Have I bought fake Big E´s?

[str]

A while ago I was lurking around supertalk and found this amazing link to another forums topic in which someone had made a denim encyclopedia. Of course now I can't remember what link, or forum, it was. Any ideas?

Also, I recently bought a pair of vintage Big E 501s. Or at least, that's what I thought I bought. What worries me is that there is a spelling mistake on the inside label, "nomal cycle" it says. Does this mean they are fake? In which case I'll have to go back with them, obviously. The other numbers on the label (if it's any help) are 424 A 74. 501 07899066-4, 0657-0217.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[wild_whiskey]

Sounds fake , I don't think Levi's would produce a typo on their jeans. Possible though. A whole run of Nudie RR Dry Selvages went out with "Dry Greycast" labelled on them.

As for the link, you might be talking about this?

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=21815

[str]

That's the link yes, thanks! Not quite as good as I remembered it, but still.

I googled the typo and there are no references to it, neither saying that this is a typical fake or otherwise. If they are fake then they certainly done a good job of it, and worn them in for a very long time - more so than necessary. Unless of course the previous owner was hustled as well. I was hoping that the serial number might shed some light on the situation. Anyone with some knowledge about that?

[Serge d Nimes]

THe # 0657-0217 sounds strange. It should be 501 for the model and 01 for lot 1 selvage denim and 17 for indigo dyed. 0217 is seen on 505, 517 and others.

Carpe Denim!

[Serge d Nimes]

You should checkto see that the waist tag says "Care instructions inside garment." I have not seen Big E 501s that have that, but I have seen and do have some SS 501 that have it. Here is a pic of a big E 501 tag and a care instruction tag from a big E 646.

Carpe Denim!

[str]

I don't have the jeans in front of me, but the tag isn't woven and I'm pretty sure it says "Care instructions on reverse" actually. Thanks for the feedback!

If there is any good literature to recommend on the subject I would be very interested. I'm still not convinced that they are fake, these sorts of freak occurrences should happen all the time in large scale productions. I think my case should be pretty tight before I go back and complain.

[aitsuka]

there was a website that had millions of terms on denim, I think ring ring posted it, it had a blue background, can anyone maybe give the link please?

-don't hate, appreciate-

[Serge d Nimes]

Based on your info, these are them. These are horrible fakes! I hope you didn't pay too much for them!

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-OG-DS-50s-LEVIS-BIG-E-501-35X32-Redline-vintage_W0QQitemZ7705894589QQcategoryZ11483QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Carpe Denim!

Edited by Serge d Nimes on Aug 9, 2005 at 09:52 PM

[str]

Well, they don't look identical - but the tag has the same typography which obviously makes me worried. Thanks for the info and all the help! Although I must say that the result wasn't exactly what I was hoping for...

What tips could you give me to avoid making this misstake again?