Kt Templar wrote:Very nice looking jacket. The sturdiness of the horsehide shines through.
Could you do a straight on shot with your arms relaxed at your sides to help gauge the sleeves?
Horsehide is the best jacket leather hands down. I really was a fan of goat (and that is also a fine hide to use) but once you have a Horse jacket, you really don't want much else.
The 'drape' is obviously not the same, but this leather 'out of the bag' is quite supple, and only gets better with age. When this is naturally looking like Ford's jacket, it will drape the same way too. Note the 'wavy' zipper everyone wants. The stifer horsehide provides this look- no extra charge!
I will see about a straight on shot of the front and back today. No promises! I have to get my hair cut and other stuff before I get home tonight...
No problem. Thanks for the info. I was wondering if the USPS would make the delivery for Parcel Force in the United States. There is probably something in the forums here. I'll take a peek.
indy1936 wrote:No problem. Thanks for the info. I was wondering if the USPS would make the delivery for Parcel Force in the United States. There is probably something in the forums here. I'll take a peek.
Yep, USPS delivered all of the packages I got from parcelforce.
And J!M, glad you finally got the jacket! Looks like a winner!
I spent some time last night with the sleeves, and I think they will do for now.
I unfolded the seam as peter instructed, and then folded it back so the end matched up with the old fold line. This makes them about 1/2 inch longer, and the line is 'camoflaged' by the underlying leather. On my Schott you can see a line in the sam eplace where the hem is, so I just made it look the same.
I used a hot steam iron to re-set the glue, which seems to have worked for the most part. I would not suggest using a steam iron on lambskin...
The rest of the jacket it breaking in nicely. The collar is already laying properly, with little coaxing. The pockets look 'too good' as they are perfectly flat and formed. Time will tell if they start to look more natural...
Glad the sleeves worked out. I tried the iron trick on my 4 year old jacket. But it just didn't turn out. There was a line of distressed leather and a crease. I think the jacket was a bit too old/worn.
On a side note maybe you could help with this one. .. I provided my neck to shoulder measurement to Wested when ordering. It came to 7". I am a 46 long so this matches the standard specs chart on the website. When Wested cuts the jacket, is the actual shoulder on the jacket 7" - or do they cut a bit extra for room? I'm worried the jacket won't hang off the shoulder like in the film. My previous jacket is 7.5" which is pretty good.
well, I'll say two things (maybe more actually...)
First, if you have a jacket that fits well, always use dimensions from that jacket in your order form, especially if it is a Wested. Photos showing excatly HOW you measured it would be a real help, but try not to overwhelm him with info if you can.
Second point- Call him! He is not in on Mondays, so don't bother calling then, but around 10:30 AM eastern time seems like a good time to catch him in the shop. Note that this is the holiday time, and he will be swamped until next year.
As to the sleeves, they came out OK but I have a couple problems. Some of the seams are a bit 'sharp' and I had to re-iron them last night.
Also, the edge of the leather inside catches on my watch, which is annoying... I may get new sleeves anyway now, just because of that.
The old indyjacket.co.uk page is back up today as well as the ekm site. I noticed the measurements that are required for a custom order vary slightly between the two order forms. Does it matter if your height is not provided? The new order form does not say this is needed. I imagine as long as the jacket size eg: 42L, sleeve, back length are there it isn't required as these are the only measurements requested.
;-) 
I'm worried the jacket won't hang off the shoulder like in the film. My previous jacket is 7.5" which is pretty good. 