WWID...about damage to his jacket?

Oildale Jones · Post by **Oildale Jones** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:27 pm

Searched? Yes. No time for a deep and wide site search, so I'll try the patience and risk the ire of long-time members and fire away.

Among the originals idea for Indy's character was that he was to be a playboy type who maintained his lifestyle by obtaining rare antiquities, but I don't know if that's canon. (I don't know anything about the expanded universe.) Supposing Indy is a man of means, then it makes sense that he would either replace his gear (which, obviously, he did between movies) or have it professionally repaired. Based on our brief view of his house in Raiders, he seems pretty modest. So supposing Indy is the frugal type, does he repair his gear--more specifically, his jacket--himself?

And how would Indy repair, say, a sleeve torn at the bottom of the yoke? Would his craftsmanship lean more toward precision or utility?

(Yes, I tore a jacket and yes, I'm debating whether or not to fix it myself--and how well.)

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:38 pm

Agreed. Any holes or ripped sleeves immediately become safety hazards, easily caught on things like truck bumpers or the like.

It could easily become a matter of life or death, so he'll either fix the damage, or it will be replaced.

Also agreed....complete conjecture on my part.

Regards! Michaelson

Texan Scott · Post by **Texan Scott** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:20 pm

Well, there is a difference between the Raiders jacket and the LC jacket...

Seriously, have it repaired if it is close to you (if it is possible?) or maybe pass it on to someone else who might get a good deal? Either way, its a winner.

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:56 pm

I'm with the opinion that he would just have it replaced with a new one. Even though his jackets appear to be well worn in and highly used I feel it probably doesn't take him long to wear them out.

usually 90 minutes.

It's like I have a favorite brand/style of jeans. When they rip I just get a new pair and I think Indy is the same way. Besides, I'm sure he writes them off as work clothes when doing his taxes.

lantzn · Post by **lantzn** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:13 pm

Michaelson wrote:Agreed. Any holes or ripped sleeves immediately become safety hazards, easily caught on things like truck bumpers or the like.

It could easily become a matter of life or death, so he'll either fix the damage, or it will be replaced.

Also agreed....complete conjecture on my part.

Regards! Michaelson

You guys are talking as if Indy wasn't a real person. I don't get it.

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Texan Scott · Post by **Texan Scott** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:24 pm

...there are about 3,800 of them on here alone...

trdaggers · Post by **trdaggers** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:45 pm

Not that I should have to explain this to you but we are playing like he is a real person and if he was what would he do if he had damaged or torn clothing. It's kind of like role paying in a way. We know there isn't a real Indiana Jones but that shouldn't stop us from fantasizing about if there was. Do you get it? Does an escape from reality ring a bell???

trdaggers · Post by **trdaggers** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:08 pm

You know what I'm trying to say, come on.

Gailen

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:27 pm

trdaggers wrote:Not that I should have to explain this to you but we are playing like he is a real person and if he was what would he do if he had damaged or torn clothing. It's kind of like role paying in a way. We know there isn't a real Indiana Jones but that shouldn't stop us from fantasizing about if there was. Do you get it? Does an escape from reality ring a bell???

We know exactly what you are saying. Not sure where the hostility is coming from here

Everyone is giving their opinion based on either A. he is a real person or B. what is true to the films, both are interpretations that this site and its members embrace.
No one's being a kill joy in this thread. So in the spirit of contributing to this thread...what do you think Indy would do about the damage to his jacket, Mr. trdaggers?

trdaggers · Post by **trdaggers** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:40 pm

I swear there was no hostility intended at all. Sorry it sounded like that. Kind of write the way I talk. It would have come off better if I was saying it face to face with someone I guess. My apoligies if it sounded that way. Not the first time this has happen to me here.

I think he would have repaired the Jacket. With his teaching salary I don't think he would have bought a new jacket unless it was ripped to pieces.

Gailen

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:48 pm

Post by **Holt** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:50 pm

trdaggers wrote:I swear there was no hostility intended at all. Sorry it sounded like that. Kind of write the way I talk. It would have come off better if I was saying it face to face with someone I guess. My apoligies if it sounded that way. Not the first time this has happen to me here.

yes, this is the confusing part with the internet forums. We all just see what is written and dont see faces or hear voices. If this directness is the way you talk normally? it can easily get you in a corner here. as I allready mentioned we only see what is written on a white screen and not what you actually mean by it. so my advice for the future, read your posts twice before hitting the button.

trdaggers · Post by **trdaggers** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:02 pm

I did. It seemed alright at the time. After reading several times and reading the comments, I can certainly see how it could have been taken wrong. I'll try and do better.

Gailen

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:34 pm

One more piece of advice, try the smilies. They can cover a multitude of "perceived" sins

Oildale Jones · Post by **Oildale Jones** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:47 pm

Did you hear that screaming? That was the German staff car of my thread going over a cliff.

So let me put it this way: I have a Todd's jacket that I really, really like. It popped a seam where the left sleeve meets the yoke. (Actually, more like the sleeve tore away from the thread.) I'm debating whether to fix it myself, which would necessarily look rough, or have it professionally repaired. (If I go pro, I can either go overt or covert with the stitching.) I'm going to go see my leather guy about freshening up some stitching on another jacket, so I'll ask him how he would repair it.

I just wondered what others, who may have given this more thought already over the years (or have had some experience with it, like Holt and his distressed Wested), think. My personal feeling/conjecture is that while Indy liked his "uniform," he loved his fedora(s) and his jacket(s), and hung on to them as long as they were serviceable--particularly since they'd been on adventures with him. (Don't we also get attached?) The pants and shirt, which are more easily damaged--and less expensive to replace--not so much. Taking that as a given, I'll bet he had a friendly relationship with a local seamstress who was sweet on him. ("Hello again, Doctor Jones. What is it this time? --A bullet hole!?")

I think I just worked it out for myself.

Texan Scott · Post by **Texan Scott** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:32 pm

Maybe after an adventure, Indy would have pulled his worn Sears and Roebuck catalog off the shelf and placed another order for his $15 jacket, the way Tundy runs down to his local G&B on the corner and buys his Expedition...?

trdaggers · Post by **trdaggers** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 6:38 am

Michael: Thank you very much for your comments. Must say the whole thing bothered me all night long. After reading your post I fell much better. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Gailen

Ronski · Post by **Ronski** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:19 pm

Tundrarider wrote:Exactly, Tex!!!

Considering Indy's adventurous and globe-trotting lifestyle, he probably had many jackets, bags, trousers and whips at home, all in various stages of disrepair, if you will.

But the hat! Well, now that's a different story! He only had one brown hat at a time; that's why he'd risk his neck to retrieve it!

Michael

This is my thoughts as well. Not to say he doesn't get his hat reblocked, but i think everything else gets replaced as it wears out.

Oildale Jones · Post by **Oildale Jones** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:57 pm

Tundrarider wrote:Considering Indy's adventurous and globe-trotting lifestyle, he probably had many jackets, bags, trousers and whips at home, all in various stages of disrepair, if you will.

Michael

And considering that there's what appears to be a newish jacket hanging in the foyer of his house, I'd say that's a viable theory! It would also explain the differences in gear between movies: Indy was constantly field-testing his gear.

Rick Deckard · Post by **Rick Deckard** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 12:11 am

Considering that much of Indy's adventures occurred either during or immediately after the Great Depression, I think he would have went the cheapest route possible and either repaired the goods himself or had them professionally repaired until they were completely worn out. Unless he had tenure, he may have even been worried about his job if enrollment dropped and endowments decreased. I can't see Indy saying, there's a rip in my jacket, better buy a new one! Unless very well off, most people didn't buy then like they do now.
(Good news for our vendors!

)

Edit: As for the new gear from movie to movie, I don't think that was intentional. I think between Raiders and TOD they tried to make the jacket look as close to the same as possible, with the exception being LC. But then maybe they intended the jacket to be the same but significantly more worn looking due to the previous adventures. The hat I think they did their best to keep the same in all movies, otherwise Indy may have worn something other than a brown fedora every time he was out adventuring. So even though there are differences between the jackets and hats, I don't think there were supposed to be differences, if that makes sense.

Oildale Jones · Post by **Oildale Jones** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 1:19 am

Makes sense. It's just a convenient way for me to explain away the differences in my own mind.

wilbyc82 · Post by **wilbyc82** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 3:22 am

The scene from Raiders where he packs his suitcase for adventure suggests that he has one lot of gear. I couldn't imagine that his sock draw was full of replacement bags belts or whips.

However it is clear that as the movies progress, his opinions of his gear changed. This could account for variation in styles.

The filmakers intend to convince the audience that the gear remains the same, and I refer to mainly his hat and jacket. Only when you closely study the differences as we have can you tell them apart.

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Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:50 am

Rick Deckard wrote: So even though there are differences between the jackets and hats, I don't think there were supposed to be differences, if that makes sense.

There are differences because each film costumer designer wanted theirs to stand out separate from the other films. They wanted their own 'mark' to be left on the costume. I heard this more than once coming from Bernie Pollack's camp during production of CS. Steve and Marc did their best to convince him to return to the original Raiders hat design. He wanted nothing to do with it, as it wasn't HIS design.

It was simply a matter of designers wanting theirs to BE different in some nuance when compared to the others. It worked, as most of 'us' CAN tell hat or jacket differences from one film to the next.....otherwise we wouldn't BE discussing the difference between a CS and a TofD jacket. Those differences were planned, and by the designer themselves. It was intentional.

Regard! Michaelson

Rick Deckard · Post by **Rick Deckard** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 9:43 am

Sure. I understand there are differences with the actual hats and jackets, but movie after movie Indy looks the same to the average movie goer. Sans close up, minute (as in small) examination, the gear appears to be the same: Brown leather jacket, brown fedora, khaki pants, white to off white shirt... . If Indy were supposed to be out buying new gear from adventure to adventure, or even during the course of the same movie, I think it would be reasonable to see him wearing a grey or blue or black fedora with maybe a black leather jacket. Perhaps a pair of jeans with overalls...

But every time he's dressed for adventuring, it's the same look.

So in response to the original question, I still think Indy was supposed to have worn the same gear movie to movie. Indy was supposed to look like Indy, in other words. He doesn't change his outfit like James Bond. Bond destroys a suit, get's spiffed up and steps out in a new one. The new one doesn't look identical to the last, b/c it's not supposed to be the same suit. That's my point. It looks so similar on Indy b/c I think it is supposed to be the same gear. Of course in reality it's not the same gear, but that's beside the point from the standpoint of Indy the character.

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:57 am

If you're speaking in generalities, of course, you're absolutely right....but since we try to discuss 'specifics', those nuances are very important...and noticeable.

In terms of 'repair', it just depends on what time period one is discussing. In the time period of the first 3 films, money was hard to come by. I'd say he'd repair and service all his gear as needed....but at the time of CS, it was the most prosperious time in U. S. history. A dollar got you a dollar's worth of purchase power, so I'm sure he'd just replace anything he had damaged beyond real use, though I'd say he'd still be less likely to toss aside anything just because it was torn or scuffed. He was still a product of his environment, living through the Depression, and would still expect his equipment to hold up without replacement.

I'd say if it was in the field, he'd repair it himself, but once home, he took his damaged equipment/clothing to an expert to fix, as those service industries were on just about every street corner.....not like today.

JMO, of course.

Regards! Michaelson