Deadstock Vintage Carhartt Union Made Brown Duck Winter Cap. Grainy dark brown SANFORIZED duck canvas with fold down ear flaps and flannel lining and to help keep you warm and toasty on those cold winter days. United Cap & Hatters Millinery Workers Union label can be seen hiding behind the original size tag. Originally priced at $4.25, likely dates to the 1960's based on the cursive script label. From the vintageworkwear.com collection.
It's that time of the year when the seminal Cheech and Chong Christmas track Santa Claus And His Old Lady is in full rotation and our thoughts turn to another slice of classic old school humor.
The 1973 song and 1975 animated short film Basketball Jones by Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong hits the mark on so many levels, lets hope everyone "gets it" and enjoys it as much as we have for nearly 40 years. The fact that the film was produced at a time (pre MTV) when there were no traditional outlets for these types of music videos along with the "who's who" involved with both music and animation makes the Basketball Jones legacy all the more special. Some of the names who contributed will both surprise and impress. Enjoy!
Turn of the century Hamilton Carhartt Manufacturing Co. illustrated Union Made Work Clothing brochure with fabric samples. Cloth swatches include denim, heart print indigo dyed wabash, yarn dyed black cotton twill and a long time favorite pin-check referred to here as "highest grade and favorites in the south". The swatch of blue twill with grey and white twisted yarn warp or fill seen in the upper left corner is especially interesting. The taupe or olive colored twill seen in the lower right corner was used for New York state work uniforms. A similar color is found on vintage NYC workers uniform garments manufactured by Sweet-Orr. In addition to the various fabrics, the illustration of the rail worker holding the oil can (seen in the middle of the fabric swatches) and THE TROLLY CAR-HEART BRAND Union Made Pants and Overalls box logo are also seen in various Carhartt Railroad Time Books dating from 1900 to 1907 and help to date this mailer to the early 1900's.
A trio of super vintage work shirts recently brought to market dating from the early 1900's to the 1940's. These new old stock beauties will soon be to be on their way to new homes after decades of storage.
THE MOORE brand childs shirt with chin strap. Made from indigo dyed polka dot STIFEL cloth. Photos via graciemay0
MONITOR brand 7oz. cotton flannel work shirt. Photos via unpack
IRON ACE brand SANFORIZED grey chambray work shirt. Photos via unpack
A couple of vintage Thanksgiving post cards featuring workwear and patriotic themes along with the prerequisite tom turkey including Anvils, Airships, Labor, Overalls, Trains and Stars & Bars Shield.
Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
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.
