Bruce got the juice - Bruce Willis' Jacket

[Seb Lucas]

Okay... no nasty fights, please.

I spoke with a guy who knows Tony Nowak. The official version of the jacket story is as follows.

Bruce Willis specifically asked Nowak to make a 1940's style jacket for the movie and requested extra-long sleeves.

Tony produced it.

The studio distressed the jacket.

Tony has a very good reputation in Hollywood, having made the jacket for the last Indy Jones film, amongst others.

Nowak doesn't chase easy sales, like, for instance, Wested Leather with their preposterous certificate of authenticity for an Indy jacket that is quite unlike the movie version.

The only reason the Surrogates jacket is available is because a fan of the film asked Tony to make him one - other requests followed.

I realise there will be members who think this is BS. And I do not know Nowak, so I am in no proper position to vouch for this story.

I remain fascinated by the aging of this jacket which I concede certainly appears to be vintage.

 

[BellyTank]

Well- you seem to have one leg almost over the fence


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[Seb Lucas]

I'm happy sitting on the fence - as long as it's for the right reasons. The only problem is that it chafes my thighs...

 

[Mike1973]

Just found this thread!

I can't really add any further useful info to this debate, but I was surprised to see how similar Bruce's jacket was to one I picked up in 2008.

I've no idea who the maker is but I thought it would be interested to compare the wear pattern.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/sets/72157623658784826/

 

[jon z]

Hey Mike that's a swell looking jacket. I particularly like the tab closures on the lower, front pockets.

BTW is that Southampton, England you hark from as we are neighbours if so?

 

[dr greg]

Commercial opportunity goes begging

Okay... no nasty fights, please.

Tony produced it.

The studio distressed the jacket.
.

They have distressed more moviegoers than jackets over the years I'll wager, but I say again, if a process exists to take new leather and make it look like that, why hasn't someone taken the ball and run with it, producing more, and flogging them for vast sums on the net?
They would sell like hot food in winter, and look at what people pay for NEW ones in that style.....it would be a goldmine, but we see nothing, not even on this Nowak guy's site........

 

[Seb Lucas]

Swell jacket, Mike. You're a lucky man.

 

[Mike1973]

Hey Mike that's a swell looking jacket. I particularly like the tab closures on the lower, front pockets.

BTW is that Southampton, England you hark from as we are neighbours if so?

I'm in Itchen Jon, been in Southampton since I studied here 15 years ago.

Mike.

 

[jon z]

Not far from me then. I'm in Woolston, Southampton born & bred.
John.

 

[westinghouse]

Which Aero looks the most like the Bruce Willis Surrogates jacket?

I want Aero to make his jacket for me in the same length and color. Which model and hide should I order?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Aero's "30s Halfbelt...with highwayman type chest pocket..bi-swing back... in brown "vintage FQHH". Plaid lining.

HD

 

[JanSolo]

Correct HD!! Another (more mid weight but colourwise very good) leather option would be seal jerky horsehide. Apart from that it's the 1930s Halfbelt with the bits and pieces added that HoosierDaddy mentioned. The common riding tartan is a very good plaid lining option for this type of jacket.

 

[westinghouse]

Would the Tont Nowak jacket be worth the $975 price over an $800 Aero replica?

 

[SpeedRcrX]

I don't think the Surrogates jacket cost $975, it's only for the Raiders in Shrunken Lamb

I think this one should be around $750 but not sure, best is to give a phone call to Tony.

 

[scotrace]

Some merging going on. Pardon our dust.

 

[PoohBang]

the shot of willis doing his "hero" stance the jacket looks original to me, except the collar. It looks like it was made smaller more "modern"

 

[BellyTank]

Here's another original- slightly different.
Angled chest pocket...

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[Creeping Past]

Would the Tont Nowak jacket be worth the $975 price over an $800 Aero replica?

Depends if you're looking for real replica or a fake replica...

 

[westinghouse]

RIP Tony Nowak.

 

[BellyTank]

Oh no he didn't.


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