Re: About the LC leather

Posted by Patterson from gw.wizards.com on October 15, 1999 at 09:33:37:

In Reply to: Re: About the LC leather posted by Abner on October 14, 1999 at 20:15:05:

: : : It's always enjoyable to talk with Peter Botwright from time to time and when I do, I like to ask about the history of that famous jacket. I just talked to him this morning and have some interesting bits of info to share that may clarify some old mysteries but bring up new ones...

: : : I asked about the nickel/aluminum zippers. He said they were used because that's all that was available at the time. The costume dept. actually wanted antique brass and they even painted some of the zippers on the jackets in the films to look like it. He said they are very cheap and of poor quality.

: : : I asked about whether different leather were used at all for different films, as it has been reported about the Last Crusade jacket. He said no. All the jackets used the same leather.

: : : I asked about the press studs on the Last Crusade storm flap, whether they were supposed to be visible from the front or only on the inside (with the front covered by leather). He said they had a bit of a friendly internal ispute over this- he personally thought they should be covered but the woman who actually worked on the originals, I think her name is Dora or Doris, claims that they were indeed visible.

: : : I would have like to know even more of the ridiculous nitpicky details, but he said it was hard to remember all the little details from so may years ago. I said it would be nice if you had an original jacket to copy or look at to compare- he said he used to have one lying around but he sold it to someone several years ago for the price of a regular jacket- not realizing what it was worth! He's still kicking himself over that one!

: : : *He has also come across some high-quality cowhide which sounds very tempting to have a jacket made from.

: : : And he is very grateful for the support we have shown him vs. some of the "impostors" out there. So keep wearing your Westeds!

: : : Cheers,
: : : Abner

: :
: : I remember reading that they used hide on the LC jacket around here somewhere. I found that odd. If you have seen "Great Adventures and Their Quests; The Making of LC", there is a scene when Harrison is talking with the stunt double. The jackets they are wearing look quite shiny. They look like skin to me. Thanks for clearing this up Abner. Now I don't feel like I must order a hide LC!
: : See ya! DeWayne

:
: Well, unfortunately despite all this I don't know if we can be 100% sure about it since Peter may not recall every detail. But that is what he told me. What we really need to do is take a trip to the Smithsonian and ask them to open their vault and show us the jacket! Then we'd know for sure!

: I think I may try the cowhide Peter told me about. Despite all the hoohah about lambskin this hide sounds really nice and having worn both types, I really like the heavy weight of my distressed jacket.

: Cheers,
: Abner

I agree on the weight and feel of the hide. I have found that treating with the Pecard gives the jacket the shine and draping quality of the skin, and it does preserve the finish.

Peter had mentioned the probability of getting a very high quality cowhide to me this last summer. When I had inquired about using goatskin, he said it was too difficult to work with when making a jacket by hand, and that getting good quality skins that match is difficult for him. He did mention that he had a stock of cowhide with a goatskin finish. I'm not really sure what benefit you would get from that - I inquired about the goatskin because it is supposed to be more durable?

Anyway, all this talk about jackets is getting me thinking again. I've had the Disney jacket, which I traded away. I have a Cooper, which is a good all-around jacket I can wear without worrying about hurting. I've had predistressed Wested Raiders which did not fit quite right, and found a nice home with Michaelson. I have a predistressed LC, which fits just right - I finally figured out what I needed to tell Peter on sizing! But I've been kicking around the idea of getting one more: a new finish original Raiders with satin lining. I had thought I would get it to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Raiders release, but I'm not sure I'll be able to wait.

Of course, then Indy IV will come out, and I'll find an excuse to call Peter again...

Cheers!

Patterson

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: : : : It's always enjoyable to talk with Peter Botwright from time to time and when I  do, I like to ask about the history of that famous jacket. I just talked to him this morning and have some interesting bits of info to share that may clarify some old mysteries but bring up new ones...

: : : : I asked about the nickel/aluminum zippers.  He said they were used because that's all that was available at the time.  The costume dept. actually wanted antique brass and they even painted some of the zippers on the jackets in the films to look like it. He said they are very cheap and of poor quality.

: : : : I asked about whether different leather were used at all for different films, as it has been reported about the Last Crusade jacket.  He said no.  All the jackets used the same leather.

: : : : I asked about the press studs on the Last Crusade storm flap, whether they were supposed to be visible from the front or only on the inside (with the front covered by leather).  He said they had a bit of a friendly internal ispute over this- he personally thought they should be covered but the woman who actually worked on the originals, I think her name is Dora or Doris, claims that they were indeed visible.

: : : : I would have like to know even more of the ridiculous nitpicky details, but he said it was hard to remember all the little details from so may years ago.  I said it would be nice if you had an original jacket to copy or look at to compare- he said he used to have one lying around but he sold it to someone several years ago for the price of a regular jacket- not realizing what it was worth! He's still kicking himself over that one!

: : : : *He has also come across some high-quality cowhide which sounds very tempting to have a jacket made from.

: : : : And he is very grateful for the support we have shown him vs. some of the "impostors" out there. So keep wearing your Westeds!

: : : : Cheers,
: : : : Abner

: : : 
: : : I remember reading that they used hide on the LC jacket around here somewhere. I found that odd. If you have seen "Great Adventures and Their Quests; The Making of LC", there is a scene when Harrison is talking with the stunt double. The jackets they are wearing look quite shiny. They look like skin to me. Thanks for clearing this up Abner. Now I don't feel like I must order a hide LC!
: : : See ya! DeWayne

: : 
: : Well, unfortunately despite all this I don't know if we can be 100% sure about it since Peter may not recall every detail.  But that is what he told me.  What we really need to do is take a trip to the Smithsonian and ask them to open their vault and show us the jacket!  Then we'd know for sure!

: : I think I may try the cowhide Peter told me about.  Despite all the hoohah about lambskin this hide sounds really nice and having worn both types, I really like the heavy weight of my distressed jacket.

: : Cheers,
: : Abner

: I agree on the weight and feel of the hide.  I have found that treating with the Pecard gives the jacket the shine and draping quality of the skin, and it does preserve the finish.

: Peter had mentioned the probability of getting a very high quality cowhide to me this last summer.  When I had inquired about using goatskin, he said it was too difficult to work with when making a jacket by hand, and that getting good quality skins that match is difficult for him. He did mention that he had a stock of cowhide with a goatskin finish.  I'm not really sure what benefit you would get from that - I inquired about the goatskin because it is supposed to be more durable?

: Anyway, all this talk about jackets is getting me thinking again. I've had the Disney jacket, which I traded away.  I have a Cooper, which is a good all-around jacket I can wear without worrying about hurting.  I've had predistressed Wested Raiders which did not fit quite right, and found a nice home with Michaelson.  I have a predistressed LC, which fits just right - I finally figured out what I needed to tell Peter on sizing!  But I've been kicking around the idea of getting one more: a new finish original Raiders with satin lining.  I had thought I would get it to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Raiders release, but I'm not sure I'll be able to wait.

: Of course, then Indy IV will come out, and I'll find an excuse to call Peter again...

: Cheers!

: Patterson

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