Showing posts with label Vintage Denim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vintage Denim. Show all posts

Jan 29, 2014

Hat of the Week: 1960s Era Penney's BIG-MAC Balloon Top Engineer Cap


First off, apologies to all the readers of this blog for the lack of posts this past year. While we have been sharing with INSTAGRAM @vintageworkwear, it can't take the place of this blog nor does it allow for the multiple photos or written word that help to share just a bit of information about the vintage work clothing we have a passion for. This vintage BIG-MAC denim engineer cap marks the first edition of our new weekly "Hat of the Week" installment and a renewed effort to share information and photos of the vintage workwear we love. Enjoy!

1960s era Penneys BIG-MAC six panel denim "balloon top" engineer cap.
The variation of fading seen on the different types of denim used to construct this cap result in an almost two-tone appearance. Reminiscent of traditional "Eastern" type railroad caps with their hickory stripe crown paired with a denim headband and visor.
Beautiful fade variations between the darker denim of the visor and headband and the lighter edge trim of the visor.
Close up of the lighter weight denim of the headband and visor along with the Penneys BIG-MAC UNION MADE size label.
Close up view of the heavier grain denim used on the six panel crown portion of the cap.

Apr 1, 2013

THE N.& W. MANUFACTURING CO. Manufacturers of Union Made Overalls, Coats, Dungarees, Etc.

Early 20th Century N & W invoice for goods and NOS Dungarees as seen in LIGHTNING MAGAZINE February 2013. From the vintageworkwear.com collection.
Photo credit: Tadashi Tawarayama

Feb 22, 2012

1950's Era HEADLIGHT HEADIES Vintage Dungarees

1950's Era HEADLIGHT OVERALLS brand, HEADIES model boys dungarees that recently sold for north of the $1500 dollar figure. Deadstock condition and Union Made in the USA of Sanforized denim. Thanks to backtotheunknown for this find, the photos and following information.  
"In the 1930’s, Headlight Overalls of Detroit merged with Crown Overall Mfg. Co. of Cincinnati.  The new company, Crown-Headlight, was headquartered in Cincinnati/San Francisco but continued to sell garments under both the Crown and Headlight brands. As the waist label on these jeans confirms, this pair is of the post-merger era.  The waist label also mentions federal specifications for textiles that were first introduced in April 1937.  Because Crown-Headlight was ultimately bought out by Carhartt in 1960. In the early 1950’s, advertisements for Headlight apparel marketed the Headies line of jeans as “High styled dungarees. Extra full cut to fit husky youths and boys.”

One reason these rarely seen fold down front pocket HEADIES caught our eye was due to sharing many of the design details as a similar pair of THE BIG FAVORITE boys dungarees, part of the vintageworkwear.com collection. They are seen in the photo below in addition to a older post here along with a THE BIG FAVORITE jacket.
A nice piece on HEADLIGHT OVERALLS manufacturer Larned Carter & Co. including this pair of 1930's era HEADLIGHT buckle back dungarees can be found at Blue Gold Blues
1930's era HEADLIGHT buckle back dungarees courtesy of Ragtop Vintage
1950's era HEADLIGHT button fly dungarees courtesy of Moth Food