1890’s Levi Vintage 201

[Shotgun Steve]

This story is from last year but I thought some of you may have not seen the Levi's.

A pair of 1890’s Levi 201’s were found in the Mojave Desert in Californian. This find find in itself is not a common one but what is making this find a biggie is the condition of the denim jeans themselves. "They are covered in candlewax from the candle’s the miner was using to light the tunnel he was working in. They were found with and old paper bag with the name of a mercantile store which operated between 1895 and 1898 in the town or Randsburg. Their was also a gunny sack with the initials A.P.K. and Randsburg marked on it. A.P.K. is through to be Adam P. Kuffel who was a partner in the mercantile store."

[French Jack]

IIRC, you can check with Ron Hamilton, of Hamilton Dry Goods-- either he purchased these jeans in order to use them as a pattern for manufacturing replicas, or he paid a considerable sum in order to copy them.  At any rate, he is marketing replicas on his website.  I have seen them and they are very well done.

[Shotgun Steve]

Howdy Folks,
I have been told that the pictures I have posted are a fraud. I do not know one way or the other.
But to be safe I will just say use your own judgement because I cannot verifiy the photos.
If indeed they are fraudulent then I apologize for not researching more thourghly.

 Shotgun Steve

[Advertising]

[Tascosa Joe]

Ron Hamilton owned a pair of the early Levi's which he sold to the Levi Strauss Company.  He was/is selling copies.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Ron Hamilton owned a pair of the early Levi's which he sold to the Levi Strauss Company.  He was/is selling copies.

I own a pair of Ron's Levi reproduction . . . they are very well made & very comfortable in warm weather.

History question:

I know denim pants were often used by miners.  Is there any other pre-1900 occupation that frequently used denim pants?

[kflach]

Shotgun Steve,

Don't let those people who call your pictures a fraud get to you. It's clear  to anyone who actually takes the time to read your posts that *you* aren't making the claims - you're just citing what the source of the picture says.

Please don't stop posting these pictures - I've found them to be one of my favorite treats when I visit the forum!

[Shotgun Steve]

Thanks kflach I appreciate the kind words. The above levi's are suppose to be
pictures of the real deal for sale on ebay. I just wanted to clear that up. They ARE fakes...
so I wanted folks to know that they were indeed looking at fakes. I do the best I can but
I only have so much time to research the photos I put up and sometimes I get it wrong!!

[Lone Gunman]

I only have so much time to research the photos I put up and sometimes I get it wrong!!

A young man is walking through a small village one day and decides to stop by a bar and have a beer. He walks into a bar, and sees a grizzled old man, crying into his beer. Curious, the young man sits down and says, "Hey old timer, why the long face?"
The old man looks at him and points out the window, "See that dock out there? I built that dock with my own two hands, plank by plank, nail by nail, but do they call me McGregor the dockbuilder? No, no."
The old man continued, "And see that ship out there? I’ve been fishing these waters for my village for 35 years! But do they call me McGregor the fisherman? No, no."
The old man continued, "And see all the crops in the farms out there? I planted and have been farming those crops for my village for nearly 45 years! But do they call me McGregor the farmer? No, no."
The old man starts to cry again, "But you have "relations" with one goat and you are forever called McGregor the Goat &$#%'er..."     

[Shotgun Steve]

Thanks Lone Gunman.....You are a helpful man.....NOT!!!!

[Skeeter Lewis]

I'll second kflach. Yours is the name I look for here.

[Bryan Austin]

So whats the latest on purchasing repro Levis? Hamilton website is down for me!

[Tjackstephens]

Talked to the late Ron Hamilton one time and he did sell a true ole time pair of Levis for a large sum. He also did make copies of those jeans. I have a pair. The last time I talked to him before his death he did not have any. Hamilton's Dry Goods is still in operation, it is family owned.  They do set up at our NCOWS National in Evansville. The pants are very good. You might check with Hamilton Dry Goods to see if you can get a pair. All their products are well made and at a good price. Most all are made in the USA. Tj 

[Delmonico]

History question:

I know denim pants were often used by miners.  Is there any other pre-1900 occupation that frequently used denim pants?

Rail Road workers did too.  As a interesting note, when you look thrugh Civil War photos you once in a while see what has to be a pair of blue denium jeans because the color when they are cuffed.  Most often shows up early in the war on southern troops from Texas and Louisiana.  Where they came from I don't know.  I need to scan these pictures next time I run into them.

[Montana Slim]

These are likely the replica jeans   

About 15 years ago, I saw a similar photo series showing similar jeans in similar settings.....but the jeans were a different color & in pretty crappy condition. I never saw any authentification ...but, looked like the real deal.

Regards,
Slim

[Delmonico]

Did a little research, one problem is most of the old Levi's records were destroyed in a fire in 1906, the one that burt up most of San Francisco. 

But there are bits and pieces out there so what I have found is that if they are genuine 201's they are from the first lot in 1890 where they first used the number, the next lot would have had 20101 as the lot of 201's.  Also the 201 was a less expensive version of the 501 and the suspender buttons would have been sew on rather than riveted.  Can't tell but the waist patch on these looks like leather, the 201 used linen.  Either way the patch looks to be in too good of condition for the rest of the pants. 

[Deadeye Dick]

Del,
That top pic of the patch looks more like linen than leather to me. The condition of the patch seems to be in line with the condition of the area it is attached to. Can you do your magic and blow it up to see what it looks like under your eagle eye?  
Deadeye Dick

[Delmonico]

Dick, I found a picture with more pixels, it does look like linen, but I still think the tag and lettering look to good for the condition of the pants. 

[Tascosa Joe]

Some where in my stuff.  I have several pictures of the pair of Levi's that Ron Hamilton had at Cheyenne in 1999 or 2000.  Del if I can find them I will send you a PM for a mailing address and you can see if you want to post them.

Joe

[Shotgun Franklin]

As a interesting note, when you look thrugh Civil War photos you once in a while see what has to be a pair of blue denium jeans because the color when they are cuffed.  Most often shows up early in the war on southern troops from Texas and Louisiana.  Where they came from I don't know.

Denim fabric was used a long time before Levi Strauss started making clothes. An American Revolution Era grave was opened and the deceased was buried in a full suit of Denim. The material originaly came from a small village in France. De Nim, from Nim, was later ran together in English. Texas did a lively trade with France as did Louisiana.

[Dr. Bob]

Levi made 201 and 501 jeans in the late 90's [1990's that is] or early this Century!  Lee made some similar with their detailing.  You can find them on eBay from time to time.  Not cheap, but not what the 19th Cen. ones fo for.  Usuall between $50 & $500.