Revive & Restore Vintage

Vintage 1940s German Wehrmacht Kradmelder Leather Motorcycle Dispatch Rider Jacket

Name: Vintage 1940s German Wehrmacht Kradmelder Leather Motorcycle Dispatch Rider Jacket
Brand: Revive & Restore Vintage
SKU: EB5099
Price: 695.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

£695.00 GBP

Sale Sold out

Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Dating to the 1940s, this German goatskin leather motorcycle jacket is an exceptionally well-preserved example of the substantial protective garments associated with the wartime era. Its long belted silhouette, asymmetric construction and surviving German hardware place it firmly within the tradition of early motorcycle and dispatch-rider clothing.

During the Second World War, motorcycles played an important role in German military communications and transport. Motorcycle dispatch riders, known as Kradmelder, carried messages, documents and orders between positions, often travelling considerable distances in exposed conditions. The broader term Melder referred to military messengers, while the Kradmelder performed this role by motorcycle.

For these riders, protective clothing was essential. Wind, rain, cold and road debris demanded considerably greater coverage than an ordinary uniform tunic could provide. Long leather bodies protected the torso and upper legs, while substantial collars, belted waists and internal storm cuffs provided additional protection against wind and exposed riding conditions.

This jacket embodies that functional approach particularly well. Its most distinctive feature is the heavy asymmetric front closure. Rather than meeting conventionally at the centre, the substantial zipper sits well to one side, allowing the goatskin to overlap deeply across the torso when closed. The resulting double layer of leather across much of the chest provides considerably greater protection against wind when travelling by motorcycle.

The full leather waist belt draws the jacket closely around the body, creating the purposeful silhouette associated with early European motorcycle clothing. Above it sits a broad leather turn-down collar and a distinctive arrangement of shaped shoulder and chest panels that gives the jacket its unmistakable period profile.

A vertical ZIPP-fastened breast pocket provides secure and readily accessible storage. Pockets positioned in this manner are often described by collectors as map or dispatch pockets because of their suitability for carrying documents while travelling. Two substantial lower pockets with shaped flaps provide further storage.

Hidden inside the sleeves is another particularly purposeful detail. Concealed internal storm cuffs create an additional barrier around the wrists, helping prevent cold air from travelling up the sleeves when riding. It is the kind of practical feature that reveals just how seriously protection from the elements was considered in the construction of the jacket.

The surviving hardware is an especially important part of this example. Its imposing asymmetric main zipper is marked ZIPP, with further period ZIPP hardware retained elsewhere on the garment. ZIPP hardware is documented on German clothing and equipment from the wartime and immediate post-war period, making its survival throughout the jacket particularly noteworthy.

The original full leather waist belt retains its distinctive Gutoz PATENT metal fitting, another fascinating piece of surviving German period hardware.

Inside the jacket is an original woven Modell 306 label with its maker's device. Model numbers of this kind were used by German clothing manufacturers to distinguish individual commercial styles and patterns, and the Modell 306 designation appears to relate to the manufacturer's pattern or style reference rather than a military unit designation.

The combination is particularly interesting. The Modell 306 label sits within a jacket constructed from dark brown goatskin, with a deeply overlapping asymmetric front, long belted body, vertical zipped breast pocket, concealed storm cuffs and surviving German ZIPP and Gutoz hardware. Together these elements form a compelling group of period details consistent with German motorcycle clothing of the 1940s.

German motorcycle and service clothing of the period was not represented by one universal pattern. Alongside military clothing were privately purchased and commercially manufactured leather garments used for motorcycle, occupational and service purposes. This resulted in considerable variation among surviving wartime examples and helps explain why garments associated with Wehrmacht-era motorcycle use do not necessarily carry conventional military issue markings.

The construction of this jacket belongs strongly to the world of German wartime motorcycle clothing and the equipment associated with the Kradmelder. Without surviving issue markings or documented provenance, however, we do not attribute this individual jacket to a particular Wehrmacht unit, branch or original wearer. Its historical identity is instead presented through the considerable period evidence surviving within the garment itself.

More than eighty years later, the goatskin is extraordinary.

The dark brown hide has developed a stunning natural patina that simply cannot be replicated by artificial ageing. Deep chocolate tones move into warmer brown and chestnut shades across exposed areas, while the distinctive natural grain of the goatskin gives the surface remarkable depth.

The shoulders, sleeves, pocket edges, seams and belt have each aged differently. Fine creasing, subtle rubbing, softened edges and individual markings remain visible throughout, creating the irregular surface character that distinguishes genuinely aged leather from a modern garment manufactured to appear old.

Nothing has been recoloured or disguised. The variations visible today are part of the history of the jacket, accumulated gradually through decades of genuine age and use.

Perhaps most impressive is the condition beneath that patina. The goatskin remains remarkably strong and structurally sound. It is a rare combination: a jacket carrying the unmistakable surface character of more than eighty years while remaining a substantial and genuinely wearable garment.

Its period ZIPP hardware, Gutoz belt fitting, Modell 306 identification, protective construction and extraordinary goatskin patina combine to make this a particularly evocative survivor from the era.

Condition & Preservation

Excellent vintage condition for its age.

Considering its approximately eighty-year history, the preservation of this jacket is exceptional. The dark brown goatskin remains remarkably strong and structurally sound, with beautifully preserved natural grain and a deeply established patina.

The surface carries the characteristics expected of genuine period leather, including fine creasing, rubbing, small marks, softened edges and natural tonal variation. These have developed gradually over many decades and form an important part of the character and appearance of the jacket.

The jacket has been specialist cleaned and conditioned in-house, with particular care taken to replenish the aged goatskin while preserving its original surface, grain and established patina. No recolouring or artificial distressing has been carried out.

The period ZIPP zippers have been carefully refurbished, cleaned, waxed and polished and operate smoothly. The remaining metal hardware has also been carefully cleaned while retaining its age-developed appearance.

Two sympathetic replacement buttons have been fitted to the upper front flaps where the originals were missing. These were carefully selected to sit appropriately alongside the surviving period buttons and restore the intended appearance and function of the flaps.

The original Gutoz PATENT belt fitting has a break to one side. The fitting nevertheless remains functional and the belt can still be fastened. We believe we have a suitable period spare within our workshop stock and are attempting to locate it. If found, we will either undertake an appropriate repair or replacement before dispatch, or supply the spare fitting with the jacket for its new owner. The original Gutoz fitting will remain with the garment.

The original brown textile lining is exceptionally well preserved for its age. The internal pocket remains present, together with the woven Modell 306 identification label, which remains clearly legible. The concealed internal storm cuffs also remain present and serviceable.

Overall, this is an exceptionally well-preserved and highly characterful early German goatskin motorcycle jacket. Our work has concentrated on preservation and function while retaining the original leather surface, period components and genuine evidence of more than eight decades of age.