September 2009 

Our next event will be our 

4th Annual Langlitz Leathers Motorcycle Rally

in Inuyama.  This will be the weekend of 

October 17-18, 2009.  If you would like to 

attend, please contact Langlitz Japan at

TEL 052-734-6918

***

August 2009

I'm pleased to announce that Langlitz Japan

has opened a Langlitz Leathers specialty shop

in Nagoya.  I had the pleasure of attending its

Grand Opening on the weekend of Aug 27-30.

Grand Opening of Langlitz Nagoya #1

 Grand Opening of Langlitz Nagoya #2

Grand Opening of Langlitz Nagoya #3

Grand Opening of Langlitz Nagoya #4

Grand Opening of Mom & Pop--Nagoya 

 

If you would like to visit Langlitz Nagoya,

please give them a call for directions...

TEL 052-734-6912

+++

Posted October 30-08

I just wanted to tell you that I recently returned from visiting

Japan for a week and a half.  I was able to visit several of our

Authorized Dealers, and I also attended our 3rd Langlitz Rally

in Inuyama.  I've posted links to both on our PICTURES PAGE.

Dave's Travels in Japan October 2008

Langlitz Leathers 3rd Motorcycle Rally

By the way....I have many friends in Japan, and as you can see

from the pictures........I had a wonderful time there this year!!!

I want to thank all who attended our Rally, and hope to see you

again next year.  (If you do not know about the Rallies, contact

your nearest Authorized Langlitz Dealer about next years event.

~~~Dave~~~

***

Posted August 25-08

 I wish to explain a little further the story about the LANGLITZ BRAND.

Branding is a tradition that has a long history.  It began as a way of 

identifying property.  American cowboys used it as a way to permanently

mark their cattle so they could allow them to roam on the free range.

Later at the round-ups, their cows could be easily identified and sorted out.

A brief history of the livestock branding can be found at Wikipedia.

Many other things have been branded over the years to denote

 ownership.  My Father (Henry Oswald Hansen) had his own brand (HOH) 

which he used to mark his scaffolding. Other methods (such as stick

on labels) of marking things are now used to mark inanimate objects

instead of the somewhat awkward method of using a heated iron

to sear the surface of the material.  But, the traditional branding

method is still in use on some cattle.  And, we continue getting hides

from the tannery that are branded.  Normally, we cut around them

when building jackets and pants though.

The term BRAND took on a new meeting many years ago when companies

began using it to denote the importance of their company name and products.

Some product names became generic in usage, representing similar products

from competing companies.  Hence, the addition of BRAND to the proper

names of some companies indicated high quality as well as brand identity.

 

 Langlitz Leathers has taken this a step further, and are using the name,

LANGLITZ BRAND, to promote its new line of accessories in the Japanese

market.  We have created a unique LB logo to designate this high quality

line, and also have purchased a modern day branding iron that is heated

by electricity rather than the old campfire method used by cowboys.

I used this tool to brand a number of objects around the shop.  You too 

can see how the LB BRANDING IRON works.

+++

Posted July 17-08

~~~

The Introduction of

Langlitz Brand

 

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a Dealer meeting in Tokyo

 where we introduced our new line of specialty merchandise under the

 new LANGLITZ BRAND name and unique logo. 

  The first products to be offered in this new line will be:

 

• Denim Pants 
  
• Dress Shirt   
  
• Windbreaker
• Socks           

In the future, other products will be introduced within this product line

as we create new items to meet the needs of our Japanese customers.

The purpose of our Dealer Exhibition in Tokyo was to introduce these new

products to them, and educate them as to why these items are desirable.

For instance, the pants are built using a very specially woven denim

that consists of both cotton and Kevlar.  And, the styling is similar to

our leather WESTERNS, which have been protecting bikers since 1947.

While these new items are not yet available at your local Authorized

Langlitz Leathers Dealer, they soon will be.  For additional information,

please contact a Langlitz Leathers Authorized Dealer or Langlitz Japan.

I've posted 3 pages of pictures of my Tokyo visit last week.....Enjoy!

Dave Hansen

Langlitz Leathers

& 

 

***

Posted November 22-07

from a happy customer!!!

 

Dear Dave and all the staff

 

Thank you for the cool Cascade. I am so happy. I consider this like the

wedding ring of me and my CB750. I want to pass the lifetime with these.

From Hiro 

 +++

Posted November 22-2007 

 

Last month it was my privilege to again visit Japan for 11

days.  The first weekend there, I attended our second annual

Langlitz Leathers Rally.  This year it was held in Inuyama.  You

can view pictures of the event by CLICKING HERE!

 

The second weekend of my Japanese visit took me to our

Langlitz Fair in Nagoya where I was able to meet many Langlitz

Enthusiasts and introduce Takanori Okamoto's new book 

highlighting the 50 Year History of Langlitz Leathers. 

 

LANGLITZ FAIR 2007

   

I hope you enjoy all the pictures!

~Dave Hansen~ 

***

Posted May 15-2007

 

Dear Dave

 

Thank you for a cool jacket (Timberline).

I am very happy.

I was able to obtain a lifetime treasure again.

Your sincerely

Mitsuru Yoshikawa

~~~

Dave's Reply:

 

 I am so happy to hear from you, Mitsuru.  It pleases me

very much to hear that you consider your new jacket to be

a lifetime treasure.  I'm sure you will enjoy wearing it for

many years, and receive many compliments while doing so.

Cheerio.......Dave

+++

April 18-2007

 

I first met Ross in 1951 when I was a mechanic at the Indian shop just

4 blocks east of Langlitz Leathers on SE Morrison in Portland, Oregon.

 

Shortly after I went to work there I had Ross make me Cascade jacket.

Ross told me to come back in two weeks.  When I picked it up it cost

me $40.  That's right, forty American Dollars.

 

It was a medium weight, horsehide jacket which you CAN NOT get

any more.

 

Three years later at Long Beach, Washington at the annual Gypsy

Tour Ross and I had a great time power sliding our motorcycles on

the beach when the tide was out.

 

I miss Ross very much, a wonderful man.

 

John A. Bennett

Portland. 

~~~

 Dave's Reply:

I very  much appreciate your story, as well kind comments about 

Ross, John.  Ross had many friends, and he is greatly missed by all.

We have several pictures of Ross power sliding on the beach during

those Gypsy tours.  Stop by the shop when you are in the neighbor-

hood and take a peek at them, as I am sure they will bring back

pleasant memories!

Cheerio.......Dave

+++ 

April 18-2007 

 

 Dave san

How are you doing?

Thanks millions for making my special order traveller bag with two

line's fasteners.

On every weekend, I am using the bag to go to the gym and salsa

dancing training.  Many of friends who even do not know Langlitz

complimented the bag for the best finish and the highest quality

texture.  I believe your work quality will always attract people's

heart.  I am very glad of using the best quality Langlitz items.

Please take care and I am looking forward to seeing you soon

again in Japan.

 

Akira

~~~

Dave's Reply:

It has been a pleasure building several custom items for you over

the past couple years for you, Akira.  As you know, we strive to

build high quality items and as a result they are very distinctive.

I look forward to seeing you again in October!

Cheerio........Dave

+++

 ***

 January 12, 2007

 

Nice to meet you.  I did order of Columbia via a 

SILVER MOON.  I am cool and look forward to being

finished.  Thanking you in advance.  English is clumsy

and does not breathe it.  

 

Kazumoto Sakai 

~~~ 

Dave's Reply:

 

Hi Kuzumoto......I am very happy that you sent

me an email.  Your English is so much better than

my Japanese, so please do not be concerned about it!

I'm glad you ordered a custom Columbia from 

SILVER MOON of Niigata.   I have been posting

pictures of your jacket going through the production

process.  You can view it.......

 

CLICK HERE to see Kazumoto's Columbia

 

....and see the our employees building your  jacket.

Right now, only the paperwork is being worked on.

Next week or so, you will start seeing the jacket being

cut and sewn before we ship it out to you in a few weeks.

Soon you will be wearing it!  Be sure to send me a picture

for your page when you receive it.  Show your motorcycle too!

 

 Cheerio...........Dave

+++

January 5, 2006

 

I have some good news to announce....

Langlitz Leathers is now celebrating our 

60th year since Ross began his business

in 1947 here in Portland.  To us, that is a

significant milestone, and to commemorate

this occassion, we have introduced a new

label which we will use on all the leather

garments (jackets, pants and vests) that

we build for this calendar year....2007

This is what the new 60th Anniversary

label looks like

--Dave Hansen--

 

***

Nov 15

 

When I was in Japan last month, I met

with some of our Dealers.  Doing so gave

me a chance to ask them what we can do

that will make their customers happy.  One

Dealer suggested that we build a tool bag

large enough to hold our Langlitz Leathers

Tool Roll.  It sounded like a good idea to me,

so when I returned back to Portland, I gave

Scott an assignment to build a prototype bag

suitable for carrying either tools alone, or our

Tool Roll.  If enough people are interested in

obtaining one, we may make it available at our

Authorized Dealers.  If this appeals to you, ask

your Dealer about it.

 

 

 +++

Nov 14

 

Today I had the opportunity to visit

our printer to do a press check prior

to printing the 2007 Langlitz Calendar.

 

As you can see from the above pictures,

our calendar for next year commemorates

our 60th anniversary.  If you would like to

get one for yourself, visit one of our

Authorized Dealers in December and ask

if they have any left.  There will be a limited

number of them available, so don't wait too long! 

 

***

Nov 3

 

 

This week, Takahiro Ogawa of LIGHTNING MAGAZINE visited

Langlitz Leathers.  He toured the shop, took some pictures and

interviewed me for a possible future article in LIGHTNING.  You can

see some pictures of Takahiro by CLICKING HERE. 

 

+++

 

 Yesterday (Oct 23, 2006) I returned from spending 10 days in Japan.

It was a most enjoyable experience, one of which I've had some 10

times now since my first journey there in 1996.  I arrived in Nagoya

on Friday (Oct 13) and then proceeded to Gifu on Saturday for the

1st Langlitz Leathers Motorcycle Rally.  The setting there was fantastic,

as can be seen by some of the pictures.  Approximately 110 showed up

for the event.  The food was scrumptious, and plentiful.  A band played

and later a fun BINGO game was held, where the prizes were some fun

Langlitz related items, include leather bags and scarfs.  All participants

received both a nice metal mug imprinted with a special logo printed

for the Langlitz Leathers Gifu Motorcycle Rally.  A commemorative

leather mouse pad (for the lack of a better word) with a matching

print was also give to each attendee.  There was a space at the

bottom for those wishing to have a special message and autograph.

Overall, the event was so well received by those who attended, I

am hoping we will be able to have another such rally in the future.

While in Japan this year, I had the urge to come back to Portland and

do something I had thought about several years ago...starting

 

CLUB LANGLITZ

 

which is meant to be a website devoted to our Japanese enthusiasts.

 

Thank you for joining me here.  It is my desire that this site grow

over the years, so I do hope you will return often.  In the mean

time, please send me your thoughts, questions and pictures.

Dave Hansen

Langlitz Leathers

***

 

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