THE DUST BOWL...A Film by Ken Burns

A young boy in dust storm, Oklahoma, 1936. Photo Arthur Rothstein

Last night while program guide surfing I was fortunate to come across part 2 of the THE DUST BOWL the fantastic new film by Academy Award nominated producer /director Ken Burns. Having already been a fan of previous Burns' work including 1994's Baseball and 2001's Jazz, I figured his treatment of this subject would be top notch. The film far surpassed my expectations and put into perspective the plight of the mid west farmers of the Depression Era 1930's, the man-made destruction and restoration of the southern Plains along with the migration west to California in search of a fresh start and new life. 

The FSA photography of Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange along with the film The Grapes of Wrath have long been a source of enjoyment and inspiration and Burn's Dust Bowl documentary helps to share some of the history behind those iconic images and story.

Migrant man working on a headlight. Oklahoma, 1939. Photo Russell Lee

Migrant boys in auto. Oklahoma 1939. Photo Russell Lee

Migrant man looking up at billboard. Iowa, 1940. Photo John Vachon

We highly recommend you check your local listings or hit the link for the PBS rebroadcast schedule of THE DUST BOWL including The Great Plow Up (part 1) and Reaping the Whirlwind (part 2).

Browse the Library of Congress Farm Security Administration photos here.

Also check out our friend Matt Strickland's informative blog RivetHEAD for his photo of the day, many featuring Depression Era thru 1950's American workers.

LUNCH ATOP A SKYSCRAPER, 80 YEARS AGO TODAY

Photo via MailOnline/Reuters

September 20 marks the 80th anniversary of the day the iconic Depression Era photo of 11 workers "taking their lunch break" was shot 69 stories above the streets of Manhattan in N.Y.C.  The photograph was taken during the construction of the RCA Building which would later be renamed the GE Building, now part of Rockefeller Center. 
Seems this breathtaking photo wasn't as spontaneous as figured for all these years. The trailer below is for a new film titled MEN AT LUNCH which was recently shown as part of the Toronto Film Festival. 
Thanks to Matt Strickland aka RivetHEAD for the heads up.

1930s Neustadter Brothers BOSS OF THE ROAD Union Made Bull Dog Jeans Lot & Size Waist Label

Vintage 1930s GIBRALTAR BRAND Work Coat

Our friend Kevin from THRIFT SCORE... AND MORE... reached out recently to see if we could shed light what surely must be one of his all time great "scores". After watching and waiting to see just how high the bidding would go (and oh boy did it go, reaching just north of $3200) it's now time to share this fantastic piece. Well done K!

1930 GIBRALTAR TRIPLE STITCHED vintage workwear ad

N.O.S. 1930s era GIBRALTAR BRAND work coat with angular watch pocket & pencil slot

 Remnants of the original GIBRALTAR BRAND TRIPLE STITCHED paper flasher

GIBRALTAR BRAND work coat photos courtesy of The Kentucky Junker

Brand history: In the 1870s, three brothers, Edward, George and Charles Butler, started a business venture that would eventually become one of the greatest business success stories in American history. Together, the three brothers came up with the idea to sell wholesale merchandise to retail stores through the mail and use catalogs as their selling tool. Butler Brothers a division of American Wholesale Corporation, opened their first warehouse in Boston in 1877. In 1879, the brothers moved their business to Chicago. The business expanded to New York (1880), St. Louis (1898), Minneapolis (1907), Dallas (1911), Baltimore (1930), and San Francisco (1932). Gibraltar Brand overalls and coats was one of their trademarked brands.

New Old Stock 1930's Lee Union Made Sanforized Shrunk Housemark Label Overalls

2 killer lots of 1930's era Lee "Housemark" Label Union Made Sanforized Shrunk Overalls courtesy of casims1

Lot of 5 features rare original pocket flashers, tags and even more rare paper bag packaging

 Lot of 4 features rarely seen full color pocket flashers and original tags

1940's era Lee Overalls Union Made advertizing sign courtesy of indian-head

Lee JELT DENIM Overalls flasher courtesy of the most excellent blog Union-Made.

Much respect to this great looking and informative resource, a must visit location for those who appreciate vintage graphic design and work wear history

Vintage Levi Strauss Wool Belt Back Jacket

1930's era Levi Strauss zipper front work jacket in burgandy wool with much favored belt back design. Levis Vintage Clothing current offerings includes a 1930's leather jacket with similar shape. This wool jacket would make a nice addition to the LVC line and includes the following details.

• Pointed collar

• 2 front slash type pockets

• Levi Strauss LS Co. loomed label

• Talon deco type zipper   

• Belted back with pleats

• Cuffs with sport type buttons

Photos courtesy of Dutch-Indo

1930's Era BIG YANK DELUXE Vintage Work Shirt

Killer 1930's era BIG YANK DELUXE work shirt

• Near deadstock condition 
• Cigarette pocket with pencil slot and BIG YANK engraved metal button 
• Double layer strain-proof shoulder yoke with signature curved stitching
• Contrasting stitching
• Sanforized fabric 
• Selvedge edge lower hem gussets.

Shirt photos via 8onrepeat vintage clothing