Reproduction Indy Jacket Timeline

[CM]

I'm curious, can we determine accurately - not an estimate - the years that the first repo jackets were made available.

The year of the first:

Lee Keppler:

Wested:

Cooper: ( and all of the Cooper made sub-brands, Disney, etc)

USW (by that brand)

Wings:

US Authentic:

Any other makes? ( I ignore Nowak and Todd's because they were created in very recent memory)

We keep talking about this and that jacket being available to fans, and which one borrowed from the other, but I'm really interested to learn more given the new Cooper USW issue jackets.

[Baldwyn]

Flightsuits (Gibson and Barnes), and probably should differentiate between Leather Concessionaires and Wested. I didn't think Todd's was that recent, hasn't it been 8 or 9 years?

[Texan Scott]

This quote states:

"Many things happened following the production and release of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Lucasfilm (LFL) had its taste of licensing and the results were mixed. With respect to the jacket, the results were poor. The following was reported in an internal licensing and merchandising memo dated February 13, 1985:"

This would imply that Cooper, under LFL, were producing jackets prior to 2-13-85.

Keppler started working with Flight Suits back in 1987, according to the main page.

[Michaelson]

That is correct, Tex. Cooper was first official LFL licensee, making jackets for Disney.

Regards! Michaelson

[RCSignals]

The recent photos presented of early Cooper jackets, some with the side strap configuration that enters the pocket, are fro the early '80s, so by indication even pre-date the licensed Disney jackets.

[CM]

The recent photos presented of early Cooper jackets, some with the side strap configuration that enters the pocket, are fro the early '80s, so by indication even pre-date the licensed Disney jackets.

This may have been said already, but coudln't Wested have borrowed the design of an early repo?

And so am I right in thinking the first Cooper was 1983? Is so, where was it sold?

[CM]

Flightsuits (Gibson and Barnes), and probably should differentiate between Leather Concessionaires and Wested. I didn't think Todd's was that recent, hasn't it been 8 or 9 years?

Good point of the Flighsuits. I thought Todd created his in 2007/8.

[Indydawg]

US Wings Inc. Made the First Indy Jones Jacket in 1986 and that Jacket was from a Neil Cooper Pattern… Cooper sportswear Inc.



Fri. March 22,1996 Interactive Media Group 110 Courtyard Square, So. Summit Street, Akron Ohio 44308 filed through InterNic Fed. ID # 52-1146119 name Indy Jones Jackets owner David Hack US Wings Inc. Manufacture. The registered domain name along with 200 domain names are on file. US Wings Inc. has sold and marketed The Indy Jones Jacket on the world wide web since March 1996 one year before that in 1995 US Wings Inc. went on the internet…From 1986 to 1995 US Wings Inc. sold the Indy Jones Jackets worldwide via Mail Order.

US Wings. And their Attorneys have all records in their Files.

US Wings Inc. is a professional business and we keep any and all records plus all cashed checks. It should also be noted that US Wings Inc. is the owner of www.cooperjackets.com and www.cooper-jackets.com and if anyone has the desire they may contact our ISP just to see just how many URLs we own… Last count was over 200.



Regards,

Sarge






SFC David D. Hack
US Army Ret.
info@uswings.com
www.uswings.com

[Indydawg]

To clarify the post from Sarge above-he is talking about jacket creations AFTER the acquistion of Cooper's company. Prior to 1986, Cooper Sportwear made the jackets.

Regards,
Indydawg

[Michaelson]

RC's comment on the side strap brings to mind one of the strangest of the spontaneous mods over time - and Disney's insistance on copying the strap configuration backwards since 1995.

That's one mod I NEVER totally understood either, though it makes it easier to adjust the straps while wearing the jacket for the wearer, it was never SA. I NEVER understood why Disney demanded Cooper to make that change from the original pattern!

Regards! Michaelson

[CM]

Thanks guys. All very interesting and, in some instances, surprising.


Woops: Edited for embarrassing typo.

[binkmeisterRick]

I think it's a typo? Maybe he types on a blackberry, too?

[CM]

I think it's a typo? Maybe he types on a blackberry, too?

Correct, Rick. I fixed it up...