Product Description
These are a preserved slice of track racing history! These are called Madison shorts or 6-day shorts. They have a thick pad protruding from the left hip that was a "jamming tool" that your riding partner would grab to sling you forward to ride faster. Often they had pockets you could put your own jamming tool such as a dowel rod or compressed cloth, and this is a more integrated solution that is a dense pad sewn in. The butt of the shorts is quilted for extra strength required to withstand being pulled on. Somewhere in the 1950's the US banned jamming, in favor of hand slings only.
These shorts are top quality and incredibly well preserved. The wool is thick and luxurious. Stitching is fine and consistent. The chamois is made of deer leather, which is softer than the more common sheepskin. DiMarchi was founded in 1946, and these could easily be among their first products. I haven't been able to put a solid date to these shorts, but experts tell me 1940's to 1950's makes sense, perhaps into the early 1960's.
These are incredibly rare, and would be great to go along with your bicycle history display in your shop or bike museum, or as part of your vintage bike show display at L'Eroica or Bespoked or NAHBS. Or, ride them in L'Eroica and wait for the questions about the jamming tool to come in!
Condition
Mint. The only sign of riding I see is the SLIGHTEST bit of discoloration in the chamois which could have been from sweat, or maybe just age and these are really unused. No wear or pilling to the wool to note. The only stitching issue is a couple of the fine black threads in the chamois are loose. Chamois is super soft. They are very clean, though being black these have attracted a bit of stray hairs/fuzz that are less obvious in person. Or, get a lint roller to keep them cleaner!
Details
- Size 4
- Black