Does anyone know when Wested began to add the 1" or so 'hidden stitching', securing the back panel to the side panel, which is hidden behind the side-straps?
I have cut it out on my Westeds as I believe it affects the drape of the jacket - somehow, it just feels better without this additional stitching, but I would be interested to know why it was introduced in the first place? Watching Raiders, I'm sure Ford's jacket didn't have it.
I cut those stitches out as well, and my jacket DOES hang better, and the side adjusters actually funtion better without them. I've talked to several folks here who have done the same modification. When I order my Wested lamb, I'm going to request the stitches not be put it.
Well, I know that Peter is probably rolling his eyes right now, and muttering 'you can't seem to please them either way!' Those stitches were put in a couple of years ago at the insistance of purchasers, as after the jackets were worn for a period of time, the action pleats stayed open all the time, simply due to the sagging from the weight of the leather, as well as natural wear and tear of the pleats from regular use. When new, even fairly new, the pleats stayed closed...then the gap began. The stitches were added, and the grumbling died away. Now folks are cutting the stitches out? Ah well, we've come full circle.....danged if he does, danged if he doesn't. Regards. Michaelson
Like I said, it helps keep the pleat closed when it's not in use. FS has the elastic band insert between the 'wings' between the outside shell and the lining (an item that can be added by request to a Wested) that essentially does the same thing, but in a different way. Speaking strictly for myself, in all the years I've worn the Indy jacket, I have only given my action pleats thought one time, and that was when I was walking through a narrow aisleway in a department store, and got hung up on a display hook. My pleats were evidentily open at the time. Other than that, I don't ever pay them any attention as to whether they're open or closed. If I can move, and move freely in any particular direction, they must be performing correctly, so open or closed, who cares? I'm not going to spin around in circles to try and see if they're open or not. Regards. Michaelson
Last edited by Michaelson on Wed Jun 16, 2004 5:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I had the elastic added to my Wested, so hopefully, I won't have any problems now. I had no idea there was an uproar about this problem before. Funny how this hobby is ever changing. Peter must be pulling his hair out.
OH yes, the action pleat debates have spawned more amused comments from non-Indy fans than just about anything I can think of in our hobby. Regards. Michaelson
Not me! Now, I kept catching Indy Jess doing this at the last QM summit, but knowing Jess, I just overlooked his strange behavior, as usual. Regards. Michaelson
Too funny. When Indy_81 was over at my house a couple weeks ago, he pointed those stitches out to me. I had never noticed them before. We conferred briefly, then shrugged and got out a razor blade. We both agreed that we prefer the looseness without the stitch, and couldn't care less if our action pleat don't always close properly. Ford's certainly didn't seem to.
I would have never noticed those stitches if I hadn't read that thread. Now every time I put my jacket on I'm going to wonder if I should keep them or not.
Well, speaking as an new member of the Historic Open Action Pleat Lovers Appreciation Society, or HOAPLAS, I say cut those bonds of oppression and set those pleats free!
(Breaks into song)
Boooorrrn Free, as free as the wind blows,
as free as the grass grows, born free to fol-low your heart…
Ah well, we've come full circle.....danged if he does, danged if he doesn't. Regards. Michaelson
Regards. Michaelson
Peter must be pulling his hair out.
](./images/smilies/Indy_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
That's a good one. For some reason that made me think of Calvin and Hobbes GROSS club. Good acronyms seem to stick in the mind.
