1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
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1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Here's a blast from the past that I found in my desk drawer over the weekend. My search for an accurate Raiders of the Lost Ark jacket started in the late 80's right before the Last Crusade came out. In 1990, I first came across an ad from Lee Keppler selling his gear in the back of the LucasFilm Fan Club magazines. At that time, he was selling both the Indiana Jones Jacket by Cooper Sportswear and also a "ROTLA jacket from the original manufacturer that outfitted our favorite archaeologist's film debut. Its made of dark brn. lambskin (age it yourself). Also available in IJATLC style. Price: $399.95."
Here's a copy of the flyer Lee sent to me with his gear and prices:
Front:
LEE01 by Rick Dalton, on Flickr872
Back:
LEE02 by Rick Dalton, on Flickr[/img]
At that time, I was attending college and had very little money, but saved enough and purchased the ROTLA jacket made from the original manufacturer which turned out to be Leather Concessionaires, before it became Wested.
Here's the jacket:
JACKETFRONT by Rick Dalton, on Flickr[/img]
JACKETBACK by Rick Dalton, on Flickr][/img]
When compared to the jackets offered today by Wested, Tony Nowak and others, this first generation Raiders jacket was not accurate by any means. The leather, collar, zipper, and D-rings are all wrong, but I wouldn't sell or trade it as it was one of the first.
I also ordered the Item #4 in the flyer which was a Poet by HJ.
I wonder how many others out there ordered a jacket or hat (HJ Poet) from Lee back in the late 80's and early 90's?
Here's a copy of the flyer Lee sent to me with his gear and prices:
Front:
LEE01 by Rick Dalton, on Flickr872
Back:
LEE02 by Rick Dalton, on Flickr[/img]
At that time, I was attending college and had very little money, but saved enough and purchased the ROTLA jacket made from the original manufacturer which turned out to be Leather Concessionaires, before it became Wested.
Here's the jacket:
JACKETFRONT by Rick Dalton, on Flickr[/img]
JACKETBACK by Rick Dalton, on Flickr][/img]
When compared to the jackets offered today by Wested, Tony Nowak and others, this first generation Raiders jacket was not accurate by any means. The leather, collar, zipper, and D-rings are all wrong, but I wouldn't sell or trade it as it was one of the first.
I also ordered the Item #4 in the flyer which was a Poet by HJ.
I wonder how many others out there ordered a jacket or hat (HJ Poet) from Lee back in the late 80's and early 90's?
Last edited by thePawn on Mon May 28, 2012 6:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- trdaggers
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Those type of items become collectable in their own right. Thanks for sharing.
Gailen
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Wow amazing!!!
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
I have one of those one page flyers in my collection of, uh, stuff. It was my first contact with Lee, and we burned up the phones after that.
Regards! Michaelson
Regards! Michaelson
Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Michaelson did you order anything back then? I don't think Lee was ever able to get the shirt or pants made, but I may be wrong.
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Fantastic! I bought my first Wested, in 1997, and it has alot in common with yours. That flyer; hang on to that!
Weston
Weston
Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Fanfreakintastic!
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
The wrinkly pocket flaps look so cool.
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
I tried too, but as you say, he was having problems with his suppliers at the time. Then again, Lee has ALWAYS had problems with his suppliers at one time or another. I've heard more than one tirade by the man on the subject in years past!thePawn wrote:Michaelson did you order anything back then? I don't think Lee was ever able to get the shirt or pants made, but I may be wrong.
Regards! Michaelson
Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
That's how I got some of my first real Indy gear.
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Lee eventually got the shirt and pants made from a guy named "Ralph", who apparently was the original tailor for RAIDERS. As I recall, I had to wait about two years for mine. I still have them, but of course they no longer fit after so many years. I also still have his original flyers and exchanged many long phone calls with Lee that are fondly remembered-- and I'm delighted to see he's still a big contributor to the hobby.
Jack
Jack
Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Easybox, I wasn't able to get the pants or shirt, but I did get Lee's prototypes which were made locally in CA.
How did the pants and shirt compare to what Noel Howard made and the ones currently offered today? Any photos?
How did the pants and shirt compare to what Noel Howard made and the ones currently offered today? Any photos?
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
thePawn wrote:Easybox, I wasn't able to get the pants or shirt, but I did get Lee's prototypes which were made locally in CA.
How did the pants and shirt compare to what Noel Howard made and the ones currently offered today? Any photos?
Not really an expert on all the details, but as I recall the RAIDERS shirt is supposed to have clear buttons? My shirt has olive or dark khaki colored buttons. The buttons on the pants are a swirl of different shades of grey-- I don't know the technical term for it, but I'm sure there is one. Both pieces are exceptionally well made. I had a complete outfit from Lee, including a jacket like the one pictured here, which I distressed and then traded back to him. That jacket was pictured in the INDY GEAR jacket section at one time, I believe.
Jack
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Whoa, what a cool piece of gear history!
Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Just curious if anyone still has a ROTLA or LC jacket made by Lee with Flightsuits or Leather Concessionaires dating before 1990?
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
that's just amazing....
Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
That's the same as the archive jacekt isn't it?thePawn wrote:Just curious if anyone still has a ROTLA or LC jacket made by Lee with Flightsuits or Leather Concessionaires dating before 1990?
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Hey Jack,eazybox wrote:Lee eventually got the shirt and pants made from a guy named "Ralph", who apparently was the original tailor for RAIDERS. As I recall, I had to wait about two years for mine. I still have them, but of course they no longer fit after so many years. I also still have his original flyers and exchanged many long phone calls with Lee that are fondly remembered-- and I'm delighted to see he's still a big contributor to the hobby.
Jack
I'd LOVE to see photos of the pants and shirt if you have them!
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
WOW... I'd completely forgot that I used to actually have one of these flyers...
I wonder where it is now?
Anyway, thanks for joggin my memory... COOL jacket! Don't EVER let it go!
I wonder where it is now?
Anyway, thanks for joggin my memory... COOL jacket! Don't EVER let it go!
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
I'm terrible with taking pictures because of my bad eyes. I did locate some old photos of the pants and jacket, but they are poor quality compared to the photos you see on here today. I appreciate your interest, though, and also the guy who messaged me that he'd like to buy them! If I can find time, I will dig the pants and shirt out of mothballs and see if I can get some better photos of them.indydude18 wrote:Hey Jack,eazybox wrote:Lee eventually got the shirt and pants made from a guy named "Ralph", who apparently was the original tailor for RAIDERS. As I recall, I had to wait about two years for mine. I still have them, but of course they no longer fit after so many years. I also still have his original flyers and exchanged many long phone calls with Lee that are fondly remembered-- and I'm delighted to see he's still a big contributor to the hobby.
Jack
I'd LOVE to see photos of the pants and shirt if you have them!
Jack
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Very nice jacket! I love it.
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Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
I realize this is a old thread but I just came across some old pics of a jacket I had purchased off of a member here MANY moons ago, WAAAAAAAY before it was anything like it is now. It was a Leather Concessionarries Lee Keppler jacket. Fit me just a bit small, was kinda stiff and heavy but it was one of my first real Indy jackets and I was stoked for a few years until I sold it off as newer and better jackets came along.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h304/ ... f45ead.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and here is a link to several more pics....
http://s67.photobucket.com/user/kokoros ... C%20Jacket" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h304/ ... f45ead.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and here is a link to several more pics....
http://s67.photobucket.com/user/kokoros ... C%20Jacket" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: 1990 LEATHER CONCESSIONAIRES ROLA JACKET (LEE KEPPLER)
Treasure it and never let it go!