How I Ordered a Tony Nowak Jacket...

[kiltie]

In the relatively short time I've been here, I've seen several threads started or threads disintegrate into: "How do I order such-and-such a jacket?" or "What do I need to tell the vendor when I order?", etc...

So here's how I ordered MY Tony Nowak CS type jacket ( 26/777 ). I called Tony up ( cuz once you place the call, you're on a first name basis ) and told him I was interested and what did he need from me since, to my mind, the order form is - not vague...intimidating.
Tony said to find a jacket I liked and take the measurements from that. So I took two: a Wested Raiders and an Eddie Bauer that's been a longtime fave. I took those measurements and had myself photographed wearing both ( not at the same time...). Well, rather than repeat myself, lemme just copy the e-mail I sent Tony -

Tony Nowak,

I spoke to you on the phone today about ordering an Indy IV jacket. I have taken measurements and pictures of two jackets to compare in hopes that we will get the best jacket out of it. So, here we go:

Here are the measurements on a Wested, off the rack size 46 ( US ).

The storm flap ( A-B ) : 23 1/4 inches
Pit to Pit ( C-D ) : 25 inches
Waist ( E-F ) : 22 inches
Shoulder ( G-H ) : 7 1/8 inches
Back Length ( I-J ) : 26 1/4 inches
Back Width at the yoke ( K-L ) : 20 inches
Sleeve Length ( M-N ) : 24 1/4

Here are the measurements of an Eddie Bauer off the rack size large

Front ( A-B ) : 23 3/4
Pit to Pit ( C-D ) : 23 3/4
Waist ( E-F ) : 23 3/4
Shoulder ( G-H ) : 6 1/4
Back Length ( I-J ) : 26 3/4
Sleeve Length ( M-N ) : 26 1/4

I am about 6 feet 200lbs
A comfortable fitted shirt for me is usually a 17 34-35
A comfortable general shirt size is usually XL
I usually wear a 46 ( US ) off the rack jacket
My pants waist size is usually 36

As far as the sleeve length is concerned, I'd like them to not come more than half way down my hand,at most. This is the one thing that I find distracting about the Indy IV jacket - the seemingly excessive length of the sleeves. The pictures of the Eddie Bauer jacket are a perfect length.
Like we discussed on the phone, I would like two inside pockets: the left side horizontal and the right side vertical. I'd also like the heavier guage zipper, please. As far as a number and inscription go, if 26 is available, I'd like that. If not, any number will do. I'd like the inscription done in black thread so it doesn't call attention.

Finally, I'd like you to do whatever film style distressing you customarily do on the Indy IV jackets.

All I can do beyond these requests is ask that you look at these measurements and pictures and get the jacket fitting like the film as best you can ( which, by your reputation, I know you will ).


Please e-mail or call with any questions, etc...

Thank you,

I also attatched the pics of the other jackets from several angles to my e-mail.

And that's it. Here's the jacket that came Fed Ex:



http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... CN1928.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... CN1929.jpg

I'm afraid I don't have anyone to take a proper picture at the moment, but you get the idea - it fits like a dream. With that said, I'd like to thank Mr Tony Nowak for making these jackets available to us, and for giving EXCELLENT customer service. Everything that's been posted about his friendly nature and attention to detail and his customers is true. I hope this is a help to anyone considering a custom order of any kind.

[nephilo]

Great jacket! Fits perfect!
Big Tony rules!

[RCSignals]

Nice review, Great fit.


Some people hang paintings on their walls ......

[kiltie]

Some people hang paintings on their walls ......

Art is where you find it.

[Yojimbo Jones]

Very nice, man!

[crismans]

Great looking jacket. I think the CS jacket is a little underappreciated. It is a great real-world jacket.

[that_dog]

Yeah, but who wants to live in the "real world"?

[kiltie]

Thanks all, for the compliments.
It's a really great jacket, and there's not much I can say that hasn't already been posted about how solid Tony's service and workmanship are.
If it wasn't such an entertaining hobby, it'd make you sad thinking about how you really just can't get "real world" stuff as good as a lot of the gear we have available to us. Tony, Steve Delk and Marc* at Adventurebilt, John Penman... Quality individuals producing quality products. And that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. I've yet to order from Wade Egan, but dang his stuff looks good and the reviews are hard to beat. Gus at Purewhips ( from whom I've ordered - fantastic customer service!!! ) and all the other vendors in the whip section... and so on.
Can you imagine what it would be like to go to a department store, a sporting goods store, wherever...and get these kinds of quality products and superior service?!?
Anyway - I'm very pleased with every aspect of this jacket and the experience surrounding it. I'm also happy I don't have to sit on the sidelines of the "Tony Nowak Game" anymore: I'm now a full fledged participant. I'm SUPER anxious for my upcoming trip to Colorado so I can actually wear the thing in the evenings ( no such luck here in TX for another month and a half at the absolute earliest ).


*Mr Delk through his hats and correspondence, Mr Kitter only by reputation ( still dreaming )

[BendingOak]

Congrats on you new jacket brother. It looks good on you.


Stay Safe

[Hatch]

Kiltie, out of interest what was sleeve length and other measurements on the jacket you received ?......thanks

[kiltie]

Kiltie, out of interest what was sleeve length and other measurements on the jacket you received ?......thanks

I can't get those for you until tomorrow morning, but I'll post as soon as I can get them. One thing I can say is Tony asked about the disparities in measurements ( paticularly in the shoulders ) and how I preferred the jacket fit, in as far as the two examples I gave. While I told him I preferred the fit of the Eddie Bauer jacket I measured, the Crystal Skull jacket is quite different ( closer fitting at the neck, for instance ). So I know it's not a 1:1 copy in terms of measurements.

[kiltie]

Kiltie, out of interest what was sleeve length and other measurements on the jacket you received ?......thanks

I can't get those for you until tomorrow morning, but I'll post as soon as I can get them. One thing I can say is Tony asked about the disparities in measurements ( paticularly in the shoulders ) and how I preferred the jacket fit, in as far as the two examples I gave. While I told him I preferred the fit of the Eddie Bauer jacket I measured, the Crystal Skull jacket is quite different ( closer fitting at the neck, for instance ). So I know it's not a 1:1 copy in terms of measurements.

Here are the Eddie Bauer jacket measurements again, from the e-mail I sent Tony:

Here are the measurements of an Eddie Bauer off the rack size large

Front ( A-B ) : 23 3/4
Pit to Pit ( C-D ) : 23 3/4
Waist ( E-F ) : 23 3/4
Shoulder ( G-H ) : 6 1/4
Back Length ( I-J ) : 26 3/4
Sleeve Length ( M-N ) : 26 1/4

Here are a few of the CS jacket measurements:

Storm flap: 23 1/2
Pit to Pit: 22 1/2
Shoulder: 7
Back length: 26
Back width: 20
Sleeve: 25 1/2

Looking back at my e-mail at the beginning of the thread, it really is a hybrid of the two sets of measurements I took.

[RCSignals]

Here are a few of the CS jacket measurements:

Storm flap: 23 1/2
Pit to Pit: 22 1/2
Shoulder: 7
Back length: 26
Back width: 20
Sleeve: 25 1/2

Looking back at my e-mail at the beginning of the thread, it really is a hybrid of the two sets of measurements I took.

Those measurements are very close to the HF measurements for that jacket.

[Hatch]

This is what's amazing about Tony ...he can take measurements from jacket you like, ask you a few questions and come up with jacket that fits to a T ........he really has a gift