Club Obi Wan

alphared6 wrote:~~~~~~~~~~~~MY DECISION~~~~~~~~~~~~

First I want to thank everyone who responded here. Your input was
invaluable!
Considering that what I require and what I desire are two different but parallel tracks I have decided on ............
..............drum roll please ......................
the USW GOAT HIDE.
A durable leather jacket that can take it and provide me some degree of protection beyond a field jacket and still is close enough to an Indy jacket to please my delicate sensibilities!
I ordered it today. The VERY helpful woman at USW (who went out of her way to get me answers to all my questions) tells me that I should have it by the end of the week. I'll post pictures.
AGAIN ... thank you everyone, you greatly aided me in making an informed decision!

Congratulations, and I'm sure you won't be disappointed! Be sure to update us with those requisite pictures once it arrives!

Oh, and I look forward to seeing your sequel thread: "The Second Indy Jacket I'lll Own?"

Castor Dioscuri wrote:Oh, and I look forward to seeing your sequel thread: "The Second Indy Jacket I'll Own?"

I really did "laugh out loud" when I read that! No, this is gonna be it. Over the years I've owned 4 Indiana Jones jackets. I've sold the most recent two (As I was decidedly unhappy with them!) and ordered this, the fifth in the line.
The first one I will keep forever even though it does not fit. It was a gift to me from Mr. Ford.

The first one I will keep forever even though it does not fit. It was a gift to me from Mr. Ford.

Tell us more....

coronado3 wrote:

The first one I will keep forever even though it does not fit. It was a gift to me from Mr. Ford.

Tell us more....

I regretted making that comment the instant I sent it. I'll tell the story though I recognize this is a tough house wherein which to tell it.

Some years ago, long after ROTLA but well before LC or even Saving Private Ryan (I'll connect the two) I was called directly on the phone by Mr. Ford, he wanted to talk to the curator of the 45th Div Museum ... me. Seems he'd was considering a roll in a film centered around a sergeant in the 45th Infantry Division during WWII. (This project latter became SPR I was told later)
He was at his home in Wyoming (or is it Montana?) we spoke about the subject in great detail for some time. Before we parted I asked him about the jacket he wore in the movie as Indiana Jones as I was of the opinion that it was a pre WWII G-8 Navy aviators jacket and was engaged in an argument with a fellow I know. He was quite candid in his response.
He told me he had no idea. That it was just the costume he had to wear for the film. He went on to explain that there was a rack of these jackets on site with what he thought was up to 20 jackets, just in case he ruined one. His stunt men had special jackets as well. There were also a large number of hats, shirts, and trousers on set for the same reason. The jacket he had on when he was running from the natives at the top of Raiders was not leather but some cloth material.
Mr. ford asked me if I could recommend some books he could read about the history of the 45th in WWII. I told him yes, a vast number of books.
He provided me an address to Paramount Studios upon my request where I told him I would mail him a list. What I did was to gather up all the books we sell out of our gift shop, package them up and I mailed the package to the address he provided and to his attention. About three or four months latter I signed for a package sent to me from Paramount Studios. Inside was this leather jacket and a note from a woman stating that Mr. Ford thanked me for the books and sent this jacket in appreciation.
Neat, eh?
Well... I don't know where this jacket originated but it was by no means screen worn because it was brand new when I got it. I did notice, as it was glaring, that the manufacturers label had been removed from the back of the collar. It never did fit me but it swallows my wife who has worn it every winter since then.
Well, there it is. Please don't inundate me with mountains of questions about it. Remember, it's possible that he had his people just buy one from some vendor and sent it to me. Who knows?????
I found Mr. Ford an amiable, pleasant fellow and easy to talk too. A very nice guy. We have not spoken since. No doubt the conversation was unremarkable to him, but very memorable to me.

Great Story. No questions from me.

WOW!!!!
I am envious

Yeah me too, that is a precious jacket !!

#

That's a great story!

This is deserving of it's own thread though... and photos... lot's of photos!! That jacket could prove to be an invaluable "archive" resource!!!

Yeah, me too.

I'd like to wear that jacket as well.

I will post some front and rear pictures tonight. In response to that PM, as I recall it is lined in a brushed brownish cotton.

So, it is an Indy style jacket that he sent you.. had the correct design, not an A2 or anything, right, wasn't a vintage jacket either? I know you didn't want alot of questions, but...I wanted to get that cleared up. Amazing story either way.

Doug C

Here are links to some pictures. I hope they answer you're questions.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p313 ... 0_1490.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p313 ... 0_1491.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p313 ... 0_1492.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p313 ... 0_1493.jpg

The colors are not "true" in these pix. The color is close to seal skin brown and the lining is a dark brown cotton.

that actually looks like the archive LC jacket...

hmm?... interesting

bests
Holt

Definitely an LC as it has snaps on the storm flap. Leather facings too.

That rules out G&B.

Might be a Wested before they eliminated the facing. Kind of looks like their lining.

Interesting.

Regards! Michaelson

I might add it is a very heavy jacket. Thick leather. Heavier than my A-2. I am almost positive I got it before LC but after ToD as I know I saw ToD at my kasserene in Germany.

Looks like a Wings/Cooper jacket to me. No stitching on the bottom edge of the jacket, and the pockets look just like mine.

Great story! Thank you!

Weston

yes the pockets are very US Wings.but the original LC jacket also has no hem seam at the bottom of the jacket....

bests
Holt

I like the part about the cloth jacket Ford was wearing when running from the Hovitos. That's probably how they got all that dust to fly from it.

Cool.

SD

That's a sweet jacket - I hope you kept the note from the production office that came with it.

What a great experience, and good pics too.

It has reversed straps... so Wings?

ohh yeah..didnt catch that..yes pretty sure it is wings..

also the pockets like I said above are very wings style

Holt

Looks like a Cooper (maybe Wings) cowhide to me.. the straps are on backwards like those, that's the main thing, then the lack of a bottom seam and pockets too.

Thanks for the pictures!

Yea, what do you guys think about the cloth jacket comment in the Hovitoes sceen?

Doug C

Great story. I have a friend who has some contact with Mr. Ford through his flying and can verify he's a great guy when it comes to "everyday" stuff - especially his love of aircraft - and is a genuine gentleman. My friend also has contact with some other big name actors (again because of aviation) and has much different opinions about them!

But it means a lot that he remembered your interest in the jacket and had one sent to you! Very nice!

Doug C wrote: Yea, what do you guys think about the cloth jacket comment in the Hovitoes sceen?

Doug C

Sounds like a good reason to watch Raiders again!

Weston

I wonder if hi-res screen cap will confirm, probably not he's pretty far away from the camera. The material sure moved like cloth but then again my pre-washed lambskin behaves the same.

Doug C

That jacket looks a great deal like my old Cooper fan club jacket. Just some minor differences that could be easily explained based on when it was put together. So, I'm in agreement with the Cooper/Wings camp. A good jacket made all the better by it's history.

Indiana Holt wrote:yes the pockets are very US Wings.but the original LC jacket also has no hem seam at the bottom of the jacket....

bests
Holt

Is that not the archive jacket which was made by Flightsuits you're referring to? Also had double seam on sholders, that one. Also had press studs like this one. The inspiration for the LC jacket. Could this one here be an original Keppler made by Flightsuits? That shoulder stitching must mean something. And look at that pocket placement - how high they are. Interesting lining material too. It looks like goat.

What do you think, Holt?

great story alphared, thanks for sharing!

Also appears to have satin lining in the sleeves. Add up all the features and what do you get?

alphared6 wrote:

coronado3 wrote:

The first one I will keep forever even though it does not fit. It was a gift to me from Mr. Ford.

Tell us more....

The jacket he had on when he was running from the natives at the top of Raiders was not leather but some cloth material.

That's pretty groundbreaking (in an Indygear sort of way) stuff! I just find it so ironic, because this basically undermines alot of gearheads' (experts and newcomers alike) expectations that lambskin is the ONLY way to go when it comes to their own gear and gear used in future Indy movies, using that Hovitos chase scene as their prime reason why!

The loop for the coat hanger, the side straps, the pocket flaps, the leather facings all look very USW to me. The leather looks very much like Cow as well. Doesn't mean it actually IS a USW though...

It looks the same as most of the post LC era disney/ cooper jackets. Especially the way the collar and collar stand look... that would explain the covered snaps.

C3

Wow, great story and great jacket! If that was me, I'd have the jacket and letter framed.

Michaelson wrote:Definitely an LC as it has snaps on the storm flap. Leather facings too.

Regards! Michaelson

But alphared said that the phone call was "well before LC"...

Yes, but that could mean that there was an indy jacket somewhere being offered (possibly at wested) prior to to LC that became the LC jacket.

-KB

If he still have the letter we can find the date.

coronado3 wrote:It looks the same as most of the post LC era disney/ cooper jackets. Especially the way the collar and collar stand look... that would explain the covered snaps.

C3

Yep. My first reaction to the jacket was that it looks identical in every detail to my dearly departed Disney jacket which I purchased in Florida in 1990'ish.

That is indeed a Cooper. Looks identical to the one I had.

I tried clicking on your photos and it appears they are gone? Wish I found this thread earlier...

Here is the front on the jacket.

...pockets, lining, leather - everything is there in the Cooper/Disney jacket except the licensing tags.

Awesome jacket with an awesome story.

Well, I'm kind of late to the "party" but here's my 2 cents......out of the 14 Indy jackets I've owned at one time or another, my favorite (if I were to have only 1) would be Wested's Novapelle..........it's that good.....custom fit, awesome color, nice details, great price, and built extremely well. A close second would be my TN.

Well, once again, considering the fact he's already stated he is only able to afford to invest $300 in the jacket, which of the two that you propose fills THAT bill?

Regards! Michaelson

Not to take this thread in too many directions but here's shot of Indy running from the Hovitos (about the closest I think from memory).

http://www.theraider.net/showimage.php? ... ts/063.jpg

As previously stated I have already taken a decision. The jacket is ordered and I should get it early next week. Pictures to follow.

alphared6 wrote:~~~~~~~~~~~~MY DECISION~~~~~~~~~~~~

First I want to thank everyone who responded here. Your input was
invaluable!
Considering that what I require and what I desire are two different but parallel tracks I have decided on ............
..............drum roll please ......................
the USW GOAT HIDE.
A durable leather jacket that can take it and provide me some degree of protection beyond a field jacket and still is close enough to an Indy jacket to please my delicate sensibilities!
I ordered it today. The VERY helpful woman at USW (who went out of her way to get me answers to all my questions) tells me that I should have it by the end of the week. I'll post pictures.
AGAIN ... thank you everyone, you greatly aided me in making an informed decision!

When you magnify that hovitoe picture, you see a sheen on it that is very much like most leather jackets.

Doug C

Tell us more....

The jacket he had on when he was running from the natives at the top of Raiders was not leather but some cloth material.

...it sort of makes sense, since he was about to go into the water.

That still could have been leather, but the next frame when he actually falls off the vine into the water could have been the cloth jacket, its hard to tell because its heavily shaded, and then there's the shot when he's in the water climbing into the plane which was probably also the cloth jacket.

I wonder if Ford was remembering this whole detail correctly? Personally, it looks too much like leather for me to accept - then again it's the movies... just seems like a lot of work when a lambskin would have done the same thing and a cloth jacket has never been mentioned in the lineup before.

Doug C