And a splattering of tiny holes from the spots of battery acid that got on it while swapping out the truck battery. Several stubborn oil stains that inevitably happen when working under a vehicle. Yeah, part of repairing stuff is getting dirty. People that make or fix things have old jackets that are set aside for staying warm while working outside.
That old work jacket that was kind of homely in an endearing way. You might not wear it to church, but it’s the only choice when heading to the garage in the winter. It is a close and trusted friend that competently does its job. It can take decades to develop a connection like that. Young men don’t have those kind of clothes because they simply have not lived long enough.
Recently, I accidentally learned how to speed up the clothing connection process.
I was looking for a reasonably priced used Carhartt fleece lined shirt jacket on eBay and came across a hidden beauty. I like bargains a lot. When I can get a useful piece of clothing for less than half price it is quite satisfying.
A new Carhartt Rugged Flex jacket costs $79, a fair price for a piece of high-performance clothing that will last for decades. However, it
felt good to find a wearable used one for $30 on e-Bay that still had enough life left in it.
I wanted a jacket that was used to getting dirty.
The e-Bay seller of the old jacket was honest in describing it.
It was seriously used, stained, and had several small tell-tale holes in it that happen from battery acid splatter. It had a serious rip in the chest pocket that looked like the tears that clothing designers intentionally make to distress clothes in order to look cool. Except this wear mark was earned. Someone else had broken it in, worked hard in it, and turned it into a timeless dependable friend. The wear and stains accurately told the story of a man’s life.
I wear that jacket a lot, like when I first wake up on a cold morning. I have been wearing it when I write because of how it makes me feel. And it has multiple trips to the garage to fix things.
It has the subtle scent of kerosene, carburetor cleaner, and Go-Jo hand cleaner. It reminds me of the smell of auto shop class in high school. It has the vibe of a man with oil-stained calloused hands.
There are cold steel snaps on the front instead of buttons.
I have had it for two days and feel like I’ve had it for decades. I am experiencing a ton of joy from this well-worn canvas jacket.
This is the jacket of a man that was capable with his hands. A valuable man that was good at getting dirty, that could easily get a job making or fixing things. He was the friend that could help you to fix most anything. A solid working man owned this jacket before me.
I captured the above story while actually wearing the jacket.
I shared the story with the e-Bay seller.
This is what they wrote back:
“I actually met the original owner. He used it when he worked as a machinist for several years. It was his work jacket. Then he went on to be a mechanic for a local dealership here. Said he wore it here and there working on cars out of his garage on the cold days. Then a year or two ago he had back surgery and can’t do that kind of work anymore so he was cleaning out his closet of old work clothes. He had an interesting story. That jacket has def seen a lot of things. Glad you enjoy it as much as he did and as much as I did getting to hear about it.”
I feel a connection to his stories. I can imagine him turning a piece of aluminum on a lathe or replacing the cylinder head on a truck.
I see him on a creeper under a car replacing u-joints wearing this old jacket.
Reflecting: I anticipate that the machinist / mechanic original owner of this well-worn cotton canvas jacket was from Detroit or a city in the rust belt. He may have worked for Ford, General Motors, or Chrysler. He may well have worked in the glory days of Detroit city when General Motors was the largest car maker in the world.
A working man’s jacket is sort of like his tools. It describes who he is and what he does. Every man’s jacket has stories that need to be told.
I wish I could talk to him and hear some of the other stories that the jacket has not shared.
And I am going to wear his jacket to church.
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I sent that story to Carhartt. They wrote back:
Good Morning Mike,
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for sharing the heartfelt story of your new old Carhartt jacket.
Carhartt's mission statement is "To build rugged products to serve and protect hardworking people.” Every piece of gear Carhartt produces comes with a fundamental promise of reliability to our consumers - backed by our outstanding quality, craftsmanship, durability, and value. When we hear stories like yours, it makes us feel proud that our mission has been carried out.
It's incredible how a jacket, with its stains, wear, and tear, can tell the story of its previous owner's life. The details about the machinist-turned-mechanic who owned it before you add a rich layer of history and sentiment.
It's touching to hear how this pre-worn jacket, already broken in through honest work, feels like a trusted friend to you. The fact that you even wear it to church speaks volumes about the bond you've formed with it.
Every man's work jacket indeed has stories, and it's wonderful to know that you are honored to continue its journey. It reminds us of the value and history that can be found in Carhartt products. If there is ever anything that I can do for you please don't hesitate to contact me directly by phone or email.
Best regards,
Manager Customer Outreach/Escalations