Club Obi Wan

Hello everyone, Knight Templar delurking here.

Been reading up on Gear after having my latent interest in Indy relit by 2 Wested owners I met last month at an EpIII preview in London the day after the big premiere. I'll call them 'A' & 'E' if they are active members thay can pipe up.

Through our line of work we sometimes, get hold of industry preview tickets, I had been chasing the Sith tickets for months.

I had been working with 'A' & 'E' by email for the last couple of years unaware of their Indy interests. Though I knew 'E' was well versed in genre stuff.

When I met up with them 'E' was wearing what seemed to be some un-remarkable beige kahki shirt and trousers, beige bag and a beat up brown leather jacket. (You see Gear does blend in in the London life!). Something twigged in the back of my brain but I put it aside, after all there was the little matter of the "Last Star Wars" film to concentrate on. Afterwards we stopped off in the Walkabout on Sharftesbury Avenue to chew over all things Jedi. After a pint or 2 we started talking about his gear. 'A' had put his Wested away as not to stand out!

"It's a Wested Raiders." he said.

"Oh, Raiders merchandise? Haven't seen much of that in a while?" I said in blissful ignorance.

"Does it have a Indy logo inside?" I said, a litttle sarkily I must admit.

"No, it's a Wested, made by the same man who made the original."

"And this is a Mk VII with a leather strap I put on myself."

"WOW......."

So, that got me started, I had to know more! I spent the last few weeks digging back through COW and decided to go and see Peter to be measured up. Turns out I live about 30 miles away, about 35 minutes by car.

Fast forward to last Saturday, 31/88 degrees the hottest day in the UK so far this year. I called Peter in the morning to make sure he would be there.

"I'll be in the garden." He said, "Just toot your horn and I'll let you in."

In this hot weather hes decided to work in his garden as shop business on Saturday is understandably slow when it is so hot.

Easy drive, junction 3 on the M25 the ring road around London, he is literally just of the junction coming anticlockwise.

Tiny green, windy, leafy lane, I need to slow down to let another car pass. It does - just.

And then I get there.

There's a big sign, "Wested Leather Co". I park in the little gravel car park, the work/show room/shop to the right, there is a Union Jack flying overhead. Peter's house is behind a little gate and down a path to the left.

I toot the horn. After a minute or two a silver haired man strolls down the path.

"Hello, you must be the famous Peter."

"'Suppose, so." he smiles. "Come on in."

He unlocks the door...






[That's too long a first post. So in the grand tradition of our favourite serials...TBC.]

KT :0

Ah...! No its not finish the story!!!


Welcome to COW!

Welcome, Knight!

Weaver's right ... we want to hear the rest of the story.

Tune in next week.

Welcome aboard, Templar.

I recognize some of that description....

Post again soon enough, will ya?

Regards,
Swindiana

You will not get an official welcome from me as long you don't complete the story

But in case I forget .. welcome!

Hey that's some fun story, we're all waiting for the next part!

KT, welcome to Club Obi Wan. Great story (I wanna hear the rest...pleeeezzeeee)

Always nice to see a new member here, especially one from the UK. (I'm in Bristol, about 120 miles away from you).

Welcome Templar,
It is always interesting to read how people get into Gear. I also like stories on Wested and am amazed at those who can simply drive or take a train there!

Welcome Templar,

Please don't string us along too long. We must hear more.

Cheers!

Dan

Thanks everyone, this seems a fine community! I didn't mean to tease but it was a very long post. And I got out of work late.

Now where was I...

Ah yes, he unlocks the door.....

It's cool inside, I'm hit by a delicious smell of new leather. Peter goes and turns on the lights. It looks just how I expected, racks of coats and jackets to one side, fading into the mild chaos of a true artists workshop on the other, there is all kinds of leather and sheep skin everywhere.

"Raiders jacket." he says. I hadn't mentioned Raiders at all.

"Er, yes. Do you need to measure me."

"I think I have something here that might do the trick."

In the middle rack along the main wall of the showroom there are maybe 15 or so brown jackets, in between loads of other ones of different design. Right from one end he picks one out.

"Authentic lamb LC size 38, should fit fine."

I had measured myself the day before chest is about 41-42 I thought it would be a bit tight.

It fitted like a glove. You have to give kudos to the man his experience shows, he can pick out the right size just by looking at you. The sizing allows for clothing.

I was almost disappointed, where was the month-plus wait? I can't possibly have found what I was looking for just like that! But he is right the lamb is so soft and it feels as if it was made for me.

I try on a Goat and a Cow, both seem a bit heavy and firm after the lamb. Not to say they are wrong, just that the lambskin is so seductive. And I am not going to be doing any heavy adventuring! But for some the goat will be a better choice, it seems to be distinctly stronger and has more "body" to it.

I ask about the difference in the colours, and he shows me the dark brown it is a warmer deeper shade, the authentic has a slightly lighter 'coffee with milk' quality to it but I can see from my recent research that the authentic is right and the drape is right too with the lamb. (See the bit in Raiders where Jack takes off in the sea plane - the jacket is very thin and flaps madly in the wind.) I think in my mind I had envisioned the jacket to look like a dark brown cow jacket does. I even take it out into the sunlight to compare. They are very close. But the authentic Lamb wins.

So, this is the one, I look at myself in the mirror, but there is one thing I want to change. Being very small and this is quite a small jacket the LC collar looks very big, in fact it looks huge.

"Er, would it be a pain to make this smaller?" I ask.

"No problem, I'll whip it off and put a Raiders collar on."

I'm not going to be able to take it away with me today.

"When will it be ready?" I ask envisioning weeks....

"Oh, should be done Tuesday."

"Great, I can't come in 'till Saturday. I'll come back then."

I have a chat with him about COW and how famous he is on the net, he is very modest about everything but does show me some choice items in the shop.

"Recognise this?" It is a EP1 Naboo Guards Tunic.

"and this?" Tom Cruise - Mission Impossible.

"This?" Bond - Die Another Day.

"and this?" Lethal Weapon, with 2 stripes on the sleeve. It is very cool I am tempted to buy it too. But can't make myself splash out nearly £300 for the 2... maybe next time. We talk about a couple of his current projects. He won't be drawn on any Indy 4 questions!

All the jackets are together with the Indys, talk about kid in a sweetshop!

BTW, he doesn't think he did the War of the Worlds jacket if anyone is still wondering.

With that I pay for my jacket and leave until next week.

So, Thursday, I phone but no one answers. I guess it is parcel day and I have phoned about 5. It is also very hot again, maybe Peter has let everyone off early today.

I phone Friday morning, "Yes, he's doing it right now." says Peter, "will be ready tomorrow." Excellent. So Peter was answering the phone too! Maybe Gerry is on holiday.

Saturday, after a couple of errands in the morning I buzz on over to Wested. It is cooler today about 22 and overcast. I get there the lights are on in the shop but the door is locked. A younger man comes down the path. He's Jerry.

After a brief chat he pulls out my jacket. The collar is much better, more in proportion than before. I can't see how they have done it. They must have taken the whole of the old one off. Before it had snaps at the bottom and top of the storm flap now there is only one at the bottom. It looks fine. I may ask for a snap to be put at the top when I go back. (Because I have a sneaky suspicion they haven't seen the last of me!)

I ask about different types of leather which is hardest to work with? Is it goat like I had heard? "No actually it's the cow hide because of the thickness." He shows me a piece of cow hide and folds it over 4 times .

"You see," he says, "in some places there are up to four layers in a seam, that gets quite thick to work with."

I ask if I can see some horse.

"Don't have any, were having some problems getting it."

Whilst we were talking Peter walks in. "I just met one of my youngest Indy fans," He says. He has just driven Indiana down to the station. "and a very knowledgeable one too".

We have another little chat and I get some samples of leather for another little project of mine and am off.

So there's my story. Maybe one of the quickest Wested aquisitions in history though Indiana took his with him first visit!

I am thrilled with my little piece of history, not only is it beautiful, supple and comfortable, but it is as #### near the real thing as it is possible to get. And I have to say an absolute bargain too.

For the record: if this was a return someone must have had fun speccing this jacket, it has tapered sleeves, single piece gussets, and full satin lining. It just must have not fitted him. Well his loss is my gain.

Oh, and thank you Peter and Jerry.

Well, hope to be able to contribute to the board in the future and that you enjoyed my ramblings.

I'd be fascinated to hear how other people discovered Wested. And are there any other gems hidden away out there. Now what if Peter had done Han's jacket from ESB...

KT.

What a wonderful story!
Congrats to your new jacket, Knight!
A "first hand one" - wish, I could visit Peter and the Wested-Gang one day. Seeing all whose jackets ... (But than, if I think about it, it could be quite dangerous for my bank account ).

Very nice story!

Wow, great story!

Thanks for sharing, Templar!

They are all a nice bunch of people at Wested, aren't they?

And for those who haven't visited, why not try the 'Virtual Wested spinn" on THIS site.



Regards,
Swindiana

Great story Templar! It's great when everything falls into place. The right place at the right time with the right jacket. Now onto that old chestnut... We would love to see the pictures. Congratulations on a great find!

Cheers!

Dan

Swindiana wrote:
And for those who haven't visited, why not try the 'Virtual Wested spinn" on THIS site.

Yes, they are very nice and really accomodating. Saw your pics of the summit looks like you lot had bags of fun.

KT

Sorry new to this!

If this has worked here are the pics:

http://public.fotki.com/KtTemplar/westedlbauth/

Bit shiny I know, the folded up one just to show how soft and flexible it is!

Now if it would only get cool enough to wear it. (Never thought I would say that in London!).

KT

Kt Templar wrote:Whilst we were talking Peter walks in. "I just met one of my youngest Indy fans," He says. He has just driven Indiana down to the station. "and a very knowledgeable one too".

Wow! I must have JUST missed you! Shame I didnt hang around a little longer! Seems like they had a pretty busy day! Two jackets within minutes of each other!

Wow! I must have JUST missed you! Shame I didnt hang around a little longer! Seems like they had a pretty busy day! Two jackets within minutes of each other!

Yes we did! So did you go back to Ireland after or did you get to see a bit of England before going home? Peter's is a dangerous place, credit cards can get very hot there, was your dad tempted? A Mission Impossible perhaps?

I was impressed at how you managed to get online to post so soon after having been there on Saturday. I always find it hard to find a computer when I'm away from home. I usually drop off the map even when I go to the States.

Anyway hope you had a good time now to get down to the serious task of wearing in your goat!

KT

Canyon wrote:Always nice to see a new member here, especially one from the UK. (I'm in Bristol, about 120 miles away from you).

Hi back at ya, Im in SW London near to Wimbledon if our friends over the water are looking for landmarks. BTW you know better than to wink at complete strangers, it can get you into loads of trouble.

KT

Kt Templar wrote:

Wow! I must have JUST missed you! Shame I didnt hang around a little longer! Seems like they had a pretty busy day! Two jackets within minutes of each other!

Yes we did! So did you go back to Ireland after or did you get to see a bit of England before going home? Peter's is a dangerous place, credit cards can get very hot there, was your dad tempted? A Mission Impossible perhaps?

I was impressed at how you managed to get online to post so soon after having been there on Saturday. I always find it hard to find a computer when I'm away from home. I usually drop off the map even when I go to the States.

Anyway hope you had a good time now to get down to the serious task of wearing in your goat!

KT

We went back to Dublin for one last night on monday before flying home tuesday. cheaper airfare. my dad was definatly tempted, good thing they dont take Amex! Our hotel had a computer, so that was how I was able to get on so quickly.

Another great creation from wested! Looks good Kt. Summer's almost half over (kind of)....it will be fall before you know it, and we can all get our Wested's out for awhile.

Nice looking jacket Kt Templar! How do you like the underarm gussets?

J_Weaver wrote:Nice looking jacket Kt Templar! How do you like the underarm gussets?

Why, thank you! The jacket is so comfortable it's hard to tell if the gussets do anything! It might stop the "tight armhole" feel some people have talked about. I think they look good, like the action pleats like they meam business.

KT

From another Indy fan and unabashedly huge fan of Douglas Adams (noted your sig), welcome, and thanks for that narrative treat!

Cordially,
Lord Clarence

Thanks glad you enjoyed it.

I was a huge Hitchhikers fan when it first came out and sort of enjoyed the movie, it looked great and set the right tone but so much was lost. You kept wanting to finish the sentences that had been cut and why, oh why loose the most important joke.... Mostly Harmless!

Nice to see Simon Jones and the original Marvin make an appearance too. I used to live one street away from David Dixon and was on nodding terms with him in the street .

Regards,

KT

Sorry to namesdrop! This was in Sheen/Barnes SW London. You kind of end up bumping into a lot of celebrities if you lived round there!

that is a good story,i wish i could get a wested leather raiders but im going to get a cotton one because i live in so cal,and i be burning up wearing a leather jacket.

Tone,
like always your right,the leather would be worth the wait.but when i here that i can buy a $100 custom made cotton jacket from england that sounds like a deal to me.see ya this saturday BTW-did you get in touch with lee to see if he had my size?

Indiana_Tone wrote:I haven't talked to him yet about what he has in stock. I'll tell you, though; after seeing Elodie's HJ, I'm probably going to talk you into one of those instead. Will still bring the Keppler for ya, though. (Probably not the right thread to continue this conversation in.)

your right,lets continue this over in the 'first fedora' post.

Hi folks,

Well I finally got round to getting some photos. For the record this is a 3 week old authentic lamb, I've only been able to wear it a few times cos it's been so warm and have not tried any distressing.










If the Fotoki site come back online you will see between the 2 sets of photos the colour can look dramatically different depending on time of day, the original set were taken in the morning and the second set in the early evening.

Let me know what you think.

Regards,

KT

Great Pics KT! Great story how you got interested too. I know you will really Love it. Keep us posted.
Regards,

Thanks Wrightknife,

I was wondering if anyone had noticed I put up a few pics, it's been a bit quiet around here of late!

KT

Are you still in the "touching-it-everytime-you-walk-past-it-on-the coatstand" phase? I'm weirding myself out here!

KT Templar, great jacket! I think you've chosen the same jacket that I would chose, so I've been following your review with great interest. I hope to get one at Christmas. How do you like the lower yoke? Does that impede your range of motion any? I like the underarm gussets, as well, so it is nice to see how well they fold under when your arms are down. Did you get the inside pocket? I've heard mixed reviews on that option, too, so I'm curious what you chose.

Only one thing shocked me about your story: 31 C/88 F is hot?! Here's our most recent temp posting for today:



And it's only noon!

Jpevh and Indiana_Tone, are you guys having a SoCal mini summit this weekend?!

But yours is DRY heat, MJ. Regards! Michaelson

Yeah it is! Check that humidity!

I did. MAN how I envy you. We're usually sitting at anywhere from 80 to 100% humidity in the Tennessee Valley during the summer. I can take the heat, but factor in humidity, and I turn into a puddle. Regards! Michaelson

Sounds good.

Mojave Jack wrote: How do you like the lower yoke? Does that impede your range of motion any? I like the underarm gussets, as well, so it is nice to see how well they fold under when your arms are down. Did you get the inside pocket? I've heard mixed reviews on that option, too, so I'm curious what you chose.

Only one thing shocked me about your story: 31 C/88 F is hot?!

Hi MojaveJack,

Thanks for your nice comments. Lower yoke? Is it? I hadn't noticed, the thing about the lamb jacket is: it is so supple, so comfortable that you wouldn't believe, just look at the sleeves the leather flows like cream over strawberries. It feels strong but has a little bit of give. Like all good leather it softens as your body heat warms it and actually expands a little. There is no restriction from the line across the shoulders and you do not at any time feel the gussets, they do not bunch up in any way. I think Peter takes out a little leather and then inserts the gusset, you might get 25% more material if that, but I think it gives it a nice bit of extra detailing. I've noticed that people have been commenting about the yoke reching to the seams as this one does.... I think on the smaller jackets, this is marked a 38 but fits me comfortably as a 41/42, are small enough so they have skins that can fit all the way across. (Elodie Jones' jacket does the same).

As for temperatures I feel too warm wearing it for much time from about 70 upwards, it does have a satin lining, a cotton one might be cooler?

For London 75+ feels very warm our buildings are not designed for it and trap heat, most of us do not have airconditioning at home and many do not have it in their workplaces either. London public transport is also way out of date. Temperatures have been recorded to reach 46c/115f+ on the Tube, aircon is on only one of the lines as far as I know.

Of course it's all depends on what you are used to I suspect with a name like Mojave you might like it hot! Tonights low is 18c/64f and many brits will have a hard time sleeping.

Pockets:
The right pocket is the same as the one on the much debated LC jacket thread, it is the original design but it is over-the-top and looks a bit clunky, I would ask for "minimal facings".

On the left I got a mobile/cell pocket, but it doesn't look too good, they made a leathersided cotton faced one and sewed it to the lining rather than cutting one in like a normal pocket, it looks like an add-on, I would have rather it have been just a mini version of the right hand one and again with minimal facings. It does work ok though. Couldn't not do really!

You might also try to got to see an authentic and a dark brown up close and in a variety of lights, the authentic is the real colour but it does take a bit of getting used to, there is something unusual about it I think it is a colour that isn't too common these days. It feels a bit retro and so it should! But you may prefer the dark brown cos it looks more like our minds eye memory of the one on screen.

My advice: order it now, you will want to wear it in lots. With about 4 weeks normal wait you will be at autumn before you know it. Also it is a bargain (don't tell Peter).

Best regards,

Templar

Your jacket looks like it fits asolutely perfectly! I also wear a 42, but a long. I see a lot of posts of people agonizing over measurements, and I share that anxiety! Can I ask your measurements? I am six feet exactly, and about 180 lbs. (what's that, about 13 stones?), but I am working on that I have somewhat lanky arms, and usually wear about a 35" shirt sleeve.

Can I pester you for some pics of the inside pockets? I think your color looks great, too! I'm really jealous that you got to just walk in and try them all on. Well, I've been looking for an excuse to go to England...

Great pics KT. Good looking jacket. Wear it in good health and great adventures.

Cheers!

Dan

Mojave Jack wrote:Your jacket looks like it fits asolutely perfectly! I also wear a 42, but a long. I see a lot of posts of people agonizing over measurements, and I share that anxiety! Can I ask your measurements? I am six feet exactly, and about 180 lbs. (what's that, about 13 stones?), but I am working on that I have somewhat lanky arms, and usually wear about a 35" shirt sleeve.

Oh, I'm teeny-tiny so my sizing won't in any way work for you! Like I said before Peter's experience makes him able to pick out as size that fits if you give him the right measurements. This is an LC with a Raiders Collar. I had the best option go in and see him but I have a suggestion - and Wested are probably gonna kill me for this....

Why don't you take a photo of yourself in an Indy type shirt and trousers straight-on front and back. Mark on it all the sizes you give, drawing on exactly where you have taken each measurement from, so there is no doubt where (and what!) you are measuring. That way they can get a better idea of your body shape. Afterall this is the internet and we have the technology!

But note, make sure the pics you take are small and jpegged down properly we don't want to kill Peter's PC!

Also if by 'lanky' you mean long arms and thin wrists, ask for tapered sleeves. I tried a jacket with normal sleeves and this one with tapered ones, the normal one was too baggy at the wrist. This one fit's nicely to my arms when wearing a shirt.

I'll get some pics of the pockets later, but the cell phone one aint a pretty sight I'm warning ya!

Best regards,

KT

Indiana_Tone wrote: I have since ruined my lamb by adding 15 years to it in distressing and I really do miss that soft sheen it comes with. Ahh, the good old days....oh, and what gun do you have there? Is that the Resin Prop? If so, where from?

Once you turn to the darkside, forever will it control your destiny!

Your jacket looks great, but I want my one to mature naturally! The shinyness is starting to wear off now, I was tempted to lightly use a scotchbrite on it but nah!

The gun is a 'M-19 .357 Magnum S&W 4 inch' replica air spring BB gun licenced from Smith & Wesson and made by a company called Les Trois Pylones. Our gun laws are pretty draconian as most people are aware so no real or de-acs for me. I will search around for a metal replica though. Not accurate but the right maker and similar shape. Now that I am going to distress!

If you are meeting up with Mojave and Jpevh.... my turn PICS!

Regards,

KT

Kt Templar wrote:If you are meeting up with Mojave and Jpevh.... my turn PICS!

Yeah, I'll definately have to bring my digital. I can't let my first meeting with people as craz...uh, passionate as I am go undocumented! And I've never had a Tommy's burger, so it'll be twice as cool.

KT, I'll have to make sure I get down all your specs so when I am ready to order I'll have it at my fingertips. Otherwise I'll be ordering and stumbling along, "The D-rings...No! Wait! The square buckles...Wait...Uh, just a second...I've got it here...somewhere..."

Since you brough that up Jack, which is Raiders accurate, the d rings or the sliders(or buckles, what ever they are)?

Indiana_Tone wrote:(Uh, by the way, the only reason I was able to even consider distressing my current lamb is because I really want another in the Dark Brown.)

LOL I knew it seeing Elodie's dark brown jacket tipped you over the edge, you just needed a good excuse "But I need a undistressed one for going out to restaurants, honey!".

Like I have said before I believe a lot of us in our minds "remember" the movie jacket as darker than the milk chocolate of the authentic and more dark chocolate.

Well, here's food for thought: waaay back it was discussed before the authentic came out and when the original tannery in the UK went bust that the then current leather was actually too thin and smooth and that the goat was "closer" to the original hide used. So my theory is also that the goat might actually be a closer match to the original movie props as it has a bit more "pebbling" to the surface, more grain.

However, since the advent of the authentic there is some anecdotal evidence in the forum that the lamb is now heavier than it was back then too.

When I was in the shop and asked to see lamb and goat side by side Peter actually had to look very closely at, and touch, the jackets saying "These days the lamb and goat are so close even I sometimes have difficulty knowing." before handing me two to look at. Hint to anyone going there.... they put a piece of paper in the outside pocket with the hide and the movie style penciled on it in the shop as a crib sheet!

From my own experience and from handling cut samples the lamb seems to have less stretch to it, the goat a bit more elastic stretchy feel. The surface is different, unlike like the sort of waxlike coat the lamb has that giveways to fibre easily, but a, for sake of a better word, a vinyl like quality seems much harder to get down to the fibres. The dye seems to go all the way through too. I think this is what makes the distressing on goat so difficult.

Sooo, is it dark brown lamb or goat?

KT

I'm leaning towards a dark brown goatskin just so it is completely different to my current one. But like I said "I wanted to wait for an Indy VI!"

J_Weaver wrote:Since you brough that up Jack, which is Raiders accurate, the d rings or the sliders(or buckles, what ever they are)?

According to this site, Raiders had sliders. (That rhymes)

Mojave Jack wrote:Can I pester you for some pics of the inside pockets? I think your color looks great, too! I'm really jealous that you got to just walk in and try them all on. Well, I've been looking for an excuse to go to England...

Hi there,

Here you go,

Cell/Mobile phone pocket :



And the normal lefthand inside pocket:



KT

I see what you mean about the cell phone pocket being an add on. It doesn't look too bad, though! Does Peter have a standard size phone pocket, or will he make them a little smaller if asked? I don't think I'd be able to get my phone out of that pocket without turning the jacket upside down!

That pocket is almost a necessity, these days. I've even started buying my shorts specifically for cell phone pockets so I can wear shirts untucked and not get stabbed in the gut with the antenna. That is, when I'm not carrying my MKVII, of course!

Thanks for posting those, KT! That kind of info helps a lot!

You're welcome!

I don't see that it would be any problem specifying a particular size pocket, I suspect tis one was just made based on wharever phone Peter had to hand, it was probably a full height one rather than a clamshell.

This is a Samsung D500(?) in the pics so it's a pretty small phone!

Remember, you will almost certainly change your phone several times over the life of your jacket And as technology appears and then gets refined the phones get bigger then smaller then bigger etc....

Next time, I will just ask for a half size copy of the existing pocket cut into the jacket with minimal facing.

Now, has anyone had a button hole stitched hidden under the the collar for iPod earphone lead?

Regards,

KT