Jeans of the Old West: A History

[bluegoldblues]

Anyone got any ideas what brand these are?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360353930834&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1156

early lee??

[Stratos]

Anyone got any ideas what brand these are?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360353930834&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1156

early lee??

They seem to scream out 'Lee' indeed, but I'm no expert...

[bluegoldblues]

Given in to checking lightning vintage denim think its JC Penney! although not concrete on that! nice jeans!

[Sansome1877]

Given in to checking lightning vintage denim think its JC Penney! although not concrete on that! nice jeans!

If the seller could flatten the leather label out, and take another picture, looks like you might be able to read the label?

[rnrswitch]

It is left hand twill so best guess is Lee?

[Sansome1877]

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Late 1930's to early 1940's Big Mac, the pocket bag has a stamp that says boat sail cloth, and a few other words that I can't make out yet. What's left of the tag, that's on the watch pocket says Sanforized Shrunk. The Lucky strike smoke pack, was found near the pants.

[devilish]

Those are just amazing! If the button has the laurel wreath would that mean they are a wartime issue or not necessarily? Where did you find them?

[rnrswitch]

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Late 1930's to early 1940's Big Mac, the pocket bag has a stamp that says boat sail cloth, and a few other words that I can't make out yet. What's left of the tag, that's on the watch pocket says Sanforized Shrunk. The Lucky strike smoke pack, was found near the pants.

Some of the coolest jeans I have seen. I love the back pocket shape, utility pocket and the triple needle stitching.

BTW I was given word that those jeans in the ebay auction earlier were most likely montgomery ward jeans.

[crownzip]

Really cool buckle back dungarees. Except for the suspender buttons they kinda remind me of one of my favorite vintage denim photos, taken in 1939. Thanks for posting!

[Sansome1877]

Those are just amazing! If the button has the laurel wreath would that mean they are a wartime issue or not necessarily? Where did you find them?

Im not sure at this time, about the Laurel wreath, I would almost bet that these pants date before WWII? It will take some time, and I hope that the Jc penny's catalogs,will be able to date these pants down to a specific year? The jeans were found in a 1930's Gold mine.

[Sansome1877]

Crownzip^^ What a cool photo!!! Can't rep but thanks for posting the picture:)

[crownzip]

It's hard to tell but looking at the waist button it looks like it's a JC Penny's Big Mac button. Here's the button design from a later 1960's Big Mac jacket:

[Sansome1877]

Here is the button and the pocket bag stamp, the stamp says Boat Sail cloth and then it says tool proof.

[mtchfrnk]

Really cool buckle back dungarees. Except for the suspender buttons they kinda remind me of one of my favorite vintage denim photos, taken in 1939. Thanks for posting!

Braces, belt, and cinch? This man is a pessimist.

[rnrswitch]

Braces, belt, and cinch? This man is a pessimist.

You can't trust a man who can't trust his own trousers.

[Sansome1877]

A friend of mine wearing the Big Mac jeans.

[bluegoldblues]

How dangerous are your denim hunting antics?

have you had any thing go wrong/ near accidents, any close shaves?

[Sansome1877]

How dangerous are your denim hunting antics?

have you had any thing go wrong/ near accidents, any close shaves?

I had a near fatal accident about two years ago when I was trying to dig out some denim from under this rock shelf, I pulled myself from under the rocks to get a drink of water and the whole thing collapsed about 10 seconds later. You have to use a lot of common sense, and know when to stop if it feels to dangerous. Most of the time we play it pretty safe.

[Dr_Heech]

Mike, please be carefull. At least until the second installment of your book is published !

.

[Goominim]

I had a near fatal accident about two years ago when I was trying to dig out some denim from under this rock shelf, I pulled myself from under the rocks to get a drink of water and the whole thing collapsed about 10 seconds later. You have to use a lot of common sense, and know when to stop if it feels to dangerous. Most of the time we play it pretty safe.

oh lawd

[Rivet Head]

You can't trust a man who can't trust his own trousers.

The suspenders keep them up, the cinch keeps em' down and the belt holds his tools and pouches....

[Maynard Friedman]

Wasn't sure where to put this, but for those who can't afford Paul T's wonderful book on the subject, here's a summary of the history of denim, courtesy of ASOS:

http://www.asos.com/Men/Men-Landing-Pages/20110404H-Men-Denim-Hub/Cat/pgehtml.aspx?cid=13164

Click on Denim Notes.

I particularly like the section on Bros!!!

[Sansome1877]

Much like the Neustadter pants of the time, Wo's pants had only two fly buttons and a inside waistband button. I have another Wo piece, from this time period and the watch pocket is done much like the Neustadter pant.

[Sansome1877]

It paid off a few weeks ago, when we had to crawl most of the way through a mine. This is exactly why, complete jeans are so rare from the 1870's to 1900, most of them were cut up and used on fresh air pipes or used for candle wax guards.

[Paul T]

Much like the Neustadter pants of the time, Wo's pants had only two fly buttons and a inside waistband button. I have another Wo piece, from this time period and the watch pocket is done much like the Neustadter pant.

These are great, Many thanks for posting.

Did Ralph Tharpe mention to you that he'd done some investigation recently and discovered that the widely-spaced selvage line was a guide for sewing sail panels? And hence that early cotton duck, as well as canvas, was designed primarily as sailcloth.

[Sansome1877]

These are great, Many thanks for posting.

Did Ralph Tharpe mention to you that he'd done some investigation recently and discovered that the widely-spaced selvage line was a guide for sewing sail panels? And hence that early cotton duck, as well as canvas, was designed primarily as sailcloth.

Yes Ralph told me about the sail fabric, isn't that a great bit of information! I believe it's a mystery, now solved.

[Sansome1877]

Pack rats love chewing the shit.... out of this type of fabric.

[roy6]

Awesome, Mike, thanks for posting that! What's going on with the chest here, is it a overlaying flap?

[Sansome1877]

Awesome, Mike, thanks for posting that! What's going on with the chest here, is it a overlaying flap?

Yea, it overlaps on one side. It looks like it had three buttons on the side that overlaps.

[bluegoldblues]

wow fantastic! thanks for sharing! still can't get over the idea of something being discarded, untouched by man until some one like you finds it again over a hundred years later!

any news on the book?