Levi's Vintage Clothing

[heyson 84,489]

11 minutes ago, Maynard Friedman said:

Did you wear a belt over the cinch buckle? I know some people do this although I’d never countenance it myself.

No I didn’t wear a belt ever with them.

[Paul T 1,823,299]

there's nothing wrong with cutting off the cinch if you prefer a belt, plenty of folk did so in the 30s for exactly the same reason.

[Maynard Friedman 565,118]

Agreed Paul, I bought my 37s second-hand on eBay for a song, in basically new, one-wash condition but the cinch had been cut off. I removed the remainder of the strap, including the rivets AND had them tapered. They’re my main summer jeans as the denim is only 10oz.

I also removed the cinch and strap from a new deadstock pair of Full Count 0105SFS I bought from eBay (I’m wearing them now, with a belt).

I have one further pair of cinch backs waiting patiently - some Warehouse 415s. The cinch will remain proudly in place on these and I’ll also add my Levi’s press-on suspender buttons to complete an authentic 30s look.

Edited September 16 by Maynard Friedman

[Pedro 281]

1 hour ago, Paul T said:

there's nothing wrong with cutting off the cinch if you prefer a belt, plenty of folk did so in the 30s for exactly the same reason.

Well I hope a grown man was not asking anyones permission to cut off his cinch but I am glad you have given the official approval Paul...I personally think its like cutting off one’s balls.

Lol

Edited September 17 by Pedro

[FAB FOUR 6]

I have a pair of Fullcount 1101xx anniversary pair with a cinch back, I just wear a belt over the cinch, it's perfectly comfortable and gives the cinch some good fades with the belt running over it.

[428CJ 283]

The cinch causing actual back problems? Ridiculous.

[propellerbeanie 845]

On 9/17/2019 at 2:55 AM, Pedro said:

What about just unbuckling the cinch and letting it hang loose a couple of wearings? See if that helps?

Please do not post photos if you neuter the ‘37’s. It is too painful to view.

@Maynard Friedman has a pair of ’37s with no cinch haha

[propellerbeanie 845]

On 9/17/2019 at 2:55 AM, Pedro said:

What about just unbuckling the cinch and letting it hang loose a couple of wearings? See if that helps?

Please do not post photos if you neuter the ‘37’s. It is too painful to view.

@Maynard Friedman has a pair of ’37s with no cinch haha

[428CJ 283]

Gave my LVC '66s their first dose of water today.

LVC 1966 (Cone Mills denim), 36-34, purchased November, 2017. Worn 100 days raw and single cuffed. That is total wear, not consecutive wear. I did a 20 day stint, a 50 day stint, and a 30 day stint, over the space of about a year and 10 months.

I don't keep anything in my back pockets, except the occasional piece of paper, and very rarely my phone (but only while standing). I keep my wallet in my front right pocket. I carry my keys on a carabiner clipped to my right belt loop.

First wash/rinse details:

Cold tub rinse (estimated 75-80 F "cold" tap water) with 4 cups of white vinegar. No soap. I just wanted to finally shrink them, cut the body oils and bacteria with the vinegar, and rinse out most of the dustiness so the fade lines would pop better.

Alternated soaking and hand agitation, both inside out and right side out.

Used wash cloth on interior only (and did not scrub very heavily).

Approximately 45 minutes total time submerged.

Air dried outside on clip hangars.

Measurements (inches):

New (never worn) – pre wash - post wash

Waist (both halves held in alignment): 36 1/2 – 39 – 36 1/2 (7 percent stretch and shrink)

Hips at halfway point of front rise: 46 – 46 – 44 1/2 (3 percent shrink)

Thigh at crotch: 27 – 27 – 26 (4 percent shrink)

Thigh 2 inches down: 26 – 26 – 24 1/2 (6 percent shrink)

Front rise: 12 1/2 – 12 1/4 – 11 3/4 (2 percent shrink from raw to pre-wash – 6 percent shrink from raw to post-wash – 4 percent shrink from pre-wash to post-wash)

Rear rise: XX – 16 – 15 1/2 (unknown shrink from raw – 3 percent shrink from pre-wash to post-wash)

Knee 14 inches down: 20 – 20 – 19 (5 percent shrink)

Hem: 17 1/2 – 17 1/2 – 16 3/4 (4 percent shrink)

Inseam: 33 – 32 1/2 – 31 (1.5 percent shrink from raw to pre-wash – 6 percent shrink from raw to post wash – 4.5 percent shrink from pre-wash to post-wash)

Pix:

When new:

Post wash (note that the slightly brown dusty spots you see are from the wooden fence, not stains):

Pretty nice whiskers forming:

The back:

Honeycombs are very mild, but I really didn't want to wear these much longer before washing.

Roping is mild too:

Part of the reason I wanted to shrink them now. The front cuff creases were starting to abrade. I don't mind this so much how it is, though, and it hasn't actually broken all the way through the warp yarns yet :

And the one fade mark that is perhaps a bit out of the ordinary. I am pretty sure this is from my keys hanging from my belt loop:

Obligatory wash water shot. These left a rather turquoise dye in the water – quite a lot of green in these that I never really noticed when wearing them.

Edited September 20 by 428CJ

[Spiraltoy 1,397]

Got me a pair of nearly new 1901s from 2004.

Pre and post soak fit:

 

[MJF9 2,456]

@Spiraltoy cool pair!

[Spiraltoy 1,397]

Thanks! @MJF9

[Paul T 1,823,299]

Love those!

I've spent years trying to really break in my 1901, similar era, as in five summers, hand washes only. They were just on the turn when the TCB 20s contest started. Can't wait to revisit them, they are a lovely shape, with a terrific turquoise-tinted denim.

[bartlebyyphonics 3,911]

4 hours ago, Spiraltoy said:

Got me a pair of nearly new 1901s from 2004.

Pre and post soak fit:

On 9/20/2019 at 1:23 AM, 428CJ said:

Pretty nice whiskers forming:

 

+1 yes both!

[have to admit, if it did occur 1901 would be the first of new versions to review... but rlly wondering what they have done to new version of '44]

 

[428CJ 283]

^ ^ ^

I don't have any of the Japanese denim versions, and I likely won't, unless I happen to fall in to them very cheap. Nothing against it, but I loaded up on Cone LVC in 2017 and 2018. It'll take me probably a decade or more before I might have it all broken in and be ready for more! Then I've got Wranglers, Lees, etc. to work on. Pretty sure I won't ever need to buy LVCs again.

[Spiraltoy 1,397]

As I have both a Valencia st and the last season of cone in the ‘44 (and they differ a LOT) I’m also interested in the new line. If I got that and were able to track down an early made in japan pre lvc pair it would be really interesting!

S501XX replica bingo!

Edited September 23 by Spiraltoy

[jewellben 30,921]

6 hours ago, MJF9 said:

@Spiraltoy cool pair!

agree been after some 1901 for a few years now

[unionmade 145]

Shot of my 55 LVC rigid last year. Natural wash/freezing over night during a cabin trip. 

[lance 127,413]

Great shot, unionmade, harkens back to pioneer days! A fitting photographic ode to Levi’s.

Edited September 26 by lance

[istewi 929]

Levi's Japan 71507, Made in 1995. The fabric is quite plain, but buttery soft.

[bartlebyyphonics 3,911]

^ 100% yasss

[lee porter 160]

Are the big e jackets  that’s where made in Hong Kong in the 60s/70s original come mill denim or would it have been something else 

[unionmade 145]

anyone tried the shorthorn shirts from lvc? great colors on some, and looks soft/thick.

[Pedro 281]

What the heck?

This arcuate is hideous!

[bod 108,735]

The high placement of the arc tricks the eye into making the back pocket look look taller than its actual square shape

[Paul T 1,823,299]

22 hours ago, lee porter said:

Are the big e jackets  that’s where made in Hong Kong in the 60s/70s original come mill denim or would it have been something else 

Levi's made in Hong Kong in the 60s/70s? Do tell !

[lee porter 160]

Original 1960's Big E Levi's Red Tab Trucker Jacket in Mid Blue Stone Wash.    Made in Hong Kong around 1965 when the company set up a sales office and began opening factories to manufacture Levi's clothing there.    Just copied this did this happen Paul t

[428CJ 283]

13 hours ago, Pedro said:

What the heck?

This arcuate is hideous!

LVC 1966s?

Looks great to me. I like all kind and manner of Levi's arcs, and those are no exception. I love the big pockets of the '66s, and the interesting looking shallow dip on the arcs.

My pair after their first wash (posted above on this page):

Edited September 30 by 428CJ

[Paul T 1,823,299]

11 hours ago, lee porter said:

Original 1960's Big E Levi's Red Tab Trucker Jacket in Mid Blue Stone Wash.    Made in Hong Kong around 1965 when the company set up a sales office and began opening factories to manufacture Levi's clothing there.     Just copied this did this happen Paul t

Link?

No, it didn't happen around 1965! They opened a Scottish plant in 1980 or so, which was a big deal and well documented.

[Pedro 281]

3 hours ago, 428CJ said:

LVC 1966s?

Looks great to me. I like all kind and manner of Levi's arcs, and those are no exception. I love the big pockets of the '66s, and the interesting looking shallow dip on the arcs.

My pair after their first wash (posted above on this page):

Well the wash helps it a little but the spacing between the two arcuate lines is too uniform to match their desire for a freehand look by their making the arcuate so mismatched between left & right of center. They are trying too hard to make it unique and it looks like a 2nd grader who still lacks spacial awareness and balance. 

Now if you want to mimick the individuality of the early ‘30s freehand stitching above then the mismatched left/right arc need to be paired with spacing that widens instead of that uniform 1/4” of the newer machines. But thats just me.

Personally, other than the early freehand arcs of Levis, I think SC has improved on the Levi arc with their large, deep broken arc designs.