Schott NYC - 118 Classic Perfecto® Leather Motorcycle Jacket
$1,199.00
By Schott NYC
- Offered in both 26" (Regular) and 28” (Long) body lengths
- U. S. sourced, drum dyed, hand cut, heavyweight, full aniline cowhide (naked leather)
- Large back panel design, a signature of Schott's uncompromising Perfecto® quality
- Asymmetrical main zipper pattern for added warmth and protection
- Snap down lapels, collar and shoulder epaulets
- Bi-swing back panels with grommet vented underarm footballs
- Traditional zippered sleeve cuffs
- Attached belt with durable nickel plated square buckle with snap to hold belt in place
- Three outside zippered pockets plus small coin flap pocket
- Inside lower map pocket and leather trimmed inside breast pocket (on left side)
- 5.5 ounce fixed nylon poly-quilt insulated lining
- U.S.A.
Model is 6'1", weighs 175 lbs, with a 37" chest and is wearing size 38.
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History:
The three pocket design of the Schott Perfecto® Model 118 dates back to the late 1940's. In those days this leather motorcycle jacket was referred to as just “Perfecto®” or “Beck model 999” (manufactured by Schott). The small coin flap pocket started out as a custom option offered in the early 50's. By 1955 this coin pocket became a standard feature of this biker-style jacket known as “the Perfecto® One Star".
Considered to be the best motorcycle jacket it caught the mainstream public's attention after Marlon Brando epitomized the coolest of cool, wearing his Perfecto® in that iconic classic film “The Wild One”. Originally referred to as "the One Star", it was officially banned from schools across the US for an entire year in the mid 50’s. Some believe this action served to make the Schott Perfecto® even more desirable to America’s young renegades with their “Wild One” tendencies. School Boards wanted to burn it and youthful rebels saved every penny to buy one. At the time, this jacket retailed for close to $50 which amounted to roughly 100 hours of work if you were a gas station attendant making fifty cents an hour!
The customized asymmetrical leather motorcycle jacket worn by Brando became the must-have anti-establishment symbol for 1950’s youth. The orders skyrocketed for this leather jacket causing Irving Schott and his son Mel to increase their workforce and expand the Schott factory. By the mid 1960’s the Perfecto® men’s jackets had also caught on with the emerging rock n roll movement. Once again, due to increasing sales, Schott had grown out of their current factory on King Street in Perth Amboy, NJ. A few new factories later and still in New Jersey, Schott proudly continues this iconic American classic motorcycle jacket for the wild side in all of us. There is still a Schott family member in the factory every day to make sure Irving would still be proud to put his name in these jackets.
