Club Obi Wan

ron521

I normally wear a 40 regular. About 5 years ago, I owned a G&B Expedition in size 42. As you can see, the shoulders were a bit wide, but most people would say that's the way an Indy jacket is supposed to fit. The length of the sleeves was exactly right for me, but if the shoulders were narrower,...

ron521

From the looks of the picture, Indy would have ended that drag behind the truck with more "stones" in his pants than when he started....

ron521

My first "Indy" jacket was a Signature Series "VIP" cowhide, which I liked very much and still have. I then purchased a G&B which had a slightly more screen accurate appearance, but fit strangely compared to the USW product....i.e. the overall sleeve length was fine, but it w...

ron521

Schott had developed the Perfecto jacket for motorcyclists in 1928, and a lot of pilots probably wore them too since the same features which made it a practical choice for a motorcycle would have worked in an airplane. Black leather motorcycle jackets were very commonly worn by even by police office...

ron521

I have some of both. If the jackets are cut the same, a brown jacket looks more casual to me. A classic black leather jacket looks surprisingly good with slacks, especially light colored slacks. Mutt's jacket in the movie was modeled after a Schott Perfecto, the classic motorcycle jacket introduced ...

ron521

An A2 may have been the first jacket considered for the film, but the jacket Indy ended up with looks a lot more like the non-military jackets sold by Sears, Montgomery Ward, and other outlets during the 30's. At that time, leather hadn't yet become a "bad boy's" jacket, that would happen ...

ron521

http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/ursac ... a.jpg.html

http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/ursac ... 1.jpg.html

http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/ursac ... 6.jpg.html

ron521

I've got a St. John's Bay jacket, purchased at Penneys in the mid 90's. It's got most of the features of the Schott discussed above (zippered chest pocket, cuffs with snap fasteners, side straps, bi-swing back, and flannel lining), but lacks the half-belt. I didn't buy it as an Indy jacket, but I've...

ron521

Schott made the Signature Series, and the U.S. made versions of the Legend, but I believe these are sold out in most sizes now. Most of what is currently on offer is from overseas, although reports have been favorable regarding quality of these too.

ron521

I own 3 of the Signature Series jackets, all Mediums. I wear a 40 or 42 sports coat depending on who made it. The USW Medium fits me perfectly through the shoulders, i.e. the seams at the top of the sleeves are just past the edge of my own shoulders, so the jackets sits properly and has room for mov...

ron521

I've got 3 US Wings jackets, same style just different leathers or color. Plus a dozen or so other leather jackets in other styles. Don't worry about your sanity until you have to reinforce the hanger rod in your closet because it isn't strong enough.

ron521

Wasn't there some talk a while back about Todd's producing their jacket in goatskin? Did anything ever come of that idea?

ron521

While I don't have any US Wings jackets from elsewhere, I've got plenty of other names (Wilsons, Banana Republic, St. John's Bay, Berman's) which were made in various overseas factories. Workmanship on these jackets is every bit as good as that found on the products from the Schott factory. Not nece...

ron521

I've got 3 of the Signature Series "Adventurer" jackets from US Wings, and like them a lot. One is their VIP model, in a special cowhide. The other two are goatskin, in dark brown and in black. There is a very clear difference between the dark brown and the black in daylight, although at n...

ron521

US Wings DOES offer the SS goatskin jacket in black (i.e. the color of a classic motorcycle jacket) and brown (which on mine is dark, but clearly brown not black, and not "darker than coal"). Perhaps the jacket you received actually was black. I've got one of each, plus the SS VIP cowhide ...

ron521

I'm thinking of perhaps pulling the trigger on a "Legend" jacket from US Wings, and trying to decide whether Bison is worth the additional cost, or whether I would still prefer Texas Steerhide even if cost were the same. Generally, I prefer leather to actually BE tough rather than merely l...

ron521

Quite some time back, there was talk of Todd offering their jackets in cowhide and possibly goatskin...any more news on that topic?

ron521

The existing import Texas Steerhide Legend is described as "hand aged"...so the new jacket is similar except that it is cowhide? Also, what is the difference between the Legend pattern and the 30th Anniversary pattern...I thought they were the same thing?

ron521

Like the way your jacket fits in the picture w/ Sarge...

ron521

I've only owned three Signature Series jackets from US Wings, plus one G&B Expedition in goatskin. The G&B has an awesome reputation, but the one I had felt strange to wear. Perhaps if I tried on several in their store in various sizes, I might get one that fit properly. The US Wings jackets...

ron521

I had tried to buy a brown goatskin jacket a few months back, but USW ran out of my size (M) before my order was filled. However, last week I was fortunate enough to find a brown goatskin jacket with tags still attached on eBay. Looks absolutely new, and it's a nice alternative to the black goatskin...

ron521

Very handsome jacket, and looks like a good fit. What size is it, and what is your height and weight?

ron521

I've ridden my Sportster a few miles wearing my U.S. Wings Signature Series....didn't really like the collar flapping or the wind going right up the sleeves and inflating the whole jacket. I enjoy riding much more with my FirstGear Mesh-Tex (warm weather) or Schott 141 (cooler weather). Both are mad...

ron521

I measured my US Wings Signature Series VIP jacket, and found the yoke to measure a very manly "7" from the collar seam down to the yoke seam....I hope this doesn't make any of you guys feel....inadequate, or anything...but sometimes, size DOES matter!

ron521

The fit looks very good...maybe soften it up with some leather conditioner?

ron521

My Medium Signature Series VIP jacket has the following dimensions:

Shoulder width, seam to seam = 19.5"
Chest width, pit to pit = 22.5"
Sleeve length, top of shoulder to cuff = 25"
Back length, base of collar to bottom = 26.75"

ron521

Awesome artifact, and surely the general type which inspired Indy's. Just out of curiosity, how wide is the sleeve at the bicep? Wondering about the fit of a period jacket.

ron521

Regarding the US Wings Legend size M in the original post, exactly how wide IS the sleeve at the bicep?

ron521

Definitely monitor Craigslist and eBay for your jacket.

ron521

backstagejack wrote:
CM wrote: Intereting too how short most of them look.

Keep in the mind the higher waistlines back then though.....

Not long ago, I watched "Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein" from 1948....Bud and Lou looked as if their belts were up around their armpits!

ron521

So I gather that if Indy made something near $26/week, any jacket he could have bought would have represented at most, a couple of days wages. Compare that to the most expensive jacket you own. How many days did it take you to earn that jacket? At my current wage, my most expensive jacket was less t...

ron521

How much would a university professor in 1936 have paid for a leather jacket similar to what Indy wears? And how much did most university professors earn in 1936?
( i.e. how long did Indy have to work to pay for his jacket?)

ron521

If "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery", then copying someone else's photograph must be fairly high praise.

ron521

How difficult is it to take a digital photo, when almost every phone has a camera built in?

ron521

Many thanks! Was considering a Legend, and wondering if ordering the same size would give me that "perfect fit" that the Signature Series provides. Sounds as if I would need to go up a size.

ron521

Anyone with both a Signature Series and an Imported Legend care to comment of the differences in the way they fit, the way they are tailored, or other differences?

ron521

I suppose it depends on how cold it is where you are, and how much you are actually outside in the elements. When I lived in Chicago, I tried for several years to find a combination of sweaters, thermal underwear, etc to wear with my leather "flight jacket" (with knit cuffs and waistband) ...

ron521

If you want reddish-brown with grain, you might consider the US Wings Signature Series VIP Adventurers Jacket. I'm quite pleased with mine. http://ron521.homestead.com/files/us_wings_vip_7.jpg http://ron521.homestead.com/files/us_wings_vip_8.jpg http://ron521.homestead.com/files/uswings_5.jpg http:/...

ron521

THAT'S the way a jacket is supposed to fit, especially through the shoulders. I'm about the same size, and love the fit of my M Signature Series.

ron521

The franchise would have still been successful...look how big the James Bond movies have been, and Bond rarely, if ever, has worn a leather jacket. However, leather jackets have a certain allure which a waxed cotton Belstaff coat does not have, no matter how popular they may be. So, it is unlikely t...

ron521

I just like leather jackets in general, although not every specific style. Before the first Indiana Jones movie, I wore G-1s and generic "flight jackets", and department store "James Dean" and "Perfecto" style motorcycle jackets. I really liked Indy's jacket in the movi...

ron521

Recently stumbled on a DVD of an old Republic serial from the 40's, "King of the Rocket Men", in which the lead character wore a leather jacket with an "action back" and gussets under the sleeves as part of his rocket powered "flying suit". The jacket had knit cuffs to ...

ron521

I see "quality" as having three parts....good design, good materials, and good workmanship. Good design means the garment fits well and is therefore comfortable and allows good freedom of motion. Good materials means it is constructed of materials which are up to the task required of them,...

ron521

Schott offers some of their motorcycle jackets in either cowhide or steerhide. I've owned their "Perfecto" in both hides, and the steerhide was much stiffer, and tougher feeling. I did not know US Wings was offering any steerhide jackets.

ron521

I wore my Signature Series US Wings (with no other gear) to a dinner with 30 or so people, and one fellow recognized it as "Indy" and complimented me. My very weathered "Larson" jacket has also been so identified when worn WITH gear, even though it is not very close to screen acc...

ron521

The only thing I can say is, if you've ordered 4 times previously, and not been satisfied with what you received, then ordering from them AGAIN doesn't seem very wise on your part.
Recommend you buy from someone else.

ron521

If you were going to order a Wested, which lining would you select?
Full satin?
Cotton with satin sleeves?
Or full cotton?
Which would you find most comfortable?
Which would you expect to be most durable?

ron521

The Nauga provides a hide which is nearly indestructible, and often has the nice reddish brown tone you seek...

ron521

I'm pleased to see that they were able to make the needed corrections, and hope those who received theirs enjoy them.
The photos certainly show off the fine proportions of the jacket.

ron521

I purchased a Schott 184SM (brown flight jacket with detachable fur collar and zip-out liner) in 1993. I still have it, and it has held up very well. Members of this group would approve of the natural "distressing" which has occurred, it really does look like it's been on some adventures. ...

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