Levis Jean Jacket question..

[Doug C]

What is the difference in a Type I truckers jacket and an S506XX... they look the exact same to me with the pleats and box stitching on either side of the front buttons.

Doug C

 

[Alan Eardley]

Sorry I posted this in the classifieds section by mistake, realized it as soon as I hit submit.. I meant it to go in the General Accutraments section.

Doug C

Doug,

If I may add...

The 'Type 1' jacket (that is, the original Type 1) is a 506XX. Pleated front, bar tacks, cinch back and one pocket (without or with flap, depending on whether is before or after 1947). The S (for simplified) was used in wartime but dropped after 1945.

The 'Type 2' jacket is the 507XX. Pleated front, bar tacks, waist tabs and two pockets (flaps with shirt weight denim underneath). 'Lemon and Lime' stitching. Rivet at wrist. Sold until 1962.

The 'Type 3' jacket is the 557XX. No pleats, two pockets with flaps (early models with shirt weight denim underneath). Waist tabs. 'V' seams from pockets to waist. Early models black bar tacking. Detail changes (e.g. buttons) until 1970. Last of the 'Capital E' jackets. Some people call this a 'trucker jacket'.

The jacket most often called the 'trucker jacket' is the 70503 - the longer four pocket jacket of the 1970s onward. Many features of the 557XX, but nowhere near as good in the opinion of many.

This is drastically summarised, but I hope it helps.

Alan

 

[Doug C]

Absolutely does help Alan - Thanks!

Doug C

 

[Alan Eardley]

Just to add that, strictly speaking, the 506 and 507 styles were called 'blouses' rather than jackets. I assume this refers to their shape and their lighter weight.

The 'XX', of course, refers to the type of denim.

Alan

 

[Baron Kurtz]

this (blouse designation) would be down to the shirt-like, rather than typical jacket, construction?

bk

 

[Alan Eardley]

this (blouse designation) would be down to the shirt-like, rather than typical jacket, construction?

bk

I think it's what Levi Strauss called them at the time. Perhaps a jacket was regarded as a longer item then, or perhaps it refers to the fact that they are rather full in the body (in other words they 'blouse'). The early models have small pleats (what I believe our trans-Atlantic cousins call 'pegs') at the yoke and waistband (where the cinches join the body) that causes the blousing.

Alan