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Where could I find a jacket like this one?

FedoraFan112390

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The pictures date between 1949 and 1951. Based on the time period, what likely color pattern was it? Has anyone seen any jackets like it, and if so, where could I find one?
 

kirkaero

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I have seen jackets like that one made by Aero Leather. I'm not sure if they still make the jacket, but the one they used to make would be very close to your pictures.

Good luck
 

Edward

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I have seen jackets like that one made by Aero Leather. I'm not sure if they still make the jacket, but the one they used to make would be very close to your pictures.

Good luck

Aero Waterfront. After Brando's in the film of that name. They were oop for a bit owing to problems sourcing the wool, I think, but worth dropping them a line. Syperb jacket, still very pleased with mine.
 

Carrie @ Thurston Bros.

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The pictures date between 1949 and 1951. Based on the time period, what likely color pattern was it? Has anyone seen any jackets like it, and if so, where could I find one?

We're doing a green and black custom Aero Waterfront for one of our customers. If you'd like, feel free to contact us and we'll give you the details...we can definitely do a custom spec. Aero Waterfront with all of the bells and whistles for you! You can read about our custom Aero process here--

https://www.thurston-bros.com/pages/custom-aero
 
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16,842
Are you guys sure that's red? I know these tartans usually are red or green, but red doesn't show up this bright on b&w photos. It almost looks white. . .
 

Benproof

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"The pictures date between 1949 and 1951. Based on the time period, what likely color pattern was it? Has anyone seen any jackets like it, and if so, where could I find one?"

You can tell from the image what colour it is: the photograph is shot on orthochromatic film - not panorthochromatic film.

Orthochromatic film is blue sensitive and red insensitive: the tonality of red on orthochromatic film is not sensitised at the upper 590nm + wavelength and therefore red renders pale. In contrast, green darkens on orthochromatic film. You can use the subtractive method on the RGB colour spectrum and work out that the colour of the plaid is dominant green.
 
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16,842
"The pictures date between 1949 and 1951. Based on the time period, what likely color pattern was it? Has anyone seen any jackets like it, and if so, where could I find one?"

You can tell from the image what colour it is: the photograph is shot on orthochromatic film - not panorthochromatic film.

Orthochromatic film is blue sensitive and red insensitive: the tonality of red on orthochromatic film is not sensitised at the upper 590nm + wavelength and therefore red renders pale. In contrast, green darkens on orthochromatic film. You can use the subtractive method on the RGB colour spectrum and work out that the colour of the plaid is dominant green.

You learn something new every day! Funny thing is that now I see it as green. But I figured this is what it must be. :)
 

AdeeC

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"The pictures date between 1949 and 1951. Based on the time period, what likely color pattern was it? Has anyone seen any jackets like it, and if so, where could I find one?"

You can tell from the image what colour it is: the photograph is shot on orthochromatic film - not panorthochromatic film.

Orthochromatic film is blue sensitive and red insensitive: the tonality of red on orthochromatic film is not sensitised at the upper 590nm + wavelength and therefore red renders pale. In contrast, green darkens on orthochromatic film. You can use the subtractive method on the RGB colour spectrum and work out that the colour of the plaid is dominant green.
Are you sure? I thought it was the other way around. Orthochromatic film renders red darker to almost black and blue and green lighter. I don't think those photos are in Ortho, more like panchromatic as the tones look realistic. The faces are too pale. European skin tones are rendered darker like appearing heavily suntanned with Ortho film. That's why in old silent films, actors wore blue make up to prevent them looking dark skinned.
 
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AdeeC

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Here is Brando in On The Waterfront with his similar A2 style wool red jacket in colour and in panchromatic B&W. I would agree the OP's jacket is more likely shades of green with black but no way to tell for sure.
 
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ProteinNerd

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"The pictures date between 1949 and 1951. Based on the time period, what likely color pattern was it? Has anyone seen any jackets like it, and if so, where could I find one?"

You can tell from the image what colour it is: the photograph is shot on orthochromatic film - not panorthochromatic film.

Orthochromatic film is blue sensitive and red insensitive: the tonality of red on orthochromatic film is not sensitised at the upper 590nm + wavelength and therefore red renders pale. In contrast, green darkens on orthochromatic film. You can use the subtractive method on the RGB colour spectrum and work out that the colour of the plaid is dominant green.


...mind blown
 

Benproof

A-List Customer
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Are you sure? I thought it was the other way around. Orthochromatic film renders red darker to almost black and blue and green lighter. I don't think those photos are in Ortho, more like panchromatic as the tones look realistic. The faces are too pale. European skin tones are rendered darker like appearing heavily suntanned with Ortho film. That's why in old silent films, actors wore blue make up to prevent them looking dark skinned.

...I'm not totally sure..! It's been a long time since I studied photography. Even longer since I did math :) I get the feeling you're right about the math bit though. If we subtract exposure (of red) from an orthochromatic film, then indeed the result is no exposure i.e. areas of blackness. However the images clearly show the same density of the checked plaid, as the forest greens, which fits with the plaid being green. The way to tell in historical images, is to compare the jacket with the context: which tones do foliage take on? In the images, the jacket appears closest to the tones of the foliage. Unless we had a British iconic red postal box, it is indeed difficult to say precisely..!

The images are orthochromatic: that much is certain: blue sky renders blank/white in orthochromatic emulsion, as does the lake water which appears pale. My it's amazing how thick I've become since using digital photography. I no longer have to think about how things work!

Apropos in orthochromatic film use, the majority of photographers left a yellow filter to bring out the contrast: this has the effect of the result which you've accurately pointed out - the 'bleached' paleness of the faces which results when adding yellow filtration to caucasian/pale skin tones with the image rendering a more clay effect. Cecil Beaton used this effect a lot for his subjects:

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However few people realise that most of the models ended up having to use 'green' lipstick, in order to avoid the lips from disappearing from the image, since the green darkens the lips..!
 

AdeeC

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Australia
Hasn't that Brando photo been colourised? I'm sure the original was green.
When Aero were still offering the Waterfront jacket they said in their blurb that the original was red and they were still trying to source the correct colour wool and hoped to offer it in the future. As to the images of the real Brando jacket in the public domain, the few colour photos of it I have seen are red. They could all be a product of colourisation or maybe not.
Will be good if Aero offered them again. I put in an enquiry before they were discontinued but unfortunately they did not have my size left. I would prefer green over red if they offered the Waterfront again.
 

Edward

Bartender
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London, UK
Interesting--- I must have remembered that blurb backwards. I'm so used to the green, that's what I think of when I see Brando in his! I'd wear a red one too, though I'm inclined to agree that the green is nicer.
 

l0fielectronic

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UK
Saw this one in the RRL sale when I was looking there this morning, no knits on the arms or bottom but then the jacket in question from the original poster didn't have sleeve knits so figured it was worth posting.
 

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