side of the leg. 

Belted bottoms allow for secure closure below the knees. Waist and leg openings are lined with synthetic thread and raised surface to stay put by grabbing shirt or socks. (think of a rug mat) . Waist has loops for a thin belt or buttons for suspenders. Cotton pocket linings, except on knife pocket.

World War II Era US Air Forces Type A-1 Heavy Flight Boots by Bristolite

Posted on by Rob Drews

WWII era United States army Air Forces uniform A-1 shearling flight boots. The boots shown here are 10″ tall size XS and may actually be women’s boots.  Other pairs I’ve seen were larger and the tongue tag read Mens instead of Wos. Not a war historian, but can’t imagine too many ladies donned these boots in those days. Crown Zippers with ankle and upper belts and buckles for added fit. Shearling lining runs throughout the uppers except for the sole. In each of these boots are two thick wool insoles as well as a wool foot bed. Don’t know if the added soles were standard issue or later additions by the wearer to increase warmth and or fit.

Bits of the US Air Forces logo still visible on the outside of the uppers, but most of the dark tanning has come off.  These boots are of a similar era to the Type A-2 jacket seen on my blog, but a little later.  The U.S. Army Air Forces became the U.S. Air Forces in 1947.
Tag reads:

OVERSHOE, FLYING, HEAVY, TYPE A-1
SPECIFICATION MIL-0-6540
SIZE………Wos XS 5-6 1/2
STOCK No. AF-8305
BRISTOLITE
U.S. PROPERTY

Danner 31570 Gore-Tex Hiking Boots

Posted on by Rob Drews

Great boots from the great northwest. These Danner Boots are like none other that I have come across before and you’ll be hard pressed to find another pair in this style. Marked as 31570  040035, these boots share have similarities with the famous Danner Light in the form of mixed  material uppers, but are lower cut with a more casual feel. Still fully lined with Gore-text they ready to take on just about anything, from the city streets to the mountain trails.

In the early 80s, the use of synthetic fabrics in hiking boots began to take hold. Cordura along with Gore-Tex had the ability to greatly reduce the weight of a pair of boots while still allowing for dependability and weather proofing serious hikers had come to expect from their earlier leather tanks. Boots like the Vasque Sundowner and Danner Light exploded in popularity and pretty soon every boot maker had a similar option.