Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Moderator: Dalexs
Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Title basically says it all. I've been using my Nowak jacket in regular wear since I got it circa August 2008. It's held up really well, but this past winter when I was zipping it up, the tab that I use to pull up the zipper broke in half in my hands. I can still zip it up, but it's a bit annoying having half a zipper tab, and it kind of ruins the screen accuracy. Does anyone have any advice on how or where I could get it fixed? Also, knowing how much it's likely to cost would be nice too. -M
- Michaelson
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
I'm sure you've already thought of this, but contact Riley and see if he will honor his Dad's guarantee of free replacement of zips and snaps for the life of the original owner of his jacket......at least that's what Tony told me not long before he passed away.
Tony may be gone, but it's still called 'Tony Nowak Original' jackets, so the company still exists.
Just a thought.
Regards! Michaelson
Tony may be gone, but it's still called 'Tony Nowak Original' jackets, so the company still exists.
Just a thought.
Regards! Michaelson
Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Thanks, Michaelson. Do you know how I could contact Riley? I've heard mention of him on the forum several times, but I've never actually seen a link, and iirc, Tony's original website is down. Thanks for the advice, that'll most likely be what I end up doing. -M
- Forrest For the Trees
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Yeah, the zipper pull does feel fairly light weight compared to the rest of the jacket on mine. Only real weakness I can find with it.
Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Same, I remember thinking that when I got it. It didn't occur to me at the time that the constant flexing of zipping and unzipping would cause it to snap though. -M
Last edited by Mulceber on Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Kt Templar
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
It's essentially not a hard repair, you need to get a same sized zip and swap out the slider. There is a little metal clip at the top of the zip that you need to take off so you can take the slider off. And you need a new clip to replace the one you took off. Look at the slider, often it will have a little number on it to tell you the size.
A heel bar may be able to do it for you.
You can also get off the peg clip on slider tabs, but they are not going to look exactly like the one that broke off. Heck at a pinch a paper clip will work!
A heel bar may be able to do it for you.
You can also get off the peg clip on slider tabs, but they are not going to look exactly like the one that broke off. Heck at a pinch a paper clip will work!
- kwad
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Most cleaning/alteration places could do it for you quite inexpensively.
It may be cheaper and less hassle to have it done locally rather then send it back to Riley.
It may be cheaper and less hassle to have it done locally rather then send it back to Riley.
- Michaelson
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Thanks, Todd. At least we now know the answer to THAT question.
Regards! Michaelson
Regards! Michaelson
Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Who's Bates? Is he one of our fine vendors, or should I just shop locally? Thanks, -M_ wrote:Mine broke as well. Riley quoted me $50 to fix + S&H. Bates fixed it for free while I waited. Tony said he guaranteed the HW...
Like father, like stepson? Not quite...
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- Bruce Wayne
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Riley charged to replace my zipper as well. He didn't even ask me. He did it without asking & I had no choice but to pay if I wanted my jacket back. Needless to say, take it to someone local.
Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Thanks for all the help guys, I'll be doing that. Plus, the advantage of shopping locally is I don't have to go without my jacket for 4-6 weeks. -M
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
One more thing. My zipper worked just fine when I sent it to Riley. Best I can tell, it didn't need replacement.
- eazybox
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
When my zipper broke and I told Tony, his reaction was "It's that G** D*** screen accuracy!" He recommended that I let him switch the zipper to a heavy duty version he used for his own CS jacket, but I preferred to keep my jacket as screen accurate as possible. Like others have said, he fixed my pull free of charge and sent me a couple of extras in case it should happen again. He also sent me two free jackets to make up for the problem. What a guy. "Only the good die young."
Jack
Jack
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
He put a heavy duty version on mine just before he left on his final trip. I can see it lasting the life of the jacket.
Regards! Michaelson
Regards! Michaelson
- scot2525
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
eazybox wrote:When my zipper broke and I told Tony, his reaction was "It's that G** D*** screen accuracy!" He recommended that I let him switch the zipper to a heavy duty version he used for his own CS jacket, but I preferred to keep my jacket as screen accurate as possible. Like others have said, he fixed my pull free of charge and sent me a couple of extras in case it should happen again. He also sent me two free jackets to make up for the problem. What a guy. "Only the good die young."
Jack
Sarge said essentially the same thing when the zipper on my US made Legend broke earlier this year. He said Schott's hate putting the smaller zip on the Legend line but is a screen accurate spec.
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
That's true. It was one of the biggest sticking points between David and Roz Schott when it came to creating the Legend too. She finally relented, but under protest.
Regards! Michaelson
Regards! Michaelson
Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Yep, SA zippers are tiny and fragile, totally agree. But you should be able to order up the antique brass #5 zipper head pretty cheap online. And as KT said a little pic and needle nose pliers will carefully open those stops off the collar end of the zip. Slide the broken head off and the new head onto the left hand side, then crimp on stops again. All done and pretty simple repair. Maybe $5 in parts and 1/2 hour or so of your time.
- Canada Jones
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
I remember a post by _ in another thread that mentioned the jacket that the zipper on the Raiders jacket that Lucasfilm has in their archives is also broken. Also I think he mentioned that the zipper had been changed at least 5 (?) times. I wonder why such a delicate zipper was used in the first place? Actually I do remember years ago when I went to Peter's store and bought my first jacket - a Wested. I looked at the zipper used in the off the rack jackets and thought they looked way too small. I actually had no clue about screen accuracy back then but I did ask him for (and received) a much bulkier zipper.
best
Canada
best
Canada
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Those zippers were also made of aluminum, as a matter of fact.
Regards! Michaelson
Regards! Michaelson
Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Michaelson - which zippers? Not the CS...those are antiqued brass ykk.
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
I was replying to this post directly above mine.Canada Jones wrote:I remember a post by _ in another thread that mentioned the jacket that the zipper on the Raiders jacket that Lucasfilm has in their archives is also broken. Also I think he mentioned that the zipper had been changed at least 5 (?) times. I wonder why such a delicate zipper was used in the first place? Actually I do remember years ago when I went to Peter's store and bought my first jacket - a Wested. I looked at the zipper used in the off the rack jackets and thought they looked way too small. I actually had no clue about screen accuracy back then but I did ask him for (and received) a much bulkier zipper.
best
Canada
Regards! Michaelson
Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Got it, thanks!
Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Thanks for the advice, everyone! I took it to my local leather-worker's shop and for $10 they were able to replace the tab with a sturdier YKK tab. -M
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Re: Zipper tab broke on my Nowak CS LE
Not only the fact you got it fixed is great news, but you also supported your local economy! A win-win!
HIGH regards! Michaelson