Actually, the waist overall wasn’t dubbed the ‘501’ until 1890 when the patent went into public domain and Levi’s had to think of new ways to make them stand out. The double-stitched 501s that were produced after 1978 went through a few changes after 1981. Notice the two colour threads too. Image via eBay. Originally worn by miners, the blue jeans quickly became a popular fashion item throughout the 20th century. This helps determine at what end of the 1970’s your Levi’s were produced. Between 1915-1922 the denim could’ve been provided by both Amoskeag and Cone Mills. On the left is a Levi’s RED TAB with capital or big “E” (Image via Marvin’s) versus its younger counterpart with the lowercase or small “e” (Image via Basecamp Vintage). Notice how the patch butts up against the belt loop on the right side. In 1936 Levi Strauss introduced the "concealed rivet." A high quality 501 sample from the early twentieth-century can easily draw over $25,000 USD at auction. If the red batwing logo is present please proceed to 1e, if not go to 1d. Signature Levi’s “diamond” arcuate, post-1946. Well you're in luck, because here they come. $69. Image via Marvin’s. Around 1902 Levi’s added another back pocket to their 501 waist overalls. This feature helps denote pre-1970’s jeans as the Two Horse patch on pre-1970 501s was usually butted against the belt loop, and in making space for the new tear off-section there would then be a gap between the patch and belt loop on post-1970 501’s. This was originally sewn on with a visible selvedge detail showing from the inside of the pocket. And its size range is also very attractive, from w29 to w34 mix, if you are a student or a busy person and don’t want to buy a new shorts every month or don’t have … $39.99 $ 39. If not, your 501’s were produced between 1942-47. MEN`S LEVI`S 501 JEANS GRADE A VINTAGE STRAIGHT LEG W30 W32 W33 W34 W36 W38 W40. Do they have a “diamond” arcuate stitch? if the RED TAB isn’t present anymore) of a post-1970’s 501 is the absence of the waist button “V” stitch. On the 1991 model, the 501xx is written in one continuous spelling with XX in a bigger, bold font. C $483.47. Below I’ve listed some of the many different 501 models plus a few popular characteristics to each of them. A common thing to look for in vintage Levi’s is the small single needle “V”-stitch running along the edge of the button fly. In the early to mid-1980’s the use of selvedge denim was phased out due to productive efficiency, and the jeans produced in this era were finished with an overlock stitch on the outseam instead. red line selvedge denim intended exclusively for 501 jeans. $59. Rivets are what made Levi’s famous. There are also certain, heavily discussed features (like, An easy place to start your quest is to inspect the outseam of your jeans. The Levi’s 501XX from 1937 is a very interesting and important pair in the denim history. Below I’ve listed some of the many different 501 models plus a few popular characteristics to each of them. Sign up for our free newsletter below! Stitched care label with the SF 207 line at the very top (Image via eBay), Care labels were introduced by law to USA-made garments in 1971. . Stead Suede. Image via Marvin’s. Our timeline begins in 1890 when the lot number ‘501’ was first coined and ends around 2002 when the Valencia St. factory in San Francisco shut down as the last remaining Levi’s production facility on American soil. Only 1 available and it's in 3 people's carts. Due to an earthquake and fire in 1906 which destroyed the Levi Strauss & Co. headquarters and factories, it is unknown today why this number ‘5’ was first given to the core range of Levi’s products, but it’s a safe to say that most people have grown accustomed to the number 501 by now. 160 sold. From 1937 onwards, the rivets on the back pockets were sewn so that they were only visible from the inside, due to consumer complaints regarding scratching furniture and saddles. Image via Tenue de Nimes. They were used on 501’s up until 1964/5, when they were replaced with a black, If yes, your 501s are likely to be before 1965. The jean today is, although a different piece of garment entirely to the nineteenth-century waist overall, still referred to by its Lot number: 501. Post-1970’s pair of 501’s with no “V”-stitch and the top waistband stitched in an orange chain stitch. Image via DenimBro. Label on a pair of 1987 Levi’s 501s. ! An interesting historical item from my private denim archive is this pair: original Levi’s 501XX from around 1937. Vintage Levi’s 501: Just by hearing this name something cool comes into your mind. 4.6 out of 5 stars 281. Image via Lurve the Thing. If your 501s ticks one of these boxes please proceed to step 8. While Levi’s offers high-end vintage reproductions of different 501 jeans, they come at a premium. They were used on 501’s up until 1964/5, when they were replaced with a black bar tack (“Black Flag”) in 1964/65 (1966 according to Levi’s). Take note of the red batwing logo and “Care on Reverse” line at the bottom. The curved design on the back pocket of our 501s are referred to as the arcuate. How to Date and Value Vintage Levi’s Type I, II, and III Denim Jackets, Get To Fixin’ With Joyful Mending By Noriko Misumi, Dawson Denim Renders Its Type II Jacket In Indigo Sashiko, Viberg Builds Its Pachena Bay Hiker From English C.F. The earliest pair of 501’s. They will most likely bring in more than $40,000 USD at auction. If your 501’s only feature one back pocket they would’ve been produced before 1902. The 501 has gone through more than twenty makeovers in its already long life and many of the early models are difficult if not impossible to trace down today. Vintage 501 Levi’s – The quintessential pair of Levi’s. If so, they are produced before 1971 when Levi’s adopted a new prominent design feature, in changing all the letters in Levi’s (except for “L”) to lower capital on the RED TAB. This feature was commonplace on 501’s up until about 1964, when it was centered again. Vintage pair of Levi’s 501 with offset center back belt loop. 8%”. If so, then your 501’s are produced before 1937 when Levi’s started sewing the rivets beneath the denim to satisfy customer complaints about exposed rivets scratching furniture. Today, blue jeans are worn by people of all ages, and from all walks of life. America’s classic pair of denim has gone through quite the evolution since its inception in 1873. Last updated 21.07.2020. AU $9.00 postage. you can only see them if you look on the inside of the seat of a pair of these jeans. . The XX notation made its debut at the early dawn of the brand, but was removed from the lot number sometime in 1968. According to Dr. Heech on Denimbro, this happened sometime during 1963, On later versions of the 1947 post-WWII 501XX, Levi’s incorporated an offset back belt loop, as opposed to being centered with the seat seam like on earlier models. GRADE A! Notice how it sits slightly to the left of the center seat seam. . The text was sitting above the lot and size numbers and below the Two Horse-logo. VTG Pre-1972 Big E Levi's Orange Tab Panatela Cotton Chambray Men's Shirt Medium Until around 1963, the 501XX models had “Every Garment Guaranteed” on The Two Horse brand patch. In 1943 Levi’s trademarked this design in order to combat copycats. A similar thing happened to the Type II jacket during the 50’s. 08 $69.50 $69.50. FREE Shipping by Amazon. Wash instructions on a pair of Levi’s 1948 501. If the patch is present look for the small “501xx” stamp above the normal “501” stamp indicating the 1966-68 501xx 501. If so, your 501’s are either produced between 1986-1991 or 1991-1993 (transitional phase). Levi's Men's 501 Original Fit Jeans Straight Leg Button Fly 100% Cotton. Levi's 501XX Button Fly 35 X 32 (Fits 32 x 28) Denim Blue Jeans Button Fly USA Qty. On later versions of the 1947 post-WWII 501XX, Levi’s incorporated an offset back belt loop, as opposed to being centered with the seat seam like on earlier models. Sign up and be the first to hear about news, sales, and giveaways! Like any high-value field, fakes and copies abound and sorting through those is far beyond the scope of this article. If they’re made from, If they do, they were most likely produced between 1983-86. The “XX” was last featured on the 1966-68 501xx 501 transitional model and not reintroduced until sometime in 1987. Levi's® Vintage Clothing 1954 501®Z XX Rigid Denim. Best Seller. This feature was discarded sometime in the late 60’s (~1966) according to examples from the Japanese book. An easy place to start your quest is to inspect the outseam of your jeans. Up until 1991 Levi’s made use of a care label with “Care on reverse” indicating the care instructions to be found on the backside of the label. 10. The following information is not based on facts, but on research carried out by myself and other collectors worldwide, sharing knowledge with each other. According to former Levi’s XX Head Designer Miles Johnson, the Two Horse brand made use of selvedge denim up until 1985. These features have remained a part of the patch (moving around several times, e.g. 1870s. Vintage Deadstock Levis 501 Shrink to Fit Denim Jeans Size 35 Made in USA 501XX. FREE Shipping by Amazon. It contain some very time changing denim details. Levi's Men's 501 Original Shrink-to-Fit Jeans. Shop our selection of vintage Levi's clothing, including 70s shirts and trousers, classic 501s and even the odd big E rarity. Image via Denim Bro. Other common details on S501XX (WWII-issues) include: no watch pocket rivets, ‘laurel leaf’ donut buttons. There are 7793 vintage levis 501 for sale on Etsy, and they cost $99.58 on average. If they don’t, then proceed they are older than 1968 and you can proceed to step 5. If your 501s ticks one of these boxes please proceed to step 8. If they don’t have belt loops you can proceed to step 15. Any 501 produced after 2002 was most definitely made overseas. The arcuate stitch was seen as an unnecessary feature to the government, but not to Levi’s. 5 out of 5 stars. AU $70.00. £180.00. Vintage Levi’s 501 basically describes high waist shorts famous among women and teenage girls just because of its comfy stuff and it gives a hot look whoever wears it. Shop our selection of vintage Levi's clothing, including 70s shirts and trousers, classic 501s and even the odd big E rarity. If the care label isn’t present or readable look for a lower capital “xx” after the lot number (501) in the bottom left on The Two Horse brand patch. Finished by you. Image via eBay. This rule has its exceptions, so you can also look for letter stamps on buttons, typically letters like. 136. The Wedgie is snug throughout the top-block (aka the top section of the jeans) and it nips in throughout. Levi's Men's 501 Original Shrink-to-Fit Jeans. In 1873, workers who’d flocked to the american west in search of fortune needed pants that could work and endure, so levi strauss and jacob davis combined quality denim and and rivet reinforcements, creating the first pair of blue jeans: the Levi's® 501® original. The first 501XX-model without (running 1960-65) had no text in between the logo and lot/size no., but had more empty space between top-line and the “Original Riveted” logo. Inspect the red tab. £24.99. Image via Marvin’s. 501 samples from before WWII are big ticket collector’s items, drawing interest from the only the most serious of hobbyists, museums, and even Levi’s themselves. (c) 49 Oz. Image via Levis Guide, Single stitched back pocket on pre-1978 501’s. FREE Shipping by Amazon. Judging from vintage examples as well as the LVC 1922 and 1933 reproductions, Levi’s didn’t incorporate chain stitch on hems until sometime between 1933 and 1935. They wanted to keep their signature arcuate, which they instead put on with orange paint. Vintage Levis 501 jeans 28x31 straight leg button fly 90s hop hop streetwear 1990s turquoise colored denim aqua blue waist 28" unisex gift. Vintage 1970s 1980s Levis 501 Original Fit Jeans 32x31 High Waisted Boyfriend Fit Mom. Lee | Wrangler. $47.08 $ 47. “555” indicates the famed Valencia Street facility. The oldest of the two models had a small spacing between the 501 and the XX which was written in a small font too. Levi's manufactured prior to the 1980s would be considered vintage. If you have a pair of S501XX’s issued between 1942-47, they’ve most likely lost their paint by now and thus will have blank back pockets. 4.2 out of 5 stars. If the patch is present and reads “501XX” in large black letters your 501’s are even older and you can proceed to step 6a and 6b. The earliest pair of 501’s that I’ve come across currently for sale is a pair 1902 501XX priced at around 35,000 dollars in a good vintage condition. Other color variants like blue or grey are also seen from this era. 5 out of 5 stars. I think some of the butt magic comes from the fact that the back panel of fabric on a … Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Levi`s 501 XX LVC Vintage Clothing 1947 BIG E Selvedge Jeans Size 33x34 at the best online prices at eBay! If your 501s have a leather patch, they were produced before 1954 when the leather patch was phased out in replace of a thick Jacron (faux leather) patch. in Men's Jeans. During WWII regulations were made on production nationwide in order to ration certain materials like thread and metal. Levi’s® online offer Retro clothing, such as classic jeans and vintage jeans for men. All the above models will typically have a three-digit stamp on the waist button, indicating what factory made them. The RED TAB from before 1971 is commonly referred to as Big E. If your 501’s are Big E’s please proceed to step 3, if not see 2a. Levi's jeans are the original jeans. AU $55.21. If so, your 501’s are produced later than 1986. Vintage pair of circa 1890 501XX jeans recovered by Brit Eaton. SPONSORED. Belt loops were added to the 501 in 1922 to keep up with the current fashion. If your 501’s are Big E’s please proceed to step 3, if not see 2a. If you have a Big “E” 501 without a V-stitch it’ll be from around the turn of the decade. In the early 1950’s “LEVI’S” started to appear on both sides of the RED TAB along with the trademark “R”. The term "vintage" refers to articles of clothing that are at least 25 to 30 years old. Due to an earthquake and fire in 1906 which destroyed the Levi Strauss & Co. headquarters and factories, it is unknown today why this number ‘5’ was first given to the core range of Levi’s products, but it’s a safe to say that most people have grown accustomed to the number 501 by now. Previous Price. Unlike the care label which was added in the early 1970s, the washing instructions were printed on the right pocket bag. These WWII issues will bring in more than $6,000 USD in a good vintage condition. Image via eBay. The oldest non-selvedge 501s made use of a copper-orange overlock stitch, which was subsequently replaced with a white overlock stitch which was then custom up until 1993. Levi’s® Vintage Clothing launches an all-Japanese 501® jean. 99 $58.00 $58.00. Colored redline selvage from Cone Mills. Levi’s Take: “The Wedgie is an absolute best seller. S. Favourited. Concealed (or hidden) rivet on a pair of vintage Levi’s jeans c. 1950’s. Redline selvedge on a pair of 1978 vintage 501s. If your 501s make use of all white selvedge denim then proceed to step 17. A single-sided Levi’s RED TAB indicates a 501 produced prior to 1951. There are also certain, heavily discussed features (like rivets and buttons) we won’t be delving into in fear of overcomplicating your search. Don’t miss a single Heddels post. Vintage 501 Levis Originally bought for 155 , no imperfections super classic non stretch medium wash denim in a high waisted straight cut :) Waist: 13.4 Rise: 11 Inseam: 31 … Wash instructions on the right pocket of a pair of Levi’s Big Bell Bottom jeans model 684 c. 1970 (Image via eBay). In the early 1950’s “LEVI’S” started to appear on both sides of the, The curved design on the back pocket of our 501s are referred to as the. No one knows definitively why this design was chosen although many have speculated it … £ 19. $77.00. I mean, it doesn’t actually – but for the sake of dating your 501’s a decipherable Two Horse brand patch will tell you a lot about when your 501’s were produced. It all starts with The Two Horse brand patch. If they don’t have a RED TAB you can proceed to step 13. Vintage workwear. Image via eBay, Around 1969-71 (and running until sometime in the 90s or present day) Levi’s introduced a thinner cardstock patch that had a tear-off section on its right side. Levi 501, 505, 517, any 500 series and, of course, Vintage Levis. $35.70$35.70 $59.50$59.50. If the Two Horse patch isn’t applicable go to step 1c. Shop a huge range of washes and fits. White “V”-stitch in extension to the single needle top waistband stitch dating this pair of 501’s to earlier than 1969. The stock 501, on the other hand, is geared at a budget consumer who still needs a good-fitting, durable pant. Denim is among the few fabrics that really gets better with age. The 1963/64 model featured “Made in U.S.A.” centered in the space between, and following models adopted “WPL 423” (Levi’s registration number) and “100% Cotton” to the left and right side (respectively) of “Made in U.S.A.”. 501 REDLINE 29-34.5 measured (30-38 label) #524, Levi Jeans, 1970s made in USA, 501 selvedge Levis, boyfriend jeans. Favorite. If they do, they were most likely produced between 1983-86. Vintage Levi's are coveted and pricey items of clothing due to their age and historical significance. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about vintage levis 501? Care labels were sewn onto the outseam of the left leg and pocket bags were no longer printed with care instructions like previous models. Stay up to date with the latest on new releases, features, and new shop products by subscribing to our free daily newsletter. This feature was discarded sometime in the late 60’s (~1966) according to examples from the Japanese book 501XX. Selvage detail in the watch/coin pocket. They were used to reinforce pockets on the first pairs of 501s and was what Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis patented and pioneered in 1873. Levi’s® Authorized Vintage is the most authentic vintage on the market—made by Levi’s® from start to finish. Deadstock pair of Levi’s 501 c. 1993. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. AU $17.75 postage. After the war, when the iconic 1947 501XX was released, the arcuate was stitched on with a double needle sewing machines that resulted in this little overlapping of stitches, often called the “diamond” by collectors and thrifters. 659. This stitch runs from the top of the waistband to about a quarter inch below the waistband and then in an acute angle back up to the waist button, creating what looks like a “V”. Image via Marvin’s. From 1965 on back Levi's 501s had rivets in the back pockets. Levi's Vintage Levi T-Shirt in Black Sold by We Are Rare Vtg. A quote from the FTC: “To assist consumers in getting information about clothing care, the Federal Trade Commission in 1971 issued the Care Labeling Rule.”. It was reintroduced in lowercase in 1987 so if this is present on the patch your 501’s are produced later than 1986 and you can proceed to 1d. E.g. The Levi’s 501 is slowly approaching its 150th birthday. if the RED TAB isn’t present anymore) of a post-1970’s 501 is the absence of the, Care labels were introduced by law to USA-made garments in, o assist consumers in getting information about clothing care, the Federal Trade Commission in 1971 issued the, 1947-1970’s: Where Things Start to Get Interesting, This feature helps denote pre-1970’s jeans as the Two Horse patch on pre-1970 501s was usually butted against the, When The Two Horse brand patch was first introduced (1886), Levi’s used the XX to denote the denim as being e, tra strong, referencing their use of denim from, Since nearly the dawn of the 501, a small watch pocket (later dubbed, ) had been featured by the right-hand front pocket. The 501® original Started by us. A nice overview of some (but not all) of the different variations of 501’s since 1873. If yes, your small “e” 501’s are produced before 1978, and thus between 1971-78. Notice how much more yellow the arcuate stitching is on the earlier model as opposed to the copper-colored thread on the right. Levi's Men's Big & Tall 501 Original Shrink-to-fit Jean. Image via Pinterest. When The Two Horse brand patch was first introduced (1886), Levi’s used the XX to denote the denim as being eXXtra strong, referencing their use of denim from Amoskeag Denim Mills, in Manchester, New Hampshire. 5 out of 5 stars. According to Dr. Heech on Denimbro, this happened sometime during 1963. This was originally sewn on with a visible selvedge detail showing from the inside of the pocket. Shop second hand and vintage Levis Jeans and Trucker Jackets at your favorite online thrift store, including used 501, 505, and 550s We invite you to take a walk down memory lane of the history of the 501, from its inception through every major variation, all the way to its current form today. Beale International is always buying used Levis. C $537.19. The white overlock on the outseam of late 80s and early 90s 501 jeans. Their justification was that the hard wearing rivets would eventually wear through the denim and thus become visible anyway. Image via SuperFuture. As always, we’re aiming to be as accurate as possible, but bear in mind, that there are no rules without exceptions. If the red tab … Levi's® Vintage Clothing Smock. Levi's Vintage Levis Check Shirt w/ Spell Out Logo Sold by CLOTH. We're sorry but levi-frontend doesn't work properly without JavaScript enabled. Image via Marvin’s. Image via Marvin’s. Our timeline begins in 1890 when the lot number ‘501’ was first coined and ends around 2002 when the Valencia St. factory in San Francisco shut down as the last remaining Levi’s production facility on American soil. 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,592. 99. Stylish and authentic, Levi's has the best fitting blue jeans, pants, shirts and outerwear for men, women and kids. Women's 501 Skinny Jeans. If your 501’s are made from white line (or id-less) selvedge denim, they’re most likely produced before 1927. It’s safe to assume that today, nearly twenty years later, this value would have almost doubled. Image via eBay. Levi’s ® denim is known for quality, style, and fit. This rule has its exceptions, so you can also look for letter stamps on buttons, typically letters like K or S or a number on the pocket-enforcing rivets. By the 1970s, the copper orange was the dominant thread color and by the end of the decade, the lemon yellow thread was phased out completely. Please enable it to continue. In 1915, they started buying denim from Cone Mills, Greensboro, North Carolina, and seven years later they were using Cone Denim exclusively. We hope that helps you determine the rough age of your potential vintage find. The simplest way to separate them is to look at the care label. Exposed rivets, belt loops, and no red tab on a pair of repro jeans. However, take this step with a grain of salt, as many jeans were re-hemmed by the wearer. If they do have a selvedge watch pocket your 501s are produced earlier than 1966 and you can proceed to step 7. Add to. No arcuate stitch on the back pocket of these S501XX, instead they were painted which has eventually rubbed off. Originally worn by miners, the blue jeans quickly became a popular fashion item throughout the 20th century. As a rule, jeans with a single stamped digit (2, 5, 6, W) for example are older than jeans with a 3 digit stamping on the top of the button. If they do have a selvedge watch pocket your 501s are produced earlier than 1966 and you can proceed to step 7. When Levi’s developed their waist overalls, they were buying their denim exclusively from the Amoskeag Denim Mills in Manchester, New Hampshire. I mean, it doesn’t actually – but for the sake of dating your 501’s a decipherable Two Horse brand patch will tell you a lot about when your 501’s were produced.