Raider's jacket period accuracy

CM · Post by CM » Thu May 10, 2007 7:08 am

I know that from time to time people have said that the jacket isn't right for the period. I'm not sure why. But if this is the case what kind of jacket would a real life Indiana Jones have worn. An A2 perhaps? Or would it have been more like one of those cool retro Aero jackets?

I figure that since Indy looks kind of army surplus, he'd probably wear an A1 or A2 - easier to pick up for a good price.

By the way, for Indy 4 it'd kind of be cool if he had a different jacket design - not because Indy is trying to be 'fashionable" but simply because the company that makes his jackets has modified the pattern with the passing years.

mark seven · Post by **mark seven** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:09 am

Indy's jacket would probably have been horsehide(possibily steerhide)-definately not lamb(I've seen hundreds of vintage jackets and never seen a lamb jacket from the 30's),it wouldn't have had stud fastening patch pockets(never seen a 30's jacket with those pockets which arrived with the A2s in the 40's),it wouldn't have had a bi-swing back either.In fact the more vintage jackets I see (and I own a number of them now) the more I see the film jacket as a costume piece-in fact the lamb and overall design of the jacket(mix of 50's james Dean/A2) puts it firmly in the 80's.Personally I've been looking for an actual 30's jacket that matches Indy's for years(high yoke,storm flap,bi-swing back)-I've found some that are close without patch pockets etc-but I've stopped looking now because the Indy jacket design- as it is in the films- didn't(and wouldn't have) existed in the 30's.

coronado3 · Post by **coronado3** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:22 am

ya have to suspend your disbelief a bit here!

Perhaps (if Indy was a real person) he had his jackets custom made to his specs!

Technonut · Post by **Technonut** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:26 am

Since the A-2 was standardized by the AAF in 1931, It is quite possible that a "real" Indy would have had that style in 1936.

It is also quite possible that a motorcycle or civilian aviation jacket would have been chosen for the jacket's spirit of adventure... I saw this 1930's goatskin jacket that fits the bill IMHO:

St. Dumas · Post by **St. Dumas** » Thu May 10, 2007 1:45 pm

Indy's jacket will be the same as in the previous three flicks. He's an iconic character with an image that transcends considerations like that. If he's in a suit, that'll be up-to-date, but not the rugged jacket. No doubt it's supposed to be the same jacket throughout all the movies in any event.

SD

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Thu May 10, 2007 1:51 pm

i figure indy just went to his leather tailor and asked if he could make him a G-8 flightjacket, and the tailor said, "a G-what jacket?"

what indy got in the end was a close enough G-8

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu May 10, 2007 1:53 pm

coronado3 wrote:ya have to suspend your disbelief a bit here!

Perhaps (if Indy was a real person) he had his jackets custom made to his specs!

Using that argument, based on the fact Indy was a professor, and more than likely not a very well PAID professor (none of them really were when they were field men), I could see his suits being tailored, but very few could or would spend the money for a custom leather jacket. There were to many good usable leather coats on the rack at local clothing stores. Why have one made custom?

In the 1920s and 30's catalogs I've read, the main material was either cowhide, or horsehide. More cowhide than anything else, and the ratio seems to be 3 to 1. For the 'man about town', calfskin was offered in better men's stores.

Not as a plug for Indy Magnoli, but here's a photo taken directly from one of these 30's catalogs that Indy can reproduce for you. This is a good example of what was actually available for purchase during Indy's time period.

https://host385.ipowerweb.com/~indyprop ... b129386a09

Regards! Michaelson

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Thu May 10, 2007 1:54 pm

Technonut wrote:Since the A-2 was standardized by the AAF in 1931, It is quite possible that a "real" Indy would have had that style in 1936.

It is also quite possible that a motorcycle or civilian aviation jacket would have been chosen for the jacket's spirit of adventure... I saw this 1930's goatskin jacket that fits the bill IMHO:

That jacket is awesome.

coronado3 · Post by **coronado3** » Thu May 10, 2007 2:38 pm

I am sure he was poorly paid at the University... remember his office in LC? I think it was the boiler room!

But, he was making dough selling artifacts to the nat'l museum. Plus, he knew the kinds of adventure he was going to endure, so perhaps the jackets at the local sears and roebuck were not up to par for him.... Thus the need for custom jackets!

C3

Bogie1943 · Post by **Bogie1943** » Thu May 10, 2007 3:46 pm

Just a little detail of the A-2 I wanted to mention. If you are ever looking at a vintage A-2 you can tell whether it was made in the 30's or 40's by a collar stand. Collar stands were a standardized part of the A-2's pattern during the 1930's. A-2's made during the war, before production was ended, have no collar stands. It was taken off the pattern to make the jacket "look more modern". Mark Seven, not to be a stickler, just to fill you in, press stunds were used on jackets during the 30's, the A-2 was one of them. However, I do find buttons to be much more stylish.

Last Crusader · Post by **Last Crusader** » Thu May 10, 2007 4:30 pm

Indy would never have worn a jacket with knit cuffs and Waistband. This is just not durable enough fo diggin in the dirt and fighting. So all the government issued jackets A-2, M422, etc. would have never been an option. I think he would have worn a simple and cheap cowhide jacket. Indy only needs a strong jacket for protection, no need for a nice design.
But Indy´s actual jacket is not ideal for his purposes either. The construction with its action plaits and side straps is too complicated. Too many parts that weaken the jacket. The side straps would allways get caught by branches or something while moving through the jungle.

However Indy´s jacket is definitaly period accurate but not constructed for hard wear.

CM · Post by CM » Thu May 10, 2007 5:56 pm

Thanks for all that information. Very interesting. Love the photos.

Rgeards CM

Lao Feng · Post by **Lao Feng** » Thu May 10, 2007 7:49 pm

"...it wouldn't have had stud fastening patch pockets(never seen a 30's jacket with those pockets which arrived with the A2s in the 40's)"

As Charlie Chan would have said, "Correction ,please." I think the US Army Air Corps first issues the A-2 in 1931.

Cheers--Lao Feng

Castor Dioscuri · Post by **Castor Dioscuri** » Fri May 11, 2007 2:52 am

Just to add my two cents, regardless of the jacket type, this is PROBABLY what a period accurate look would resemble...

St. Dumas · Post by **St. Dumas** » Fri May 11, 2007 3:11 am

Easy, we're only talking pre-WWII era here. You're making him out to be Ed Grimley.

SD

mark seven · Post by **mark seven** » Fri May 11, 2007 7:44 am

Lao Feng wrote:"...it wouldn't have had stud fastening patch pockets(never seen a 30's jacket with those pockets which arrived with the A2s in the 40's)"

As Charlie Chan would have said, "Correction ,please." I think the US Army Air Corps first issues the A-2 in 1931.

Cheers--Lao Feng

I stand corrected!..I haven't personally seen a 30's non-military jacket with press stud patch pockets, but of course that doesn't mean they don't exist.Steranko's jacket in the concept painting is more period period accuratte IMO- even down to the 30's style cuffs and heavier leather(high waist trousers too

).I like to think that Indy would have had his jackets specially made for him to his specifacations,I think he would have found the A2 a bit too heavy and restrictive..better for being dragged behind trucks with though!

CM · Post by CM » Fri May 11, 2007 8:13 am

Mark Seven, I remember your post of three great vintage jackets from some months back... really liked that first HH jacket and thought that it would have been a great period Indy jacket.

Regards CM

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Fri May 11, 2007 8:16 am

Ed Grimley rules !

Chewing Wax · Post by **Chewing Wax** » Wed May 16, 2007 1:01 pm

_ wrote: Period accurate? Well the majority of A1's were made from cape leather, also known as lambskin. Handwarmers were non-existent. Zippers were a new-fangled invention, primarily used for women's undergarments until - well about 1931. Jackets were secured by buttons before that. Press-studs were largely the same as zippers. Again, buttons were more commonly used. So it depends when he bought it. I thought it was supposed to have been about 1925-26? If so, then it is about 5-7 years off...

Just curious where the 1925-1926 purchase date came from. That would make the zipper out of place right? But if it's early 1930's, that would put it in zipper land with the A-2