Riding Jacket, I think...Need help from horse lovers

fuzzylizzie

fuzzylizzie

Alumni
I've had this jacket for what seems forever, probably because I have no clue at all about it. Is it something one would wear in order to ride a horse with the hounds running alongside?

<img src=http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/fuzzylizzie/riding_003.jpg>

<img src=http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/fuzzylizzie/riding_002.jpg>
Great hound dog buttons but darn it one is missing. What does G H B stand for???

<img src=http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/fuzzylizzie/riding_001.jpg>
Anyone know of Mr. Weatherill??

Thanks!
Lizzie
 
You have a hunt coat, a good heavy melton. The buttons, and the scarlet, indicate which hunt the wearer was a member of (ouch! And I was an English major ~)

Be back in a minute with the name of the hunt. Excellent maker BTW

Carolyn
 
Golden's Bridge Hounds is in Dutchess County, NY.


Golden_s_20Bridge.jpg



:)


Carolyn
 
Weatherill is a English firm though (still in existence and the best side saddle habits are made by them) but I didn't know they used to have a branch in New York too.

Lei
 
Very good! Thanks, Carolyn and Lei. The address indicates that it is before zip codes, which was 1963 ( but not really used until about 67), but after city zones, which came into use in 1943.
 
Lizzie asked a question about value as an aside in an email; I thought I'd answer here in case anyone else was wondering :)


The buttons alone on your hunt coat are worth $150 +/- to any current member of that hunt. The design & materials of the buttons never ever change, which should come as no surprise. Only members of Golden's Bridge Hounds who "have their colors" - have been so honored by the Master or Masters of that hunt - may wear the hunt's buttons and colors (the jacket's scarlet collar facings).

As Lei notes Wetherell is an exellent maker; the heavy melton (?) looks to be in fine condition. Not sure what the current value might be but - again, no surprise! - styles have changed very little, especially in men's coats, so I would think at least $100 - $150 although I haven't researched this.

Members of hunts other than Golden's Bridge might well be interested in your coat - they'll just swap its buttons and collar facings for their hunt's own. Then there's the wide world of prop stylists and display people, each with a project (Ralph Lauren opens a shop somewhere in the world every week, still - just kidding). :P

But If the buyer has an invitation to go foxhunting as someone's guest, with any hunt anywhere in the world - and plans to wear this jacket as-is, he should think again. Because he'll risk being caught making a truly egregious sartorial faux pas in a small world that takes such things VERY seriously and finding himself persona non grata in many fields.

To see how equestrian apparal evolved don't miss the VFG's gorgeous Equestrian Gallery

Carolyn
 
I've seen used Weatherill jackets range in price from £53.00 ( a wool show jacket) to £250 (ladies hunting jacket with a 36" bust).
This website
has a show jacket for $119.00 (about £55) up at the moment.

Used Weatherill side saddle habits tend to be worth £400 ( a girl's one) and up to £1000+.

This 1964 show jumping jacket went for £114.

New Weatherill hacking or show jackets currently retail at £950+ and hunting jackets generally tend to be more expensive than show jackets too!

I'm going to probably say your jacket is probably worth a bit more than Carolyn's estimate (sorry Carolyn! :D ) as these things tend to be expensive to buy new so everyone is going to be wanting to buy second hand (and then have the colors refaced and the buttons switched over as Carolyn mentioned).
The heavy melton will be appropriate for the upcoming fall season and the boxing day hunts.

If I had that on C&C, I'd probably put a MINIMUM of about £200 on it depending on condition, size, etc.

Lei
 
My goodness! I had no idea.

Condition is perfect except for the one missing button. If I were to eBay this, what category would hit my target audience? I see there is an equestrian category, so would that be better than vintage clothing?

Lizzie
 
I'd double list it into the vintage men's and the riding categories.
unfortunately, the equestrian section on the US ebay, isn't as well categorized as it is on the UK Ebay. There is no jacket section like on the UK site so all the riding jackets get dumped into the "Other items" section :(
Sporting Goods >Equestrian >Riding-English >Other Items

Make sure you actually go into the Englaish riding section to put it in the "Other" category as there is a generic "Other" category for the whole equestrian category as well as there being one in the Western riding section as well.

I'd put some in the title something like:
"Vinatge Men's Bernard Weatherill melton hunting jacket" and then add the chest size if you can.

Lei
 
Okay, thanks so much for all the help on this! I have one more question. Lei called it a man's coat. The front laps right over left, so here in the US, that's an indication of a female garment. Does that apply to this type of thing? It is rather small, so if it isn't a woman's, it would have been for an older boy.

Lizzie
 
I don't know, I'm always rubbish at telling what one is according to how it buttons:BAGUSE:
I've only ever seen men's coats with the chest pocket though so it may be for a small man/teenage boy.:puzzled:

Lei
 
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