Lewis Leathers: Wings, Wheels and Rock 'n' Roll

Author:   Rin Tanaka ,  Derek Harris
Publisher:   Lewis Leathers Ltd.
ISBN:  

9781527209817


Pages:   242
Publication Date:   01 May 2017
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   In stock   Availability explained
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Lewis Leathers: Wings, Wheels and Rock 'n' Roll


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Overview

Lewis Leathers was founded in 1892 making this its 125 year, the company began its journey in London's Great Portland Street, selling ready-to-wear men's clothing. Post WW1 it gravitated towards warm clothing for the Aviators and Motorists who frequented the street in its burgeoning new role as a centre of the London motor car trade. WW2 saw the company supplying the RAF and, in the absence of civilian pilots, concentrated on clothing for motorcyclists. Post WW2 the company increasingly catered to their two-wheeled clients and became known as the most famous motorcycle clothing brand in the UK, if not the world. The mid 50's sawed the company change tack and target the younger set of Ton Up Boys who went on to become the Rockers, renowned for their battles with the Mods on the beach fronts of Brighton, Margate and Southend in 1964. During this period adverts were run in the music press such as Jazz News, NME and Melody Maker which prompted music fans and makers to visit the central London store. The connection with music and fashion has continued to date and the brand name has subsequently been seen on road, racetrack, street and stage ever since.

Full Product Details

Author:   Rin Tanaka ,  Derek Harris
Publisher:   Lewis Leathers Ltd.
Imprint:   Lewis Leathers Ltd.
Dimensions:   Width: 25.50cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 25.50cm
Weight:   1.500kg
ISBN:  

9781527209817


ISBN 10:   1527209814
Pages:   242
Publication Date:   01 May 2017
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  General/trade ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In stock   Availability explained
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.

Table of Contents

Reviews

If a book ever deserved to be bound in soft, supple, deep black leather, then this is it! Open its pages and, just like the Jumanji board game in the 1995 film of the same title, all kinds of wonderful things fly out...the whiff of Castrol R, the sound of the jukebox at the Ace Cafe and the smell of brand new racing leathers. Printed in Japan to the very highest standards, and written in both English and Japanese, this superb square-format hardback contains numerous evocative black and white images from the rock and roll years reproduced on the highest-quality glossy paper I have ever felt! Written by Rin Tanaka with the help of Lewis Leathers Director Derek Harris, the book also uniquely features scores of historic items from the Lewis Leathers clothing range which Derek has painstakingly put together over 25 years. These range from 1920s-40s flying and motoring kit to the leather jackets and racing suits so fondly remembered from the golden era of the 1950s and 60s and beyond. Rarely have I seen such outstanding photographic reproduction as has been attained in this 242-page coffee table masterpiece but it doesn't t end there, for there are innumerable old advertisements; colour sections showing everything from the evolution of zips from the early-to-mid 1930s to the mid-to-late 1960s; the covers of old catalogues; vintage labels and patches; Aviakit wear; helmets; a wonderful spread of colourful 1960s front covers from Motor Cycle and Motor Cycle Mechanics; metal brooch badges for jacket customisation; and a 22-page colour section about the 59 Club entitled A Rocker s Diary, 1967-1968. Lewis Leathers Wings, Wheels and Rock n Roll Volume 1 also contains some great photos of the D Lewis Ltd shop in Great Portland Street, London, one of them from our own Mortons Archive showing a very young Mike Evans of Motor Cycle being skilfully measured up in the basement by the well-remembered store manager Bill Keating in 1967. Our archive has provided many other wonderful full-page shots, including one of Les Graham (AJS) in 1950; John Surtees (MV Agusta) making a refuelling stop at the TT in the late 1950s; Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Ken Redfern and John Cooper on the starting grid at Mallory Park; and another of Mike the Bike on the Senior Honda four, with his boots taped to his suit, in the pits during the historic clash between himself and Giacomo Agostini in 1967. -- Cafe Racer Magazine April/2017


Author Information

Derek Harris became the 6th owner in 2003 and has spent the past 25 years researching the brand's history and building an archive of vintage products, many of which are featured in this book. Rintaro Tanaka approached Harris about a book five years ago, Tanaka photographed, compiled and edited the book with Harris' research and English text. The book covers Lewis Leathers' first 60 years and the result is this stunning 240 page, hardback volume, printed in Japan on the latest equipment at 283 lines per inch, making it one of the highest resolution books in the world. Rintaro Tanaka lives in Los Angeles where he is famous for his books on the vintage clothing scene along with his yearly vintage clothing convention Inspiration LA

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