1947 Levis help

shamus · Jul 6, 2005

anyone have a pair of the 1947 levis? I have the 1955's and just bought a used pair of the 47s. But it has a tag inside on the leg with the levis info... do they all have that? Everything else looks right. My 55's don't have the tag and I know they're real...

thanks
Shamus...

Matt Deckard · Jul 6, 2005

Are you talking authentic vintage levi's or the lEvi's vintage line that they currently make? The lEvi's vintage line are exact repros of jeans they made in specific years. they change the line up of years they reproduce every season.

jitterbugdoll · Jul 6, 2005

Matt-I'm intrigued by Leviâ€™s vintage line--does that mean that someday I'll actually be able to buy a pair of high-waisted, well-fitted jeans at a modern department store?

shamus · Jul 6, 2005

these would be repros... I can't find my size in originals.

Vintage Levis Line

shamus

ITG · Jul 6, 2005

Wow, I just looked on their site and the 1955 jeans are $198.

Matt Deckard · Jul 6, 2005

You may find your size on Ebay.

I want a pair that is unwashed.

Chamorro · Jul 6, 2005

These are produced only in limited numbers ... that is why they are so insanely expensive. They are a boutique item sold only in high end retail stores and probably won't be at Target anytime soon. If you are able to find them and are lucky enough to find your size, it's worth considering. The prices seem to only appreciate on places like eBay. Vintage jeans, which these are an exact copy of, are a completely different animal than modern, inferior products. The last true Levi's were made in the 80's, I believe. If you are into denim, these are the Holy Grail. BTW, the inside tags are usually care intructions for the modern consumer. Real serge denim shrinks.

BellyTank · Jul 6, 2005

Any pair of original '47 501s is gonna cost an arm and a leg!
I have a large back-catalogue of Levis' Vintage repro 1900-'47-
- that's my daily wear.
the '47 501s have to be the worst of the bunch- but then maybe that's authentic to the year too...
My '47 501s have a leg tag but my 1920s 702s don't.

Label usually has the model and serial number with year of production.

You can get repro Ladies Lees and 1944 Ladies 501s- as well as a pretty good selection of '20s to '50s Lee Cowboys and -Riders(from Lee that is).

The best ones were the Japanese made Levis repros but the production seems to have gone back to the US.

The problem in the US with Levis Vintage is availability- they are actually made in large numbers but they sell way more in Europe than they do in the US- American demand and interest is pretty low, which seems strange- but then maybe a lot of Americans don't want to spend so much on a pair of jeans- accurate repro or not. I'm in Stockholm now and there's an outlet store 5 mins away selling dead stock Levis vintage for a little less than half of local retail price.

I really don't think the prices are insane at all- not really comparable to 'normal' Levis at all- they're a premium product.
B
T

grant · Jul 7, 2005

The Japanese made Levi's repros were really first class. I have a pair of their 1944 501s and they're really exceptional. The Japanese repros of Lee waist overalls are also very well done. Their '37 "hair on the hide" repros are amazing. Too bad Levi's doesn't market their vintage collection more here in the US.

Grant

BellyTank · Jul 7, 2005

Hi Grant!
B
T (M.A.)

MikeyB17 · Jul 7, 2005

Hey Grant, good to have you on board. See you brought that grey wall with you!

MB17

grant · Jul 7, 2005

Hi Mikey and Belly,
Yeah, that gray wall is now festooned with good ol' NYC graffiti so I'm going to have to find another unadorned wall.

Grant

Marlowe · Jul 19, 2005

grant said:
The Japanese made Levi's repros were really first class. I have a pair of their 1944 501s and they're really exceptional. The Japanese repros of Lee waist overalls are also very well done. Their '37 "hair on the hide" repros are amazing. Too bad Levi's doesn't market their vintage collection more here in the US.

Grant

Maybe it's because then they'd have to explain how their 501's are made overseas, after they spent so many years telling us about how "authentic" and American-made they were.

I personally buy Wranglers when I need jeans these days...

airfrogusmc · Jul 30, 2005

Shamus,

I have a several pairs of Vintage Levis and to answer your question about the tag in the leg the VLC Levis should have them. Though some people cut them out. It show which pair you have, size and where they were made. The #555 means they were made in SF. Could be on the back of a button as well as the leg tag. Before 2004 they were all made in San Francisco even using some of the old sewing machines. The 1947s are probably my least favorite though still very cool.

My favorites are probably my 1937 201s with XX red line denim. I have two pair and they were both made in 1997 in SF. The denim is really special.I also really like my 1929 201 #2 denim green lines. I have a pair of 33 501s and a pair of 1901s. I bought all of mine unwashed.

1937 201XX with inly a cold water rinse.

My other pair of 37 201s well worn.

These are the 29 green line 201s just rinsed in cold water

The denim one these are just incredible. Like NO DENIM on modern Levis or and jean for that matter.

Allen

BellyTank · Jul 30, 2005

Allen, it's not true that all LVC jeans were made in the US before 2004, surely.
I have some older pairs dating back to the late '90s that were made in Japan.

My US made '47 501s are disappointing- not so well made, bad stitching and the denim doesn't wear very well. Mine are less than a year old and have worn through in the crotch and have a hole in the back pocket. My Edwins stayed solid for 5 years with regular wear- just like all my Japanese made 'vintage' jeans, Levis and Lees included. All my '20s 201s and 702s, 1895s, 'First Evers' and 1944s are pretty solid denim. I could not say the same for my '47s at all.

My '47s have a '554' button and are US made.

The '47s are much more like a 'regular fit 501' in cut and fit. I prefere the '20s models with wider legs-

B
T (Martin)

airfrogusmc · Jul 30, 2005

Yeah you're right. Thats why the tag in the leg is important because it will tell you were they are made. The San Francisco made repros in my opinion are the best. I'm not that crazy about my 47s either. Iafter wearing the 37 201s and the 29 201s are a much fuller fit in the legs,seat and thigh. though the 37s are very small in the waist. My 37s are both 40 in waist and fit snugger there that my 47s waist 38 do, though the 47s are very snug in the seat and thigh.

shamus · Jul 30, 2005

Thanks!

The reason I was asking is I have a pair of the 55's without a tag but I know they're real and the 47's did have a tag but I bought them on ebay.

I actually like the 47's more than the 55's. I don't have the earlier pairs but I'm thinking about the 201's as I've also heard very nice things...

BellyTank · Jul 30, 2005

The 201s are pure workingman vintage!
B
T

shamus · Jul 30, 2005

I just check my 55's and 47's and both were made in San Fran... 555 on button.

I don't like any of the new vintage levis they're offering this year.. They're all beat up.

Both of mine were used but only one or two wash. And enough leg room to roll them up to show off the redline...

airfrogusmc · Jul 30, 2005

My 29 201s and my 37 201s have never seen a washing machine. The 37s have only been rinsed in cold water once and the 29s have been rinsed a couple of times. Always hang dry. You can find deadstock unwashed Vintage Levis on e-bay but there are some dicey looking ones that show up from time to time. I know a lady in LA that I bought both pairs of 37 201s off of. She carries them once in while I can give you her e-mail address if you'd like. (she's not cheap but her stuff is legit)

1947 Levis help

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