Club Obi Wan

Was thinking of looking into one finally for Xmas this year, but in doing so, I discovered the news about Tony.


Is his stuff completely off the market now? I gathered that some people are getting stuff made by a colleague of his? Is there some other vendor out there these days who could offer the same quality of jacket? I'm looking for something that looks great (and authentic), but which is also more durable than my Wested has turned out to be.

Riley is Tony's step son, and is still taking orders, last we heard.

Regards! Michaelson

Oh! Well, that's great. I have no idea where to find them, though. When I search for the old website, all I get are news reports and people saying "Check out my jacket!" on these crazy message boards.

Don't worry. One of our TN 'faithful' will chime in as soon as they find this thread to give you the correct contact information. I guarantee!

Regards! Michaelson

I guess I am the TN "faithful" then!

Here is Riley's e-mail... you can contact him to order or to talk about jackets:

nowakpadawan@aol.com

Yep! That was meant as a compliment, by the way.

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:Riley is Tony's step son, and is still taking orders, last we heard.

Regards! Michaelson

Quite correct, as I just paid Riley today for a jacket he will begin this week!

Prices have gone up, up, up, since the days of old (2008), so watch out.

If you are looking at a Raiders jacket, the US Wings Legend jacket in lamb may work for you. Check out the other threads, if interested.

Since we are giving our opinions. I'll give mine. His prices didn't go way up up up. They did go up but not by that much. If you want the high quality of a custome made jacket no one else comes close to a Nowak.

yes it does, Magnoli

BendingOak wrote:His prices didn't go way up up up. They did go up but not by that much.

Maybe not for his non-CS jackets, but the CS went up from, what, $675 to over $1,000? So I guess its comes down to what your definition of "much" is.

So, what're we talking these days for a Raiders style goatskin?

I know it's over $1200 for a raiders in striated lamb. Goat should be less

Didn't Tony figure out that there was a stash of lamb or goat or something that was particularly durable, and which he hadn't tried before...or something? Or is that the striated lamb?

I allways understood, if someone is looking for the most SA patterns (CS or Raiders style), the closest you can get is TN.
Price factor aside.

I don't own a TN jacket (can't afford it), so, If I'm not correct, pls let me know.
High regards.-

It was my understanding that a jacket in CS leather is $950, at least that is what I was quoted.

and just to toss this in here... Todd's Raiders jackets is one of the most SA jackets out there and has been way before TN came along. Of course the MOST SA will be a TN due it is copied form a screen used one.. but Todd' jacket aint far of from a TN IMO. His jacket is also based on one of the original jackets.

Indiana Holt wrote:and just to toss this in here... Todd's Raiders jackets is one of the most SA jackets out there and has been way before TN came along. Of course the MOST SA will be a TN due it is copied form a screen used one.. but Todd' jacket aint far of from a TN IMO. His jacket is also based on one of the original jackets.

I'm sorry, I didn't know Todd's jacket was based on an original jacket, I remember reading on some thread that Coyle said "the jacket was all his pattern".
So I based my opinion on that.

Thanks for clarification.

yes, some parts of the jacket is based on an original stunt jacket(?) but most of it is based on his hard work.

SA= screen accurate. TN copied a SCREEN-USED jacket. That's where I go for SA.

Stunt accurate=StA

HWJJ

Well, technically the stunt jackets could also be considered 'screen used' as well.

The TN was supposed to be a screen used hero jacket......

So how about ShJ and StA.

Man, we're getting more like the military with all our anachronyms.

Regards! Michaelson

I was making a joke....

Do you think the stunt jackets made us fans? I don't think so... jmo

Are you kidding? Maybe the stunt JACKETS didn't make us fans of Indy...but I sure wasn't paying any attention at ALL to the jacket when I was watching him whip across pits, climb up Egyptian statues, and get drug behind Nazi trucks...

Probably not what you meant, but the STUNTS were a HUGE part of what made ME a fan...

Then again, it wasn't Ford doing much of that stuff, either...so, by that rationale, if Ford IS Indy, then the stunts weren't "really" Indy either....

Odd how that logic works out, huh?

I just don't think you can call the Hero jackets the "only REAL" Indy jackets....

But that's just my opinion...I could be wrong
Regards!
Indydawg

BINGO!

HWaltonJonesJr.Phd wrote:I was making a joke....

Do you think the stunt jackets made us fans? I don't think so... jmo

So was I!

As to your question, actually, yes, I do. Some of our very first jackets we ever obtained were based on the stunt jackets, so yes, I honestly think they DID create a lot of fans 'back in the day'.

Regards! Michaelson

Ok, thanks for the clarifications!

So, regarding the RAIDERS style, if can put the info as simple as possible:

TONY NOWAK ORIGINAL ---> based on a HERO screen-used Raiders jacket, wear it by Mr Ford during filming.

TODD'S COYLE ---> based on a STUNT screen-used Raiders jacket wear it by stunts, AND Mr. Coyle's tweaks of the patterns.

[quoteTODD'S COYLE ---> based on a STUNT screen-used Raiders jacket, wear it by stunts, AND Mr. Coyle's tweaks of the patterns.][/quote]

Well...yes, but also tweaked by Todd through careful study of the film to make it more "Hero" screen accurate...

Unlike the Expedition which is also based on one of the stunt jackets, but with slight changes made to make it more "real-world" applicable...


Indydawg

And what about the US Wings legend...? It looks at first glance to be quite similar to the TN raiders? The pockets look to be the same sort of size.... more of a question than an answer I know but to me it looks SA

djd wrote:And what about the US Wings legend...? It looks at first glance to be quite similar to the TN raiders? The pockets look to be the same sort of size.... more of a question than an answer I know but to me it looks SA

The US Wings legend is based on Cooper early patterns.

But how SA does that make it do you think? Is there anything glaring wrong with it?

djd wrote:But how SA does that make it do you think? Is there anything glaring wrong with it?

Cooper made Indy jackets for sale on early 80's, factory jackets.
You could buy them on Wallmart, or even Disney theme parks.
His own patterns. Nothing to do with the movie jackets.
"Similar" pattern to an Indy jacket...not the same.

yes, early disney jackets you can.

not the new legend Raiders jacket. go to US wings and check'em out.

http://www.uswings.com/

clik on the Indy jacket banner with my face on it.

I'm sorry, are you kidding. No one here wanted the jacket based off a stunt jacket. you can't even see the jacket. I'm throwing the BS flag on that one.I wanted the hat, jacket, whip, etc. based on what I saw Ford wearing.

Indiego Jones wrote:Cooper made Indy jackets for sale on early 80's, factory jackets.
You could buy them on Wallmart, or even Disney theme parks.
His own patterns. Nothing to do with the movie jackets.
"Similar" pattern to an Indy jacket...not the same.

Indiana Holt wrote:yes, early disney jackets you can.

not the new legend Raiders jacket. go to US wings and check'em out.

http://www.uswings.com/

clik on the Indy jacket banner with my face on it.

Yes, early 80's Disney jackets I meant.
I saw the legend jacket, I know that jacket.
I was really excited about the project, right from the begining. Everyone can see my posts on the "label thread".
Regards.-

So, back on point here...

I gather the TN leather comparison thread is no longer up-to-date. Is there a more recent comparison thread? I mean, aside from perusing through the 20+ pages of the TN owners thread. I recognize that price will depend on style and materials.

I should also say that I'm not an absolute stickler for perfect screen accuracy. I'd rather have the same overall look, but tailored to my build, ya know? I prefer a Raiders style (at least, last I checked I do...I'll have to look at comparisons, I suppose), and I'm kind of up in the air on material.

As I said, I currently have a Wested Raiders style jacket in lambskin from around 2001. It's got the satin interior, which is COMPLETELY shot at this point. I've been disappointed in how the Wested aged, given how fragile the lambskin seemed. It's a nice jacket, don't get me wrong, but the leather has, for example, completely worn through at some points on the cuffs, and the leather actually tore a bit right at the base of the pockets where the cinches are. So, I'm looking to upgrade.

Given the reputation TN jackets have acquired on this board, I figured I'd check 'em out. But, of course, now comes the issue of figuring out which leather to go with, and what more detailed options to worry about. I expect I'll be perfectly happy if I say "Gimme a Raiders style jacket to these measurements in [leather type]." But it's the "leather type" issue that I'm stuck on at the moment. Well, that plus pricing. But for the moment, I'm trying to get a better sense of the different styles of leather currently being offered and their pros and cons.

From the threads I've seen, I like the look of the goatskin, but I'm also curious about 747 cowhide, and the shrunken lamb option, specifically with respect to drape vs. durability. This is also my one (well aside from the Wested) leather jacket, which I wear throughout fall and winter (and sometimes in spring), so it's gotta be something reasonably durable (certainly more so than the lambskin Wested I have).

Solo4114 wrote: It's a nice jacket, don't get me wrong, but the leather has, for example, completely worn through at some points on the cuffs, and the leather actually tore a bit right at the base of the pockets where the cinches are. So, I'm looking to upgrade.

.

well, lambskin is lambskin. if you get a TN, Magnoli or a US wings. the cuffs will allways age faster and may get holes in them over time. why? because they are bare cuffs and will alot faster then with extra seams.etc around them. this could happen to a cowhide aswell.

Speaking of screen used, etc., the G&B is a copy of a Raiders stunt jacket. No doubt, one of the three stunt jackets of the third LC order that were exact copies of the Hero jacket. It is practically the same jacket as the Flying Wing and Raven Bar jacket, note the size and shape of the collar and the striations on the upper right chest. Trace the lineage back and you can easily discern the truth. The People Magazine image, July of '81 comes to mind. Considering the quality and durability of the G&B reproduction, faithfulness to the original, etc., $500 is a value in today's market.

At $150, Todd's standard is a very faithful likeness, and it is still a quality, viable option in the forum today.

Texan Scott wrote:It was my understanding that a jacket in CS leather is $950, at least that is what I was quoted.

correctamundo! That is what I paid yesterday.

Digger4Glory wrote:

Texan Scott wrote:It was my understanding that a jacket in CS leather is $950, at least that is what I was quoted.

correctamundo! That is what I paid yesterday.

and thats what I paid for my Raiders 747. I think some are blowing the price increase out of whack for some reason.

Some hides do increase the price, it just depends on which leather you choose.

well, since TN died the price has gone up an if you ask me it has gone way to much up.

I would love a TN but they day I get one it will be thru the cairo bazaar for a more decent price.

IMO leather aint worth 1200+ dollars

If a prospective buyer is looking for a viable alternative, ie less expensive, I'd point him in this direction: G&B, Magnoli or Todd's Custom. Each of these are in the $500 price range.

Each will have to make his own subjective decision as to what he wants, price, etc.

Indiana Holt wrote:well, since TN died the price has gone up an if you ask me it has gone way to much up.

I would love a TN but they day I get one it will be thru the cairo bazaar for a more decent price.

IMO leather aint worth 1200+ dollars

you guys need to get out more often.

not all of the jackets are 1200. I only think one is close to that. Did you not see the 950 jacket quoted here?

you should see the prices my wife pays for designer jackets. Nowaks are a bargain compared.

besides all that I rather pay the higher price and get that level of jacket than have a couple that came close.

I'm pretty sure that the only jacket from TNO originals that cost $1200 is the stirated lamb Raiders jacket, most other leathers is around the $950 mark. Again best person to talk to is Riley regarding this to confirm.

Even when I was speaking with Tony on ordering a Surrogates jacket, TONY QUOTED ME AT $950 for the jacket, and that is what Riley charged me for the jacket. Tony told me as well before he passed the stirated lamb jacket cost more then the regular shrunken lamb Raiders jacket. Talk to Riley, see what different leathers cost, thats the only way you will know for sure. You are getting a quality, custom made jacket to order, made in the USA not offshore somewhere as well. That is a nice part of the jacket.

Personally, I really don't see much of a price increase at all since Riley took over. If customers want to spend the money, then all the power to them. Its their money and thats how they want to spend it.

That's right. Weigh it in the balance and then proceed accordingly. There are some pretty good deals out there, though, and if I can help a prospecive buyer make a good choices then all the better.

I have no issue with the price of the TN jackets other than I can't afford one! I love my magnoli but to me the next best SA raiders jacket I've seen is the wings in SL. Obviously I've only seen it in pictures at the moment

BendingOak wrote:I'm sorry, are you kidding. No one here wanted the jacket based off a stunt jacket. you can't even see the jacket. I'm throwing the BS flag on that one.I wanted the hat, jacket, whip, etc. based on what I saw Ford wearing.

John, back in the 90's all we HAD was access to the stunt design based jackets, and THAT'S what everyone wanted. That's why I said 'back in the day'. Throw the 'BS' flag all you want. That's just the way it was, and what drew fans to the hobby. All you have to do is look at the leap of order numbers that Wested received after 1996 when he was 'discovered' by the world wide web.

After, say, 1992 when other vendors went online, THEN the rules changed, and you're absolutely right....but that said, Ford wore a lot of stunt jackets too, and many wanted THOSE jackets as well. What drew you to the hobby may not be necessarily what drew someone else.

Regards! Michaelson

Whatever saw screen time on his back could techincally be a 'hero' jacket. May have been most of the movie, or a few moments, but still, it is technically one of the 'hero' jackets.

To me there is wisdom is in providing people with viable choices, then let them decide what they want? Some really want the 'high end' while others cannot afford it and look for great alternatives.

I rather pay the higher price and get that level of jacket than have a couple that came close.

That's good, John...good for you. It's a matter of your OPINION, though, that "nothing but a Nowak comes close." My Expo looks the part PERFECTLY well, to me!

If it is, indeed, ANYONE'S opinion that "If it ain't a Nowak, it ain't REALLY Indy," well...then I'll have to paraphrase Emily Dickinson.....

"The [jacket lover] selects his own society."

Later!
Indydawg

I agree with you, Tex, but others opinions are definitely all over radar with that.

Regards! Michaelson