Levi's Vintage Clothing

[Maynard Friedman]

8 minutes ago, Dr_Heech said:

Yes but remember @Maynard Friedman - your pair are Lvc and Dry's pairs are actual vintage denim 

Please remind me, what’s the title of this thread?  

[Dry]

They are both Talon 42s. Got Scovill on a little e pair.

[Dry]

31 minutes ago, Maynard Friedman said:

Please remind me, what’s the title of this thread?  

Need to be sure repros are accurate - I don't think they had little dots in 1976, ha, ha!

Edited August 18, 2023 by Dry

[Maynard Friedman]

^ Can you check through your 2,000 pair vintage archive and confirm please? If not, you can write a letter of complaint on my behalf to Tracey Panek and the head of LVC. Thanks in advance!

[Dr_Heech]

54 minutes ago, Maynard Friedman said:

Please remind me, what’s the title of this thread?  

You don't need to be reminded of the title of this thread Martin, unless our fears of early dementia have started to set in - tbh it was more of a tongue in cheek dig at @Dry for keep posting his vintage Levis in the wrong thread 

 

[Maynard Friedman]

^ Charlie, unfortunately this is a fear that looms over like the Sword of Damocles 

[Dry]

16 hours ago, Dry said:

 

 

15 hours ago, Dr_Heech said:

You don't need to be reminded of the title of this thread Martin, unless our fears of early dementia have started to set in - tbh it was more of a tongue in cheek dig at @Dry for keep posting his vintage Levis in the wrong thread 

 

Currently wearing these LVC 551ZXXs on a daily basis. I'm unaware of a vintage Levis thread. 

Edited August 19, 2023 by Dry

[Maynard Friedman]

I think it’s more of a general vintage denim thread @Dry, although I’m happy for you to continue posting all your stuff in this LVC thread,

[Dry]

1 hour ago, Dry said:

 

Currently wearing these LVC 551ZXXs on a daily basis. I'm unaware of a vintage Levis thread. 

And I'm wearing these 2004 '55s for garden work.

[Facini]

What is the consensus on LVC '44 repros from around 2003? Which i am supposing is from either San Antonio or Valencia Street? @Dr_Heech, would you happen to have any experience with a pair from  this era?

[Dr_Heech]

1 hour ago, Facini said:

What is the consensus on LVC '44 repros from around 2003? Which i am supposing is from either San Antonio or Valencia Street? @Dr_Heech, would you happen to have any experience with a pair from  this era?

My experience  -

I have owned 2 pairs of the 555 WW2 lvc (and worn both) and owned (but not worn) one pair from 2005 (the ones with the orange stripey shirt material pockets). I have also owned (briefly, but never wore em) a pair from 2003 (554's) but sold them as l wasn't happy with the details and fit.

My opinion is that the better quality/more accurate repro was the aforementioned 2005 shirt pocket model(8/10). In 2nd place is the 555 pairs (7/10) and in 3rd was the 554 pair (6/10). Never experienced the 643M pair - not sure if there was one.

The models from 2008 and 2009 are pretty poor imo (2/10 and 3/10).

Last pair of lvc l bought new was the 2010 s501xx: Cone denim, green herringbone pockets and thick leather patch (5/10). Still have these but rarely wear

 

Obviously l turn to other brands now for my current WW2 fix.

 

[crownzip]

Hi Doc,

Agree with you on the 2005 shirt pocket '44's. Also, the old LVC Japan '44's are quite exceptional.

Curious, which brands are you digging these days for your WW2 fix? 

[Maynard Friedman]

I’ve a pair of 555 ‘44s waiting in the wings and I’m looking forward to getting around to them. 7/10 from Dr H and a 10/10 from crownzip isn’t a bad recommendation!

[Dr_Heech]

7 hours ago, crownzip said:

Hi Doc,

Agree with you on the 2005 shirt pocket '44's. Also, the old LVC Japan '44's are quite exceptional.

Curious, which brands are you digging these days for your WW2 fix? 

Hey Grant, I currently have a pair of CSF WW2 which l purchased off of @beautiful_FrEaK - they have denim front pockets and are based off a pair of S501XX from the 501XX book. Really beautiful details - there are some pics in the CSF thread. 

Also got my eye on the forthcoming Sugarcane WW2 with the flannel front pockets - again, a pair from the book is identical so would be nice to cop those (details and price pending). There's a video about it in the SC thread.

 

[Raglan]

Hi,

Anyone know what year/production this is? Only one tag inside, perhaps they are fake?

[Maynard Friedman]

As far as I’m aware that’s week 39 of 1987, so late September/early October’87. Levi’s did have a factory in the UK (Scotland) in the 1980s and I think the factory code was 299, which matches that stamped on the back of the top button. So, a legitimate pair of UK-made 501s from 1987 seems right to me.

[Raglan]

1 hour ago, Maynard Friedman said:

As far as I’m aware that’s week 39 of 1987, so late September/early October’87. Levi’s did have a factory in the UK (Scotland) in the 1980s and I think the factory code was 299, which matches that stamped on the back of the top button. So, a legitimate pair of UK-made 501s from 1987 seems right to me.

Wow, very impressive. Many thanks!

[Hoohoodunit]

Can anyone share their experience sizing Levi’s standard 501 STF vs LVC 501s?

I recently got a pair of standard stfs (36 waist) and surprised that so far they still fit larger than my 55 LVCs (36 waist - Made in Japan) and my 47 LVCs (expected for the 47s given how slim they are).
I regularly machine wash, usually weekly. Interested to see what others experiences have been...

[vIGGiou riou]

1 hour ago, Hoohoodunit said:

Can anyone share their experience sizing Levi’s standard 501 STF vs LVC 501s?

I recently got a pair of standard stfs (36 waist) and surprised that so far they still fit larger than my 55 LVCs (36 waist - Made in Japan) and my 47 LVCs (expected for the 47s given how slim they are).
I regularly machine wash, usually weekly. Interested to see what others experiences have been...

Hi Hoohoo. I think at this thread are couple of experts of LVC, Levi's... Dr H and Mr. Friedman and others (guru Paul T), which can answer you better. But for to help you and answer well, is important to know if you compare new STF as not wash, or washed, with LVC you own. And if those LVC are washed, or no. If your new STF are already washed, wash them again and if the result will not be successful, use also drying machine.....

[Hoohoodunit]

3 hours ago, vIGGiou riou said:

Hi Hoohoo. I think at this thread are couple of experts of LVC, Levi's... Dr H and Mr. Friedman and others (guru Paul T), which can answer you better. But for to help you and answer well, is important to know if you compare new STF as not wash, or washed, with LVC you own. And if those LVC are washed, or no. If your new STF are already washed, wash them again and if the result will not be successful, use also drying machine.....

Thanks! All are purchased raw/unwashed and I was comparing measurements post-wash*

[Paul T]

On 9/13/2023 at 1:53 PM, Maynard Friedman said:

As far as I’m aware that’s week 39 of 1987, so late September/early October’87. Levi’s did have a factory in the UK (Scotland) in the 1980s and I think the factory code was 299, which matches that stamped on the back of the top button. So, a legitimate pair of UK-made 501s from 1987 seems right to me.

Exactly right. Those are also so obviously the ring/OE Denim - which actually isn't bad and has that lovely stripey colour when new. A lot of work went into those jeans, a new fabric, and they retooled to try to get back to the right shape pocket etc. The main factory was Whitburn. And at the time, wherever in the world they were made, the fabric was always Cone from White Oak. Then in the 90s, Cone was only exclusive to raw denim and the die was cast . 

Phil Marineau, who joined from Pepsi, closed Whitburn around the time he closed Battery street , and got a $25m pay check for the year. 

 

 

Edited September 16, 2023 by Paul T

[Maynard Friedman]

Thanks Paul, according to Wikipedia:

”The town (of Whitburn) was once the site of Levi Strauss & Co., the clothing manufacturer. The plant opened in 1969, employing a work force of over 500 local people. At its height, the plant was producing 4 million pairs of jeans in a year. The plant shut its doors in December 1999.”

[smoothsailor]

This pair became workshop work jeans. Bought them from aero leather back in 2013 or so. Worn them for a bit but never really like them. The lack of belt loops and the taper is what I don’t like. The prong of the cinch broke off, so I sowed the cinch fixed.

I believe it’s a 1901 

[Dr_Heech]

@smoothsailor they are the infamous "wrong patch" 1901's from 2008. Basically lvc put out a 1901 with a patch from a pair of one pocket 1890 501's. 

 

[smoothsailor]

Thanks for the info Charlie, I searched a bit to find out what it was. But couldn’t find anything. 

[bod]

I have a pair of MIJ 66’s (lot 0146) does anyone have a pair and what was the real world shrinkage, the tags quote 10%
 

Raw measurements size 34x34

Waist: 17”

Hip: 23”

Front rise: 11.75”

Back rise: 15.75”

Inseam: 33.5

Thigh: 13”

Knee: 10”

Leg opening: 8.5”

Edited October 1, 2023 by bod

[Paul T]

On 5/6/2023 at 11:55 PM, generic_guy said:

I am looking at a type one jacket on eBay.

Seller says it it is from 2007, and that they believe it was made without a red tab. 

I believe Levis didn't start putting the tab on jackets until later, but having looked through catalogs I can't see a version without a red tab.

Jacket is labelled as made in Turkey but I suspect the tab has been removed by someone.

Anyone heard of a type one without a tab?

Can't find my 2007 catalogue but I've looked in the 2005, plus lots of later ones and all the Type 1s have a red tab including Turkish-made ones. 

[bod]

On 9/25/2023 at 3:21 PM, bod said:

I have a pair of MIJ 66’s (lot 0146) does anyone have a pair and what was the real world shrinkage, the tags quote 10%
 

Raw measurements size 34x34

Waist: 17”

Hip: 23”

Front rise: 11.75”

Back rise: 15.75”

Inseam: 33.5

Thigh: 13”

Knee: 10”

Leg opening: 8.5”

Gave them my usual two hot agitated soaks, they didn’t lose much width wise, I’d probably go true to size in future

Raw / After two soaks (inches)

Waist: 17 / 16.5

Hip: 23 / 22.5

Front rise: 11.75 / 11

Back rise: 15.75 / 15

Inseam: 33.5 / 31

Thigh: 13 / 12.75

Knee: 10 / 9.6

Leg opening: 8.5 / 8.25

 

 

Edited October 15, 2023 by bod

[Dry]

These November 2000 Valencia Street 1933s have lost their patch and a fair amount of indigo!

[mousemouse]

How are the Made in Japan pairs currently being sold by LVC? are these up to par vs the Cone made ones of the past?  

Edited October 19, 2023 by mousemouse