Nowak Jacket Owners Thread

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 10:09 am

That just shows what a sharp eye you have, Travis!

jnicktem, here's a little update to what I wrote earlier:
At some point today - or tomorrow - I'm hoping to do a little report on first recieving my TNO LC in CS Cowhide and what happened AFTER it arrived...
I'll likely add it to Tundrarider's Thread called "Pecards on a Nowak? (EVEN NEWER PICS!!!)" in the Gear Care & Distressing Section... but I'll definitely mention it back here in this Thread for anyone who's curious to know some details about what happened with my jacket (OR even just for those who want to say "Oh NO! Look what you've done to RUIN your jacket!!!" )

Hope the info might help you (or reassure you that our jackets are more similar than you might think)

On that note:
You asked if I could show you a MACRO shot of the leather (but as I'm sure you're aware I'm maxed-out right now on # of Images/# of Links)... could you show us a shot like that of YOUR CS Leather? (By the way, did you mean you have a LAST CRUSADE Jacket in CS Leather or are you talking specifically about your KotCS JACKET?)

Cheers,
Mitch

tekors · Post by **tekors** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 1:47 pm

Great outfit Mitch...
Beautiful jacket

Digger4Glory · Post by **Digger4Glory** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 2:17 pm

IndyAl wrote:Hi guys, there is some pics of my second Nowak Jacket. Came to my hands on March, some weeks before pass away, Thanks you, Master-mind, Thanks Tony.

I was lucky enough to thank you for the excellent job again. He, happy as always to because he satisfied my request. I'm glad I talked to him several times by phone.

My CS and LC color comparation.

Best Regards from Spain.

Is that a dark cs hide or just regular cs?

IndyAl · Post by **IndyAl** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 10:25 am

Mitch, I love your jacket. It´s the pefect jacket!!

Digger4Glory, LC is dark cowhide. Cs is regular hide, no dark.

Digger4Glory · Post by **Digger4Glory** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 12:29 pm

IndyAl wrote:Mitch, I love your jacket. It´s the pefect jacket!!

Digger4Glory, LC is dark cowhide. Cs is regular hide, no dark.

okay thanks! I have an order in with Riley for a cs and wanted to be sure I'm getting the right hide. So the CS should not be the dark hide then?

IndyAl · Post by **IndyAl** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:08 am

Digger4Glory wrote:
IndyAl wrote:Mitch, I love your jacket. It´s the pefect jacket!!

Digger4Glory, LC is dark cowhide. Cs is regular hide, no dark.
okay thanks! I have an order in with Riley for a cs and wanted to be sure I'm getting the right hide. So the CS should not be the dark hide then?

Hello, when I ordered my CS, Tony selected for me the original leather of the film. And when I spoke him about my new order (Last Crusade Jacket) and I asked him about the best leather for it (cowhide or lambskin), he tells me (with similar words): "Cowhide is perfect for LC. I advise the leather for LC should be the same for CS but more dark. The appearance will be very similar to film jacket".
I know the screen leather for LC is lambskin, but I followed the master´s advice.

Regards from Spain.

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:10 pm

tekors and IndyAl:
I'm slow in responding this time fellas... Sorry!
But Thanks for the compliments... MUCH appreciated!

jnicktem · Post by **jnicktem** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:53 pm

Mitch- I don't doubt for a second that your LC jacket is the dark Crystal Skull leather. I am just REALLY digging that reddish undertone it appears to have... that has always been the "look" I have wanted in an LC jacket.

I have a CS jacket that was made by Tony (a VERY early CS jacket by Tony... probably made right after he started offering them).

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 3:05 pm

Mitch LaRue wrote:I'm hoping to do a little report on first recieving my TNO LC in CS Cowhide and what happened AFTER it arrived...
I'll likely add it to Tundrarider's Thread called "Pecards on a Nowak? (EVEN NEWER PICS!!!)" in the Gear Care & Distressing Section... but I'll definitely mention it back here in this Thread for anyone who's curious to know some details about what happened with my jacket (OR even just for those who want to say "Oh NO! Look what you've done to RUIN your jacket!!!" )

As stated, I've now made a long and exhaustive addition in the "Pecards on a Nowak? (LOOK AGAIN! Pics 2 weeks later!)" Thread in the Gear Care & Distressing Section in case anyone's interested.

(Those who suffer from insomnia are welcome to give it a read!)

CRB · Post by **CRB** » Wed May 25, 2011 4:05 pm

Hi - does anyone know how to order one of these? I see the tonynowak.com site is down now. I missed out on a 42 on Ebay today unfortunately, outbid in the last 30 seconds. Does anyone know the measurements of a standard 42 ?

jnicktem · Post by **jnicktem** » Wed May 25, 2011 7:48 pm

Tony's step-son Riley took over the business. He will be closing his doors soon however he might still be taking orders. Try his e-mail at: nowakpadawan@aol.com

All of his jackets are custom, so really there are no standard sizes.

CRB · Post by **CRB** » Thu May 26, 2011 9:12 am

The one I missed on eBay went for $350! what a bargain. Does anyone know if all 777 of these were made/sent out. Have sent an email to Riley, thanks for the details.

singsingjohnny · Post by **singsingjohnny** » Thu May 26, 2011 2:08 pm

I'm pretty sure there are still spots open from each movie...I just ordered a Last Crusade a little bit ago and got my first choice! When you order, Riley will ask for three different three-digit numbers and he'll check to see if any are available...

CRB · Post by **CRB** » Fri May 27, 2011 1:41 pm

Does Riley normally take ages to reply ? Not heard back in a few days.

Bruce Wayne · Post by **Bruce Wayne** » Fri May 27, 2011 2:53 pm

Nokak on the Left, Wested Novapelle on the Right:

Bruce Wayne · Post by **Bruce Wayne** » Fri May 27, 2011 2:56 pm

CRB · Post by **CRB** » Sat May 28, 2011 7:31 am

Very nice, how does the Wested Novapelle compare with the Nowak ? (in terms of weight, colour, feel, texture, grain etc) ?

Castor Dioscuri · Post by **Castor Dioscuri** » Sun May 29, 2011 7:07 am

CRB wrote:Does Riley normally take ages to reply ? Not heard back in a few days.

Ditto; I'm beginning to wonder if I've made it onto some sort of black-list as I've contacted him twice- once around January and then again two weeks ago about getting some repairs done, but never heard back.

CM · Post by CM » Sun May 29, 2011 6:35 pm

Castor Dioscuri wrote:
CRB wrote:Does Riley normally take ages to reply ? Not heard back in a few days.
Ditto; I'm beginning to wonder if I've made it onto some sort of black-list as I've contacted him twice- once around January and then again two weeks ago about getting some repairs done, but never heard back.

Is't this simply the kind of uneven customer service he is known for?

CM · Post by CM » Sun May 29, 2011 9:44 pm

That sounds scary.

Indydawg · Post by **Indydawg** » Sun May 29, 2011 10:16 pm

Aye, it do!

Castor Dioscuri · Post by **Castor Dioscuri** » Mon May 30, 2011 8:17 am

Perhaps the jackets may not have been what we've built them up to be, but having Tony behind the jackets just made it worth the expense, and with his skills as a salesman and showman, it was like having PT Barnum give you the grand tour! From my own experience as a customer, I guess it's more obvious now more than ever that it's not the jacket that makes the company. This is a shame in any event.

Bruce Wayne · Post by **Bruce Wayne** » Mon May 30, 2011 9:32 pm

About this time last year I had contacted Riley to inquire about replaceing the sleeves on my Nowak Crystal Skull Jacket. I had either mis measured or they had shrunk in length, but I digress. If I recall correctly, it took about three weeks of emailing & leaving messages on his cell phone to get ahold of him to do this. He finally returned my call & I packed up my jacket & sent it off to the west coast. Now I know it would take some time to find some matching leather & I fully understood that & I still am fine with that. He contacted me about two weeks after tracking said it had arrived & he stated he was working on getting some matching leather. I try getting ahold of him again in July to inquire about the process of my jacket. He leaves me a message on my cell phone stating that the price form the repair & shipping with insurance back to me is going to be $150, which was reasonable. I cut him a check & put it in my mailbox the next day along with a note that has all the necessary details (who I am, what the check is for, etc., etc., etc.,) About another three weeks goes by & the check has yet to clear my account. Now I have sent checks to the west coast before & to get there, be cashed & clear my account takes about 7-10 days, so I was a little worried. Somewhere around this time if you called up the number for the shop, you got the "This number has been disconnected or is no longer in service" message, so I was a little worried. Another week goes by & I finally hear from Riley & I need to send antoher check (to be honest I don't recall what had happened to the first check, I just remember Riley said he ripped it up.) The next day I cut another check with another note & I take it to the post office & I have it overnighted. It clears in 4 days. Now he gets started on my jacket. By the time all is said & done If I recall correctly, I recieved my jacket at the end of August, beginning of September. Needless to say when a rip mysteriously appears on my jacet this past Feburary I took it to my tried & true leathersmith. I dropped it off on a Monday & it was done on Thursday.

*The above is from memory, so some things may not add up or will be changed when i remember the events better at a later date.

Thanx!!
Charlie

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:35 am

Did your tried and true leathersmith have to replace any leather, or just make a tidy repair, ala a bullet hole in your sleeve from your last rambunctious truck journey?

Bruce Wayne · Post by **Bruce Wayne** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:12 pm

Tibor wrote:Did your tried and true leathersmith have to replace any leather, or just make a tidy repair, ala a bullet hole in your sleeve from your last rambunctious truck journey?

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:55 pm

Ah, quite nice... the fellow has a career in surgery if he ever wants to give up his day job.

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:40 am

The thing I miss most about Tony's shop was the variety of hides. It was always exciting when someone would report the new hide they were having Tony use and then see the pics. I do think they were very well made jackets and the one Riley made me after we lost Tony was exceptionally good as well.

Honestly though, I haven't heard if the shop is closed for Indy business or not. Maybe they'll continue to make jackets for preferred clients. I haven't been in touch for quite some time. I also haven't seen any new jackets posted recently.

singsingjohnny · Post by **singsingjohnny** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:16 am

Just spoke with Riley last night, my LC jacket is finished and is ready to ship! Ordered it on April 12th. I'll try to take some pics as soon as it arrives...

singsingjohnny · Post by **singsingjohnny** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:53 am

In no way does 'Preferred Customer' describe me...

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:29 am

Ha! Well, me neither. Perhaps there are non-preferred customers. I have no idea. Can't wait to see the new jacket, SSJ!

TheExit148 · Post by **TheExit148** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:38 am

I spoke to Riley as well yesterday regarding my Raiders jacket. The leather he made my new jacket out of was cracking and not so good, so he scraped it, and is getting the new leather shortly to make a new one. He wasn't happy with the leather and didn't want to send out the jacket (this was a week ago). I had asked for a specific lamb type of leather and it wasn't up to TNO standards when it was said and done.

I have that Raiders, and one more jacket he is working on for me; this one is a cotton twill jacket. Said should be completed in the next few weeks.

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:05 am

Very cool... Never occurred to me to have him make a cloth version. Definitely post pics.

TheExit148 · Post by **TheExit148** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:09 am

Tibor wrote:Very cool... Never occurred to me to have him make a cloth version. Definitely post pics.

Its actually not an Indy jacket. In someway I guess it could be Indy related based on "inspirations" for Indy. You'll see when it arrives.

singsingjohnny · Post by **singsingjohnny** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:15 am

Tibor wrote:Ha! Well, me neither. Perhaps there are non-preferred customers. I have no idea. Can't wait to see the new jacket, SSJ!

Yeah, Riley can definitely take a while to get back to you, that's for sure. Ordering a Nowak these days requires some patience, which, for me, when it comes to an Indy jacket, can be a trial...

But he's always come through for me and still delivers a jacket I'm proud to own.

Thanks man, I'll be sure to take some pics!

And good luck with your jackets Exit, I'm glad Riley is being selective on the leather and making sure you get what you want...

jnicktem · Post by **jnicktem** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:38 am

Yeah, Riley just started making my 3rd TNO jacket. If Riley does have a preferred clients list, I have no clue as to how I got on it. If anything I have made his life harder. Although sometimes getting a hold of him can take some time, he has always delivered for me. And the jackets he has delivered to me have been exceptional.

jnicktem · Post by **jnicktem** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 3:14 pm

Wow! I just got a jacket from Riley in the mail! I didn't even know he finished it (as I think about it, I haven't even paid for it yet!). He NAILED the specs! I don't even know which jacket is my favourite now, the Raiders he made me or this one!

jnicktem · Post by **jnicktem** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 3:18 pm

...just building the suspense!

jnicktem · Post by **jnicktem** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 3:40 pm

Okay here it is! I was only able to take one picture (it's tough getting a decent picture of yourself with bad lighting and no tripod to hold the camera).

It's a Surrogates jacket in the 747 Leather:

whipcracker · Post by **whipcracker** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 3:48 pm

Ooooo...NICE!

I think we need a back shot too. I always thought it would be cool to put Raiders pockets on the Surrogates jacket. Maybe I'm weird...

You know I was reading back through this thread and man it made me miss Tony. I never had the honor to talk him but still you can just feel his personality jumping out of the posts and stories of fellow cowers. I bet he has St Peter in jacket already. Imagine a Raiders in celestial white goat...

kwad · Post by **kwad** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 3:52 pm

Nice jacket Nick!!

jnicktem · Post by **jnicktem** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 4:09 pm

Thanks guys! I managed to take a pic of the back.

SpeedRcrX · Post by **SpeedRcrX** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 4:22 pm

Nice Nick, congratulations!!!

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 5:17 pm

VERY nice, Nick... and I'm really glad you like it.
I love that 747 Leather (though I'll admit that I've always thought it deserved a better, more distinctive name... like "Chocolate Bovine Supreme" or... well... something else... )

jnicktem · Post by **jnicktem** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 5:19 pm

Thanks again guys!

SpeedRcrX- it was your Surrogates jacket that really made me want for myself! So I have you to thank.... or blame!

Mitch- I know just what you mean, although your suggestion kind of sounds like a unique dessert.

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 5:31 pm

Yeah, I wrote that on an empty stomach... But in all fairness that leather does look delicious!

How about this:
"I love that new Surrogates Jacket Nick! And WOW, that hide is beautiful... it has so much great texture and character! But hey, what's that great leather called?"
"Oh this is a leather they use at the TNO shop that that they call the 'The Sir Loin of Beef'"

No?
Still too "foody"?

Well... how about just "The Kick-Butt Cow"?

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:18 pm

jnicktem wrote:Thanks guys! I managed to take a pic of the back.

Man does that look great! The fit, drape in back. Absolutely fantastic. That thing just screams vintage to me, it's such a great design. It's very much like the jackets Hollywood showed on gangster toughs in Bogart movies. Love it. Congrats on a well chosen and executed jacket!

CM · Post by CM » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:29 pm

jnicktem wrote:Okay here it is! I was only able to take one picture (it's tough getting a decent picture of yourself with bad lighting and no tripod to hold the camera).

It's a Surrogates jacket in the 747 Leather:

That is a lovely object, my friend. Could you please weight it and tell me what it weighs? What size is it?

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:41 pm

Bet it's the equivalent of about a 43L, about 4 lbs.

(am I close?)

jnicktem · Post by **jnicktem** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 12:34 am

You're pretty close. I normally wear a 42L, I will try to see if I can get the exact measurements from Riley to post.

And it comes pretty close to 5 pounds. But I have a pretty thick lining (it can get cold in Mini-Soda).

Indyzane · Post by **Indyzane** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 1:01 am

Lookin' good nick! As you know Riley is a amazing person to carry on Tony's work! Love the jacket, Thanks for sharing!