Levi Strauss' birthplace and museum

[Max Power]

Hi guys, here's cross-post from a thread I did this summer on mynudies.com. I'd like too share it here, as some might find it rather interesting (at least i hope so).

"Some informations and photos about Levi Strauss' birthplace and museum in Buttenheim/Germany (near Nürnberg). I went there today and would like to share my impressions with you guys:

First of all, the small town of Buttenheim is very proud of Levi Strauss:

There is a sign on the highway, that indicates the birth of Levi...

and, typical for franconia, there is a beer named after him

There is a small store near the museum. They stock mainly prewashed Jeans, some LVC repros from 1966 and 1947, but only bout 8 items in total. So, no need to drive many miles for the store, if you ask me...

The museum's located in the old family house (the blue one, of course )

The first part of the pretty small musuem (hence the small house) deals with the jewish history of Löb Strauss. He changed his name to Levi after emigrating. Then, the trademarks of his jeans are displayed.

A treasure chest of rivets:

[Max Power]

Lots of Tags:

Although it's no denim museum, there are some samples of washed and raw denim:

Horrible pic (there's an audioguide, too):

There's a nice replica of an 1880 jeans

(there's an ipod-Jeans from Levi's too, but it would ruin the impression to put it here)

There are also some worn in and dead stock items, from a private collection. A few samples:

501 xx Red selvage, dead stock from the 50s, still tagged:

1937 Big E 501 xx

[Max Power]

Some advertsing:

Additionally, there's a short movie to be seen.

That's all folks, I hope you enjoyed the tour. Cheers!"

[aho]

Very cool to see that the heritage of Levi Strauss is cherished even back in his homeland...Just to clarify, did you mean deadstock pair from the 60's? They're bartacked! And also, not sure those are 1937's? It's been a long day for me...lol

[Max Power]

Probably you're right, I referred to what the signs in the museum said and didn't question it... At home I got pics of the signs, I can look it up, but it definitely said 50ies. Weren't the arcs on the 60s models "flatter" than on this pair?

What makes you doubt they're 1937's 501? The missing chinchback?

Anyway, I'm no expert, maybe some other guy here might clarify.

BTW, I'm a bit proud of that place, as I was born and raised not far from there...

[aho]

Something to be proud of indeed!

As far as my '37 doubts, the biggest thing is that there is no cinch! And even if it was cut off, there are no remnants (for lack of better word...the two "square" parts that would still be attached)...Also something about the arcs seems off although it's hard to tell in that pic. I'm sure someone like Paul T can verify though? My guess is late 40's/50's? There is also a way to tell with that patch (it's the jerky kind right?) but I've really been bad about all the details as of late...

[Paul T]

Thanks for the pics, it's great to be reminded that old Loeb was Bavarian and Jewish, an immigrant who helped transform his adopted country.

Yup, I think both those jeans are later than labelled, still the late 40s pair (rather than 37) are very nice, still with the beef jerky tag. This era jeans tend to get very tight, narrow whiskers, and lots of wear on the raised areas, quite possibly because it was fashionable at the time to wear them tight.

[roy6]

Great, Max.

The advertising is especially nice. The farmer is wearing a pleated-front jacket, but it looks like there is a pocket on his right side. So not a 506? It also says "patented rivets", so I guess that might be a "first pleated front jacket". Never seen that portrayed in an ad before. Really nice.

[Max Power]

^I think I got more pics of the displayedads at home, can look it up this evening, if there's interest...

[Paul T]

I'm interestedin the sixth photo down, the one that shows the four-pocket pants from 'front' and 'back'. Looks pretty early, I haven't seen it before.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

^I think I got more pics of the displayedads at home, can look it up this evening, if there's interest...

thanks for sharing, max.

yes, please share the pics of the ads.

[Max Power]

OK guys, I got a bunch of photos at home, especially some of the jeans, I'll see what I can do for you and put them on when I'm done working, this evening probably. Stay tuned ;-)

[ranonranonarat]

very nice post and i enjoyed it very much. although i'm no fan or expert, compared with the rest on this board, those were a nice walkthrough the place. thank you : )

[denimdestroyedmylife]

i'd like one of them LEVI'S beers

[Max Power]

So, here come the leftovers. I can't recall exactly, what sign belongs to which pair, as I've been there in June.

And, I beg your pardon for not being able to rotate the pictures.

The first two pics show nice "combs" on denim Jackets, but I don't recall the exact type.

Unknown pair.

Back of the 1880 replica

And, you were right, the dead stock pair dates back to the 60ies (hence the bartacks)

[Max Power]

These pictures appear in the order I took them, so the descriptions on the signs should fit. The 1937 pair is noticable by the rivet in the crotch.

That's all, sorry, I didn't have any more ads or other stuff to show you. But keep in mind, that the musuem itself is pretty tiny.

Cheers!

[beeetus]

This is very cool to see the background of Mr. Strauss, especially considering how we think of Levi's as an iconic American brand.

[Max Power]

^Yes, but the first notion of jeans in his "homeland" germany came with the american GI's in the late 40ies and 50ies. So almost a century later...