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The production of souvenir jacket back patches seems to have started in mainland Europe during the early 20th-century, probably in Germany shortly after the First World War when hiking became popular, and people began sewing patches of resort towns onto their back packs and jackets. In the U.S., the development of the National parks system and the growing popularity of vacationing saw a similar development of patch collecting. After the Second World War, American GIs occupying Germany sent patches back to their loved ones, showing where they were stationed. Backpatches and motorcycle jacket biker patches are a variety of these early back patches. GO TO en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_collecting#History |
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| The U.S. military patch, also referred to as the shoulder sleeve insignia, is a relatively new component of the modern military uniform. The military patch became common during World War II after originating during the first World War, when Gen. John J. Pershing authorized its limited use. The patches for the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard are a source of pride among personnel and have become collector items for civilians. The insignia is an embroidered patch that identifies the corps, division or brigade of the person wearing it. It is generally placed on the upper shoulder, but also can be placed on the helmet. It's either sewn onto the uniform or attached with Velcro. Up until World War I, most U.S. military uniforms carried no patches. But during the Civil War, many Union soldiers carried corps, division or brigade identification on their forage caps. The only sleeve patches were rank stripes. No soldiers wore any government-authorized patches during the military campaigns against Indian nations, the 1898 Spanish-American War and the 1916 campaign against Pancho Villa. World War I The first patch was formally introduced in May 1918 for the Army's 81st Division Wildcats. It was suggested to Army officials as an informal acknowledgment of the division. The Inspector General's Office approved the patch to promote esprit de corps. Pershing then ordered all divisions wear a patch. It was later expanded to corps and brigades. The Big Red 1 Army patch is the longest surviving patch and belongs to the 1st Infantry Division, informally known as the Big Red One. The division was issued a patch with a large "1" emblazoned on it on Oct. 31, 1918, and is perhaps the most recognizable patch today. During the years between world wars, the use of patches spread. By the outbreak of World War II, all corps, divisions and brigades possessed insignia patches. Patches were unique to each division. The armored divisions, for example, featured red, yellow and a triangle with a symbol for armor in the center. More subdued colored patches were worn during the Vietnam War. During the Gulf Wars, patches were colored to match camouflage battlefield uniforms. The design of the insignia patch is the responsibility of the Army Adjutant General's Office's Institute of Heraldry. Research and design, which focuses on the heraldry and symbolism of patches, was originally performed by the Army Quartermaster Corps from 1924-62 before switching to the Adjutant General's Office. Patches have evolved into a thriving cottage industry. Military veterans and civilians trade and sell patches, although value on the market is relatively low. World War II and Vietnam War-era patches command the most attention from collectors. Read more: The History of Military Patches | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5267430_history-military-patches.html#i xzz1AOG9Hr9s |
| The first internal combustion, petroleum fueled motorcycle was the Petroleum Reitwagen. It was designed and built by the German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Bad Cannstatt, Germany in 1885. This vehicle was unlike either the safety bicycles or the boneshaker bicycles of the era in that it had zero degrees of steering axis angle and no fork offset, and thus did not use the principles of bicycle and motorcycle dynamics developed nearly 70 years earlier. Instead, it relied on two outrigger wheels to remain upright while turning. The inventors called their invention the Reitwagen ("riding car"). It was designed as an expedient testbed for their new engine, rather than a true prototype vehicle. Many authorities who exclude steam powered, electric or diesel two-wheelers from the definition of a motorcycle, credit the Daimler Reitwagen as the world's first motorcycle. If a two-wheeled vehicle with steam propulsion is considered a motorcycle, then the first was the French Michaux-Perreaux steam bicycle of 1868. This was followed by the American Roper steam velocipede of 1869, built by Sylvester Howard Roper of Roxbury, Massachusetts. Roper demonstrated his machine at fairs and circuses in the eastern U.S. in 1867, and built a total of 10 examples. In 1894, Hildebrand & Wolfmüller became the first series production motorcycle, and the first to be called a motorcycle (German: Motorrad). In the early period of motorcycle history, many producers of bicycles adapted their designs to accommodate the new internal combustion engine. As the engines became more powerful and designs outgrew the bicycle origins, the number of motorcycle producers increased. Until World War I, the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world was Indian, producing over 20,000 bikes per year. By 1920, this honour went to Harley-Davidson, with their motorcycles being sold by dealers in 67 countries. By the late 1920s or early 1930s, DKW took over as the largest manufacturer. After World War II, the BSA Group became the largest producer of motorcycles in the world, producing up to 75,000 bikes per year in the 1950s. The German company NSU held the position of largest manufacturer from 1955 until the 1970s. NSU Sportmax streamlined motorcycle, 250 cc class winner of the 1955 Grand Prix seasonIn the 1950s, streamlining began to play an increasing part in the development of racing motorcycles and the "dustbin fairing" held out the possibility of radical changes to motorcycle design. NSU and Moto Guzzi were in the vanguard of this development both producing very radical designs well ahead of their time. NSU produced the most advanced design, but after the deaths of four NSU riders in the 1954–1956 seasons, they abandoned further development and quit Grand Prix motorcycle racing. Moto Guzzi produced competitive race machines, and by 1957 nearly all the Grand Prix races were being won by streamlined machines. The following year, 1958, full enclosure fairings were banned from racing by the FIM in the light of the safety concerns.From the 1960s through the 1990s, small two-stroke motorcycles were popular worldwide, partly as a result of East German Walter Kaaden's engine work in the 1950s. Today, the motorcycle industry is mainly dominated by Japanese companies such as Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha, although Harley-Davidson and BMW continue to be popular and supply considerable markets. Other major manufacturers include Piaggio group of Italy, KTM, Triumph and Ducati. In addition to the large capacity motorcycles, there is a large market in smaller capacity (less than 300 cc) motorcycles, mostly concentrated in Asian and African countries. An example is the 1958 Honda Super Cub, which went on to become the biggest selling vehicle of all time, with its 60 millionth unit produced in April 2008. [28] Today, this area is dominated by mostly Indian companies with Hero Honda emerging as the world's largest manufacturer of two wheelers. Other major producers are Bajaj and TVS Motors. For example, its Splendor model has sold more than 8.5 million to date. GO TO en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle |
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| Early jackets used for motorcycle riding from 1920-30 were aviator/military style jackets with a button front closure, and short mandarin style collar. Brown goatskin style jackets were very popular with short styling, fitted waist. Many of these emulated the A-1 jacket used by the Army Air Corp prior to WWII. Also used were button front coat style jackets constructed of thick horsehide. The hides were abundantly available prior to WWII because the Army Calvary and most farmers used horses and provided hides from their stock to the clothing industry. The initial development of the motorcycle jacket began with companies like Schott who opened in 1913, and began producing motorcycle jackets during the 1920’s. In Detroit, The Joseph Buegeleisen Co. started business in 1933 providing motorcycle accessories & saddlebags, and began producing motorcycle jackets in the 1940’s. Other early jacket makers/retailers include Indian Motorcycles with only one model jacket, the “Ranger” for men, and the “Rangerette” for women. The woman’s model had the pocket and zipper opposite of the man’s model. Both jackets were produced during the 1940’s until the bankruptcy of the company in 1953. Harley Davidson has also fielded quality leathers since the early days, starting business in 1910. The 1940’s “Cycle Champ” for men, and the “Cycle Queen” for the ladies were the epitome of the style and function during the 1940’s. The “Pistol Pocket” holster shaped design on Harley Davidson jackets was also used by such makers as: Buco, Hercules, Beck, and a number of others. This was a popular 1940’s design element that carried over into the 1960’s with the Sears Oakbrook model. Another old style jacket design incorporates a storage pocket in the back accessed by a zippered opening on the left side, not unlike the pockets on many hunting jackets. This style was used by companies such as: Buco, Blatt, and Grais. These design elements required more man hours to produce. As a result they fell victim to the need to cut corners and streamline the process. All of this maneuvering was in order to compete with products being imported and sold for mass consumption by non motorcyclists of the early rock & roll period. An additional factor in the design of the motorcycle jacket was the Seminal influence on fashion provided by Marlon Brando in “The Wild Ones” in which his double breasted “one star” Schott jacket became the norm. Many jacket manufacturers followed suit, and added another star to the epaulet, though not necessarily a quality improvement over Schott’s original. www.vintagemotorcyclejackets.com/history1.htm |
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| SOME OTHER SUBJECTS YOU MIGHT LIKE.. CLICK ON FRAME Some Thoughts Daytona Bike Week The History of the Motorcycles The History of Jeans About Cancer About Do Rags About Bandanas About Biker Patches BFA BFA Blog DADS Don't Ask Don't Smell Some Things You May Not Know, But Might Want to! |
BACK PATCHES * SOARING EAGLE PATCH
BACK PATCHES * FIRE EAGLE PATCH
BACK PATCHES * FLAME HELMET SKULL PATCH
BACK PATCHES * GIANT EAGLE HEAD PATCH
BACK PATCHES * FIREMAN SKULL PATCH
BACK PATCHES * GIANT US FLAG PATCH
BACK PATCHES * RIP-TEAR EAGLE PATCH
BACK PATCHES * JESTER FLAMES PATCH
BACK PATCHES * JESTER FACE PATCH
BACK PATCHES * REBEL FLAME SKULL PATCH
BACK PATCHES * AMERICA FOREVER PATCH
BACK PATCHES * SKULL RIP PATCH
BACK PATCHES * LONE WOLF PATCH
BACK PATCHES * ENGINE SKULL PATCH
BACK PATCHES * WINGED USA SKULL PATCH
BACK PATCHES * FIRE EAGLE PATCH
BACK PATCHES * FLAME HELMET SKULL PATCH
BACK PATCHES * GIANT EAGLE HEAD PATCH
BACK PATCHES * FIREMAN SKULL PATCH
BACK PATCHES * GIANT US FLAG PATCH
BACK PATCHES * RIP-TEAR EAGLE PATCH
BACK PATCHES * JESTER FLAMES PATCH
BACK PATCHES * JESTER FACE PATCH
BACK PATCHES * REBEL FLAME SKULL PATCH
BACK PATCHES * AMERICA FOREVER PATCH
BACK PATCHES * SKULL RIP PATCH
BACK PATCHES * LONE WOLF PATCH
BACK PATCHES * ENGINE SKULL PATCH
BACK PATCHES * WINGED USA SKULL PATCH
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