1940s-1950s Era BLUE WING Indigo Denim Button Fly Lace Back Dungarees

BLUE WING registered trademark printed label. Not quite sure of the answer to the A LITLE BETR puzzle that finds the second T in LITTLE and the second T & E in BETTER omitted. Was another manufacturer already using the phrase A LITTLE BETTER?

This pair of Blue Wing brand button fly lace back dungarees likely dates to the 1940s-1950s and has been part of the vintage workwear archive since around 2003. We had offered these for sale via The San Fernando Valley Mercantile Co. at The Rose Bowl a few years back for what we believed to be the reasonable price of just over $250 but didn't get much interest at the time, likely due to the smaller sized 30" waist and the wider leg opening. This pair would later be used for design inspiration for the lace back adjustment on the BEAR BRAND Indigo Dyed Selvedge Denim Engineer & Workman Cap below, available via The San Fernando Valley Mercantile Co.

1940s Era Carhartt Whipcord Convert Cloth Lace Back Pants Lot 22W

photos courtesy of tuckerduds

Awesome 1940's era Carhartt convert cloth (salt & pepper) whipcord work pants with button fly and lace-back adjustment Lot 22W. Dead stock condition with CARHARTT'S FROM MILL TO MILLIONS" UNION MADE lot & size tag

Vintage FLINT Chore Coat with Chin Strap Mfg. by Schramm & Schmeig Co.

photos courtesy of skating911

This beautiful FLINT coat made of ERWIN BLUSERGE DENIM just ended with a crazy final bid of $5,525... without meeting the sellers reserve. 

The coat was listed as circa 1915 which I believe to be incorrect due to the fact that along with the WWII war era wreath and star buttons, the label (not so) clearly states SANFORIZED. The SANFORIZED fabric shrinkage control process trademark was first registered in the USA in 1930. According to Paul Trynka the highly knowledgeable author & denim aficionado, whose book DENIM FROM COWBOYS TO CATWALKS was an early inspiration for yours truly, the SANFORIZED process was first used by Erwin Mills in 1936 to make denim for overalls marketed under J.C. Penney’s Big Mac label.

Just over one year ago we shared an ERWIN Blueserge Denim Coat that is part of the vintageworkwear.com collection. The coat along with a bit of history on the Erwin Mills can be found here.

A nice piece on Flint Hill Overalls manufactured by Schramm & Schmieg Dry Goods Company can be found at the great blog UNION-MADE here.

Another informative piece on Flint Hill Overalls can be found at one of our favorite blogs YOUR OLD PAL, JIM here

Vintage BIG YANK Diamond Match Co. Matchbook Covers

Received a nice gift from our friend Randy Jones of the TIKI RANCH at the recent Rose Bowl Flea Market. Funny that it was given with the disclaimer "you probably already have one of these but I thought you would like it". I knew I had one in the collection but appreciated his nice gift and gesture none the less. Upon digging out the earlier matchbook cover I was pleasantly surprised to see that the new piece was a slightly different variation showing a different color cigarette pocket shirt.
As the old saying goes, "It's the little things in life that mean the most" and this piece fits the bill quite nicely. Thanks Randy!

Levon Helm; Musician and Actor… May Your Journey Be Peaceful And Filled With Love

One of our favorite musicians and actors is winding down what has been a beautiful and fruitful life and our thoughts and prayers are with him.  Best known as both the drummer and one of three lead vocalists for the legendary rock group THE BAND, Levon Helm also made a name for himself as an accomplished actor, appearing in multiple films including Coal Miners Daughter as Loretta Lynn's father and his sensitive portrayal of the destitute blind man with a Mexican radio in the much favored The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada', both alongside Tommy Lee Jones (another favorite). His performance in The Last Waltz documenting The Band's 1978 farewell concert at Bill Graham's Fillmore West and directed by Martin Scorsese was a joy to behold. The Band's track The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down has always given chills, the song is now more poignant than ever. I have fond memories of heading over the Cahuenga Pass into Hollywood to see The Last Waltz at The Pantages Theater some 30 plus years ago. Godspeed Levon.

 

Wearing the Blue and Brown: Papa's Gold Coast Trading Post

Just came across some nice vintage workwear, military and vintage inspired gear currently being offered via ebay by our friend the Papa of Papa Nui Says... fame. Check the links below and as Joe Strummer once said "start wearing the blue and brown", Papa style. 

    
Vintage DENIM COVERALL JACKET, blanket lined with Dearborn Farm Equipment Patch

8 HOUR UNION dark brown duck DOUBLE FRONT PANTS

1940s-MILITARY DENIM COVERALL JACKET, blanket lined with donut wreath & star buttons

Vintage HETTRICK MFG. CO. AMERICAN FIELD hbt lined DUCK HUNTING and SHOOTING COAT

 REAL McCOYS BUZZ RICKSON VINTAGE DOUBLE V SWEATSHIRT usmc aviator monster Big Daddy Roth inspired

     Vintage BRILL BROS. US NAVY/USMC SUMMER FLIGHT JACKET

For your listening pleasure, THE CLASH perform the track Clampdown live on the abc TV show "Fridays", April 25 1980 in Los Angeles California.

Video courtesy of  pittrek81

CARTER'S Watch the Wear: The Vintage Garments Part 1

Deadstock CARTER'S Watch the Wear Union Made button front dungarees. Manufactured by H.W. Carter & Sons, likely dating to the 1950s, possibly as early as late 1940s. This garment includes the following details.

• Indigo dyed selvedge denim with heavy grain

• Double needle top stitching in two shades of green 

• Chain stitched main seams and waistband

• Green bar-tacking at points of strain

• Button front fly with Scovill nickle plated embossed snap closure

• Diamond crotch gusset

• CARTERS Watch the Wear machine loomed rayon label

• Union Made in the USA

Close up of CARTER'S Watch the Wear machine loomed rayon label

Interior view of chain stitched main seams and waistband and bar-tacked belt loop details

 Scovill nickle plated embossed front snap closure. Later snaps would be brass gilt plated

Button fly with donut hole type buttons

Diamond crotch gusset often seen in vintage work pants (rarely seen in dungarees)

Close up of the heavy grain indigo dyed selvedge denim. Double needle top stitching in two shades of green thread

Interior close up of chain stitched main seams with green and yellow thread

A.F. of L. United Garment Workers of America DUCK GOODS union label

Inspection tag found inside the lined back pocket states "Guaranteed to be of extra high quality, a new one free if not completely satisfied"

Exposed selvedge edge on inside leg seam

Vintage 1950s-60s CARTERS Watch the Wear indigo dyed selvedge denim apron with embossed Scovill gilt buttons and dual prong type single loop buckle strap fasteners.

Apron includes the following details.

• Indigo dyed selvedge denim with heavy grain

• Primitive crude construction with single needle stitching and lots of character 

• Bar-tacking at points of strain

• Attached selvedge edge denim straps with Scovill gilt plated embossed shank buttons and single loop prong type fasteners

• CARTER'S Watch the Wear printed rayon label

• Union Made in the USA

1950s-60s era CARTER'S Watch the Wear work apron

Printed rayon label

Backside shows narrow loom denim with exposed selvedge edging. Also seen is crudely sewn upper extension piece that has been added to the not so horizontal edge of the single piece main body of the apron

Scovill embossed gilt fastener and single loop prong type buckle

More selvedge and close up of unique single loop buckle fastener

A.F of L. United Garment Workers of America DUCK GOODS union label

We have been a big fans of CARTER's Watch the Wear vintage for some time now having worn, collected and sold more than a few garments over the past few years. Above is part 1 of a multi part installment featuring vintage NOS and used CARTER'S Watch the Wear garments from the vintage workwear archive. We were pleased to see the reintroduction of the proud H. W. CARTER name to the world of vintage inspired workwear, especially when considering the talented folks behind the effort. From what I've seen, the new H.W. Carter & Sons collection of aprons, chore coats, dungarees and especially the more affordable staple of the working man, the bandanna all look real nice.
For those having not already done so, check out some of the new gear and get the lowdown via A CONTINUOUS LEAN and RivetHEAD.

The 1996 court case between H.W. CARTER & SONS, INC., and AMERICAN MARKETING ENTERPRISES, INC., Plaintiffs, against THE WILLIAM CARTER CO., Defendant provides a basic history of both brands and an explanation of the H.W. Carter & Sons CARTER'S Watch the Wear line of work clothing "coexisting" with Wm. Carter's line of children's clothes since the 1860's.

CONES "BOSS" OVERALLS and JACKETS 1901 Print Ad

1901 print ad for Cones' "BOSS" OVERALLS and JACKETS. 

UNION MADE by The C.B. Cones & Son Mfg. Co., Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Manufactured since 1879 according to the ad copy and publication date.