Dry

2 hours ago, thisyearsmodel said:

The Japan version looks like a slightly trimmer, slightly more tapered cut, or is that just my eyes playing tricks on me?

The hem on the Japanese denim pair is 8 inches compared with 8 1/4 inches on the Cone pair. The knee measurement (using the Ironheart yardstick, 13 inches down the inseam) is the same at 9 inches.

On 12/29/2019 at 9:50 AM, Spiraltoy said:

 

1966s compared: Japanese denim on the left, Cone on the right.

On 12/29/2019 at 9:50 AM, Spiraltoy said:

 

The 1937 Japanese denim version 2s are big shrinkers! These 2 pics compare a raw pair against a 3 month old pair washed a few times, both W34 L36. 

On 12/29/2019 at 7:19 AM, Dry said:

It looks as if 1890s, 1937s, 1944s, 1966s, 1967s and 1976's will not be featured next season, judging by the 40% discount now being applied, and that Type I and Type 2 jackets may also be endangered. 

On second thoughts perhaps they are clearing stock to replace it with more authentic reproductions.

On 12/29/2019 at 9:50 AM, Spiraltoy said:

Could you post some pics comparing the two so we might get an idea of how the denim looks? Are the pics from the Levi’s web page correct in that most of the details are off on the the ‘37s? Slim leg, trim seat, diamond arcuates, no crotch rivet?

Here are some comparisons between a pair of Cone 1933s W31 L36 in the background bought in late summer 2018 and 2 pairs of version 2 1937s W32 L36 and W34 L36 in the foreground, bought in October 2019. The 1937s have cinch, crotch rivet and hidden back rivets and a high 3 button fly. The leg is not slim but I generally buy small waists so the legs are not too full on me. The arcuate didn't get diamonds until post World War 2.

On 12/26/2019 at 12:44 PM, Spiraltoy said:

So what’s the verdict on the new MIJ/EU lvc?

Has anyone had and washed theirs enough for a real comparison? Sale season’s a coming so I might snag up a pair....if they’re not awful that is?

I am loving the denim of my Version 2 1937s - much better deeper colour than the last Cone version of the 1933s that I got last year.

I am very confused by the "Rigid - Black" description being given to mostly all the rigid LVCs currently on Levis website both in the UK and in Germany, despite them being shown as Indigo in the pictures and corresponding with Indigo in the Lot numbers shown under details. It is difficult to believe that this is correct particularly as the undiscounted 1947s, 1954s and 1955s are also shown as Rigid Black" - unless the whole collection got dyed black by mistake.

It looks as if 1890s, 1937s, 1944s, 1966s, 1967s and 1976's will not be featured next season, judging by the 40% discount now being applied, and that Type I and Type 2 jackets may also be endangered. 

On 11/6/2019 at 11:34 PM, Maynard Friedman said:

Pretty much everything pre-1927 was 9oz raw and post-1937 12oz raw.

Would that apply to the 1937 Valencia Street 201XXs and 1920 201XXs or are they a work of LVC fiction?

Aeroleather say the Cone 1933s were 12 oz after wash: http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=137

But don't give the weight of the 1937s: http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=139

On 10/4/2019 at 10:35 AM, Paul T said:

 

Cultizm say that the V2 1937s are 10.8 oz and the V2 1966s are 12oz. My V2 1937s and 1966s seem to be the same weight so I question whether Cutlizm are right, though their information is very precise. The Cone 1933s used to be 11oz but there don't seem to be V2 1933s around at present.

3 hours ago, Sympathy-For-The-Denim said:

@dry I wonder why I can´t see the photos

I'm sorry, I've no idea. I can see them via the links.

Selvedge 501s bought in June 1979. Number 6 on the button. I love the colour of these but hadn't noticed they needed a wash. I can just about squeeze into them.

On 10/4/2019 at 10:35 AM, Paul T said:

those 50s ones are nice but there's no real connection with a 66 pair. The pocket shape become more square partly because they didn't have to accommodate the rivet.

This is my old pair of circa '66 502. These were very beautiful with all lemon stitching. There are probably some differences from a contemporary 501, the bar tack is quite distinctive on this pair.

But this is what to me is a quintessential 66 shape: lovely parallel stitching on the sides, and less of a splay than the 55. But still some splay. The arcuate is shallower obviously, than typical 50s jeans, but there are plenty shallower still .

Yet... I just looked at all the Japanese LVC reissues from around 2000 with lots of '60s replicas including the 502. Japanese LVC tended to have more different models (they would have Japaese repros alongside the US ones). There was nothing even vaguely similar to this, in terms of shape or arcuate  - essentially because they based their repros on different originals, and there was so much variation in the 60s especially from factory to factory and probably operator to operator.

This is the pocket shape of my 1969 pair - note how far apart the seams are at the sides and along the bottom and the thick  'sewed with the finest thread'.

https://pin.it/boholjop47tayx

These are the remains of a pair of little e selvedge bootcut Levis bought in July 1972 later converted into shorts and then used to reinforce the pulling fly button of a pair of Fullcount 1904 shorts. There is no number on the back of the top button. On the jerky patch only the number 0 remains visible and the care instructions inside are illegible. They were shrunk in a hot bath and the colour bled like crazy - sulphur dye? I never liked the colour.

3 hours ago, Pedro said:

@Dry,

Did you buy them on sale?

 

Sadly, no! I always think they are going to run out!

On 9/3/2019 at 9:50 PM, Dry said:

So far, loving the new Japanese denim put together in Bulgaria. We'll see how it pans out. After a 8 pair buying spree in the last few weeks, I've got 2 pairs of 1937s and 2 pairs of 1966s on the go (1 pair each normal fit and 1 pair each tight fit) and in the 1966s 1 pair of Cone 1966s tight and 1 pair Japanese normal fit, with duplicates for each still with tags in reserve. None have yet been washed. I'll probably have to avoid washing the tight fits for a while. Can anybody report on the Japanese denim's shrinkage?  

On 10/14/2019 at 2:13 PM, Dry said:

Paul,

I had a pair from June 1971 when the side stitching of the pocket was parallel as per your pic. Before then even with bar-tacked versions it widened before the top. I have the pocket from a 1969 paid but can't upload the pic. The shape is like the 1955s but barely any v shape along the bottom.

Look at this... https://pin.it/niidyp7xc34ap2

Sorry, I haven't got the knack of uploading pics but clicking on the link shows the design of the left pocket of my September 1969 pair which were zipped Shrink to Fit probably 501ZXX with 6 on the back of the button.

On 10/4/2019 at 10:35 AM, Paul T said:

those 50s ones are nice but there's no real connection with a 66 pair. The pocket shape become more square partly because they didn't have to accommodate the rivet.

This is my old pair of circa '66 502. These were very beautiful with all lemon stitching. There are probably some differences from a contemporary 501, the bar tack is quite distinctive on this pair.

But this is what to me is a quintessential 66 shape: lovely parallel stitching on the sides, and less of a splay than the 55. But still some splay. The arcuate is shallower obviously, than typical 50s jeans, but there are plenty shallower still .

Yet... I just looked at all the Japanese LVC reissues from around 2000 with lots of '60s replicas including the 502. Japanese LVC tended to have more different models (they would have Japaese repros alongside the US ones). There was nothing even vaguely similar to this, in terms of shape or arcuate  - essentially because they based their repros on different originals, and there was so much variation in the 60s especially from factory to factory and probably operator to operator.

Paul,

I had a pair from June 1971 when the side stitching of the pocket was parallel as per your pic. Before then even with bar-tacked versions it widened before the top. I have the pocket from a 1969 paid but can't upload the pic. The shape is like the 1955s but barely any v shape along the bottom.

1 hour ago, Pedro said:

My favorite Levis model.

Glad to hear your positive impression of the Kaihara.

I don’t see any stock at Levis.com?

I think these are Cone: https://www.levi.com/GB/en_GB/clothing/men/jeans/levis-vintage-clothing-1937-501-jeans/p/375010010

And these are made in Bulgaria: https://www.levi.com/GB/en_GB/clothing/men/jeans/levis-vintage-clothing-1937-501-jeans/p/375010015

The key is in the last 2 numbers (10) and (15).

On 9/3/2019 at 8:42 PM, Maynard Friedman said:

Look like 66s to me.

Just had 2 pairs of rigid Cone Mills made in the USA raw 1966s size W32 L36 delivered expecting that I would get V2. 

I had 2 pairs of 1937 V2s delivered yesterday and the 1966s are a more generous fit in that size to the 1966s.

I love the Cone Mills denim which seems similar to the 1947s I bought about 5 years ago.

Having said that, I love the new ?Kaihara denim of the 1937s and they have been expertly put together in Bulgaria.

The price rises don't seem to affected the UK LS website, unlike Cultizm.

I can't upload pics - there was a problem processing the uploaded file. -200. Anybody know why?

On 9/3/2019 at 8:42 PM, Maynard Friedman said:

Look like 66s to me.

Yes, but I never understood where they got those curiously positioned arcs from. Here is the left rear pocket of some rigid STF zipper Levis, presumably 502s bought new in September 1969.

My experience with 1937s has been chequered. I got 2 or 3 pairs of original 555 201s and 1 had a snag. PARTIAL  SUCCESS. In about 2012 I picked up 5 more pairs of these which are nice. SUCCESS.

At 1 stage you could only get them (now labelled  501s with the different buckle) in the South West Soil finish but not raw. FAILURE. I did get a few pairs of South West Soil which I liked. SUCCESS. When you could get them raw, in early 2000s, the fabric had flaws and would disintegrate. FAILURE - I got Denim Doctor to convert 1 pair into shorts. SUCCESS

Whenever I looked, the last of the Cone denim never seemed to available in L36, so now I have some V2s made in Bulgaria which will be interesting! First impressions are good, but  pic upload failed.

Has anybody got a ONE-PIECE OF ROCK ORIGINAL DENIM CAP -SHINER- 13.5oz INDIGO DENIM? The info on sizing seems very variable and it seems that some are being sold raw and some once-washed so presumably the raw ones will shrink and the once-washed will stretch! It is WW2 S series denim but I couldn't see any S series denim on the website. Anybody got any evo pics of caps or S series denim? 

On 24/11/2018 at 10:30 AM, Maynard Friedman said:

@Dry those new arcs are the same as these post lawsuit arcs they used on a few export models  for the U.K. about 15 or so years ago. Mind have totally worn away now.

Mine don't have kanji on the front. FC online shop has now restocked raw 1101XX EXs . Mine are already showing some light blue after only a few days of wear.

On 16/11/2018 at 10:36 AM, Dry said:

 

Has anybody got any sizing tips on the raw 1952 stretch model? I would like to get some before the arcs go but don't know whether you buy actual size thighs and a bigger waist or whether you can allow for the thigh stretching and if so, by how much?

15 hours ago, Broark said:

Looks like it, which is a shame because I liked all the color variation on the old models.
Good thing I've got two pairs!

A great shame indeed. I have never bought any jeans which don't have arcs and am unlikely to buy any of the new models. Luckily a couple of pairs of Black Friday 1101XXs are currently on the way from Merv so I will have 4 BNWT pairs of 1101XXs in stock and 1 pair of 1108XXs. I also have 2 pairs of 1101XXs which remain unwashed and which I wear from time to time. Also I have 2 new pairs of the 1101XX EZs. My stocks should last me for a good while.