A Tony Nowak Indy 1 Jacket story…

[Canada Jones]

I love this story. I have only heard and continue to hear great things about Tony, his product and his service. For all the talk of the price I will bet what he charges us is less than what he charges studios. I remember our friend Noel Howard once telling me the shirt I bought from him would have cost the studio more than double what I paid. Part of what they are paying for is the speed of service and the customization they ask for. If you factor those in sounds like Tony's jackets are not a bad deal. We live in a mass market age where things are cheaper because they are made in factories which is what most jackets are these days. The price of the skin is only part of it. Jacket makers like Tony and Peter Botwright as well at Wested are doing custom tailed orders which is quite unusual in our day and age. To me it is very much like a David Morgan whip. If you look at the price of the leather it is nothing compared to what those whips cost. You are paying for the craftsmanship and the experience of the creator.

Now having said all that I have not yet bought a Nowak because of the price but that is not his issue that is mine.
best
Canada

[barry]

I was hoping to divert the conversation to a different thread, and keep this one on-topic

you guys are too intensefor me moveing on

[eazybox]

Whenever I check out the jacket section lately, I am reminded of an old short story called "The Yellow Wallpaper," by Charlotte Perkins-Gilman. But if obsessing over miniscule details that get more and more picayune with each new post is what floats your boat, then more water to you, as long as you can hold on to your wig.

Jack

[Tibor]

It's understandable, though. Of all Indy's gear, the jacket has the most variability; hide, grain, hardware, cut, drape, fit, pockets, collar, pleats, gussets, side straps, lining, inside pocket, zipper, etc. That's an awful lot of stuff to look at.

Maybe the hat is the next most complex, with felt, ribbon, liner, headband, crown, brim, etc.

It's fun to try to identify what makes something more "Indy" than something else. Honestly, a lot of time its the person who's wearing it, but the proportions of the jacket and hat to each person can be adjusted so they come closer to an "Indy look".

Seems like one of the reasons the board is here in the first place... meet, debate, learn stuff, and find what's new and available. I think Tony is frequently the focus as he's what's new and he's brought a lot of new energy into the debates. Doesn't seem like a bad thing really.

[eazybox]

It's understandable, though. Of all Indy's gear, the jacket has the most variability; hide, grain, hardware, cut, drape, fit, pockets, collar, pleats, gussets, side straps, lining, inside pocket, zipper, etc. That's an awful lot of stuff to look at.

Maybe the hat is the next most complex, with felt, ribbon, liner, headband, crown, brim, etc.

It's fun to try to identify what makes something more "Indy" than something else. Honestly, a lot of time its the person who's wearing it, but the proportions of the jacket and hat to each person can be adjusted so they come closer to an "Indy look".

Seems like one of the reasons the board is here in the first place... meet, debate, learn stuff, and find what's new and available. I think Tony is frequently the focus as he's what's new and he's brought a lot of new energy into the debates. Doesn't seem like a bad thing really.

Yes, as long as it can remain fun, but the extreme and repetitive picking over of fine details simply isn't my cup of tea, I guess... it seems rather pointless and the arguments just go around and around in circles-- like the unfortunate lady in the story I mentioned-- and become tiresome after awhile. If all this energy and passion could be directed elsewher, we could probably find a solution to global warming in a week's time. It's just my opinion, though, and I'm certainly not judging anyone; I've engaged in my share of this silliness myself. If it works for you, great! The extreme fringes of the hobby eventually would drive me up my wallpaper, though.

Jack

[RCSignals]

Yes, as long as it can remain fun, but the extreme and repetitive picking over of fine details simply isn't my cup of tea, I guess... it seems rather pointless and the arguments just go around and around in circles-- like the unfortunate lady in the story I mentioned-- and become tiresome after awhile. If all this energy and passion could be directed elsewher, we could probably find a solution to global warming in a week's time. It's just my opinion, though, and I'm certainly not judging anyone; I've engaged in my share of this silliness myself. If it works for you, great! The extreme fringes of the hobby eventually would drive me up my wallpaper, though.

Jack

Yes. It's a jacket. You either like it or you don't. Buy one or don't buy one. It's pretty simple.
There are a few people who just can't seem to stand the TN offering, and constantly pick at something about it, whether it's the leather, the price, some perceived difference in pocket flap shape, or how it came into existence.

Now, what's Global warming? I like warm days.

[eazybox]

Yes, as long as it can remain fun, but the extreme and repetitive picking over of fine details simply isn't my cup of tea, I guess... it seems rather pointless and the arguments just go around and around in circles-- like the unfortunate lady in the story I mentioned-- and become tiresome after awhile. If all this energy and passion could be directed elsewher, we could probably find a solution to global warming in a week's time. It's just my opinion, though, and I'm certainly not judging anyone; I've engaged in my share of this silliness myself. If it works for you, great! The extreme fringes of the hobby eventually would drive me up my wallpaper, though.

Jack

Yes. It's a jacket. You either like it or you don't. Buy one or don't buy one. It's pretty simple.
There are a few people who just can't seem to stand the TN offering, and constantly pick at something about it, whether it's the leather, the price, some perceived difference in pocket flap shape, or how it came into existence.

Now, what's Global warming? I like warm days.

Jack

[Tibor]

I like warm days too, but I'd rather not send Holt into a mini-ice age. He'd never get any wear out of his Wested jackets, except as indoor house-coats.

In all these debates is a constant learning ... you find out who makes what and if it suits your tastes, and how its changed over time. You also learn who's a bit crazy, or itching for a fight. And there are some great senses of humor out there. For instance, every now and again Bink just leaves me chuckling like an idiot with one of his posts. All the personalities gradually come out over time (ok, well sometimes all at once).

Some of the debate is outside my interests too. I'm not really into the TOD jacket, not really the CS either for that matter. But that's not to say that I don't enjoy hearing the current news on what's out there. I wouldn't have thought much about the pockets until reading some of the debates here. Now I've definitely formed opinion about size and proportion. Who knew?

Anyway, good fun.

[Holt]

Great story. thanx for sharing it.

bests
Eric

[Michaelson]

Wow. How do you define a class act? I believe we just read a prime example.

HIGH regards! Michaelson

[Baldwyn]

A few days later Tony calls me and tells me to have your dad meet me at the Denver airport. "Hey Tony, what, why, ......". "Shut up and just do it (click)". So now I have to call my dad and outline briefly what I'm doing and say that Tony wants to meet him at the airport. He says, "well, ok son."

Tony walks up the ramp into the terminal. Sits down and thanks my dad for serving his country and for all he did and that it will be his great honor to make him his jacket. Gives my dad probably his first hug (you just don't give my dad hugs) in over 40 years and again says, "Thank you sir", and then turns around and gets back on a plane and flies back to LA.

My dad calls me and for the first time ever I hear tears in his voice. He says, "I've never personally been thanked for my service to my country. I figured no one appreciated it because of the war and everything."

Now the jackets are cool and everything, but what happened with my dad at the airport is priceless.

That is totally awesome. I collected vintage/recreation patches to make my father a Flying Tigers jacket a few Christmases ago. My grandfather was a WWII general in China, and helped to evacuate Gen. Stillwell's troops and rescue fallen Tigers in the China Burma India theater. That might have been a cool project for Tony!

[Yojimbo Jones]

Wow, man.
This guy amazes me. Great story - I feel like thanking your Dad now, and I'm not even American!

[Tibor]

Great story Neutronbomb. Hats off to Tony, and to your Dad. Every now and again I like to get up to Oshkosh for the big airshow. I've had the pleasure of meeting some awfully fine people who did an awful lot in their lives to make the world better.

[Indiana G]

awesome story NB........tony left me a message that he was going to denver to measure someone up....i thought he was joking....now that message makes sense.

kudos to you and tony for paying respect where it belongs, and long overdue from what you tell me. i respect any person who answers when duty calls.....king and country

[RCSignals]

Thank you for sharing that NB. It doesn't surprise me one bit about Tony.
As an aside to your story, a friend of mine was a Marine who served in Vietnam, three tours. He says Marine pilots like your Dad were the only ones they could depend on to come in when things were hot, do their job whether it was air support or airlift, and not leave them on the ground. When they were in the field it could be any of the air services despatched, and they always prayed it would be a Marine. The same applied to fixed wing ground support.

Yes, thank your Dad for his service, and give him a hug.

[Hatch]

NB, what a great story.......says a lot about about your Dad, TN's love of the ol' USA , and a son's love of a father.....TN never fails to amaze me with his true love of what he does as well as his humbleness and gratitude for his opportunities he's been afforded by immigrating to the US.....he's an amazing guy .....as are all mentioned in your story.....please give your Dad our thanks and tell him we're all waiting to see a picture of his jacket......

[eazybox]

What a wonderful world it would be if only more people followed the examples set by guys like Tony and your Dad.

My community recently endured a series of terrifying arsons that lasted a couple of years. After the recent arrests of six suspects (one of whom was the assistant fire chief) things have "simmered down," although few people believe it's over yet.

I'm normally a trusting person, but it got to the point where every stranger I would encounter looked like a potential suspect. I would wonder what twisted intent might be lurking beneath the friendly smile and the pleasant demeanor.

It is a horrible way to feel, one I was not used to, and the simple truth is that my experience with Tony has helped restore my faith in the innate goodness of most people. When I realize that this came about because I decided to buy a jacket, it simply amazes me.

Jack

[Kevin Anderson]

He really is a great guy.
It's not often you meet someone so talented and yet so humble.
I love my jacket from Tony. It's so nice, I don't think I'll ever need another, but it was a privilege to be a customer!

[Baldwyn]

Your a cool son. I bet your dad was stoked. Any pictures by chance?

Likewise, dude. No pictures! I should ask my dad for some. Probably never would have had the idea without IndyGear, and much help from US Wings. You know, this past Christmas, COW member Azuma sent me a DVD of a documentary about my grandfather from Taiwan that he kept for me!