1950s OSH KOSH B'gosh UNION MADE SANFORIZED Indigo Denim Lace Back Dungarees

SOLD via The San Fernando Valley Mercantile Co.

Vintage BIG BEN Salt & Pepper Convert Cloth Work Jacket

The San Fernando Valley Mercantile Co. had the pleasure of hooking up customer and San Fernando Valley resident Kelly with this vintage 1960s era BIG BEN brand work jacket at The Rose Bowl Flea Market this past Sunday. A simple cossack style short jacket constructed of salt & pepper twist twill cotton fabric (originally referred to as convert cloth) with quilted liner and Talon zipper that will be right at home as part of Kelly's big rig working uniform.
It's always great to see a favorite piece matched up with an appreciative and knowledgeable buyer; it's precisely these type of customers that bring a smile and remind us of just why we work hard to share our passion for vintage workwear.

BLUE BELL / BIG BEN / Wrangler company history.

1897 - 20-year old C.C. Hudson leaves Spring Hill Farm in Williamson County, Tennessee seeking fortune in the emerging textile town of Greensboro, North Carolina. He finds work in an overall factory sewing on buttons for 25 cents a day.
1904 - Hudson's workplace closes. He and a few others buy several sewing machines from the closing company. C.C. Hudson and his brother Homer form the Hudson Overall Company, operating from a loft over Coe Brothers Grocery on South Elm Street in Greensboro.
1919 - Sales of Hudson overalls are booming. The company moves to a larger headquarters and changes its name to Blue Bell Overall Company.
1926 - Big Ben Manufacturing of Kentucky (Est. 1915) purchases Blue Bell for $585,000. The name of the merged companies remains Blue Bell; headquarters remain in Greensboro.
1936 - Blue Bell introduces Super Big Ben Overalls, featuring 100% Sanforized fabric that reduces shrinkage to less than 1%, setting a new standard for the industry.
1947 - Blue Bell Inc. files U.S. federal trademark registration for Big Ben on Oct. 7.

SFV MERCANTILE'S MAKE ROOM FOR NEW BAGS / INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE 40% Off 20" Canvas & Leather Tool Bags NOW

The San Fernando Valley Mercantile Co. has gotta make room for new bags and are pricing the 20" Canvas & Leather Tool Bags to move. 40% off for one week only, sale ends 2 / 7 / 2012 or while supply lasts.

Enter promo code BAGBLOWOUT at check out.

 • M•P • 20" Canvas & Leather Tool Bag with Removable Adjustable Strap

As seen on SELECTISM

• M•P • 20" Natural Canvas & Leather Tool Bag with Removable Adjustable Strap

SFV MERCANTILE •M•P• CANVAS & LEATHER TOOL BAG W/ ADJUSTABLE LEATHER STRAP... AVAILABLE NOW

One of the new SFV MERCANTILE •M•P• Canvas & Leather Tool Bags available now via The San Fernando Valley Mercantile Co. Store. Taking inspiration from vintage BELL SYSTEM lineman's tool bags, this version retains virtually all of the features that contributed to the original bag's appeal and longevity, along with an upgrade or two for increased usability.  The vintage BELL SYSTEM bags seen in this earlier post show just how little the basic design has changed over the years.

• Green Cotton Duck Canvas
• Vegetable tanned top grain saddle leather handles and straps that will darken with use
• Vegetable tanned top grain saddle leather removable adjustable shoulder strap
• Highest quality leather bottom 
• Antiqued nickel hardware including all buckles, clips, studs & rivets
• Large interior pocket with San Fernando Valley Mercantile Co. printed label
• Hand stamped •M•P•  MFG BY SFV MERCANTILE logo
• Metal studs on bottom to protect from scrapes and abrasions
• Water resistant fiber board bottom helps bag retain shape
• Heavy Duty riveted steel frame opens wide and closes tight
• Measures 20" x 6" x 14" with 10" frame opening
• Proudly Made in USA

I have been using vintage versions of these bags for years, mostly for work and hauling tools. Vintage condition often dictates present day use including just what you can safely carry without fear of picking up funky smells or soil. Remember the vintage bags were used to haul tools & climbing gear in their first life and carried or stored a whole other array of who knows what in their secondary life.

Vintage BELL SYSTEM Canvas & Leather Lineman's Tool Bag, 1950's edition

SFV MERCANTILE •M•P• Canvas & Leather Tool Bag, 2011 edition

We proudly offer this new bag feeling it represents the classic "best of both worlds" scenario... authentic vintage styling & details along with modern day usability.