The Levi’s 70505-0217 – popularly known as the Type III Trucker jacket – has a slimmed down and slightly longer silhouette compared to its predecessors, the Type I and the Type II.
The jacket has 2 side adjusters on the waistband instead of a cinch, a change that was implemented on the 507XX Type II jacket from the 50s. Also, the 70505 features the characteristic pointed pocket flaps and a double sided Big E red tab.
This Levi’s Vintage Clothing reproduction of the jacket from 1967 was made at the Valencia Street factory in San Francisco, which closed 10 years ago this year.
The jacket is made of pre-shrunk denim (indicated by the 0217-fabric code in the lot number) and you should buy your exact size. However, be aware that it’s rather slim fitting around the waist but ‘buff’ in the sleeves.
This jacket has been worn about 30-40 times and rinsed a single time.
Button stamp ‘555’ = made on the original factory from 1906 in San Francisco.
These beautiful two-tone stitchings are found throughout the jacket.
Notice the size 40 like on originals. On newer reproductions you’ll find S, M, L etc.
29 comments
I have a big E 70505-0217 jacket that has just “52” on the back of the buttons. It has brown print on the tan tag inside between the shoulders and that has a part that extends to the right of the stitching that repeats the size. It was made in the US, according to the tan tag. Is there a way to more precisely date this jacket? I has only been washed once.
I’m an expert, because I”m wearing Denim for 40 years now. I now specialy about Levis. Oscar have got an original Trucker jacket from 1969. 5 means made in the original levis factory in SF. 25 is the factory code as they were few in the USA. the original small tag was intoduced in 1969.
I need your expert advise. I have a Levis small e 70505-0217, made in the usa, and the back button stamp says 52. So the 5 means it was made in the original san fran shop? what does the 2 second digit mean? Id be delighted if you get back to me. I love levis and their role in outfitting the rebels of America. To me, it is my armour
Hi Devlin,
The only factory that we know with certainty refers to the Valencia St factory is 555. The 52 could be a predecessor to the 552 code, which is not Valencia St, but another US-factory used in the 90s and early 00s. So your jacket was most likely not made in the original San Francisco factory, but the condition is also more important, if you ask us, when it comes to the value of it.
Please upload a few photos of the leather-like neck patch, the care label (if there is one), and the back of the buttons.
Hello, it’s been awhile since anyone has replied to this thread, so I wanted to check and see if there’s been any new discoveries re: the numbering system? I just bought a big “e” type 3 with no care label and all the other signs of a pre-71 jacket. All of the buttons except one have “525” stamped on it. The left chest pocket oddly has “522”. Any information or more specificity re: which factory it might have been made in would be appreciated!
Hi Fred,
Sadly we haven’t made any new discoveries lately on this matter, but it’s very interesting that you have a garment with two different stamps. For a while, I have been wondering whether it’s actually true that the stamps are always factory specific. They probably usually are, but it could be that one factory ran out and then got some buttons from another factory. It’s the same as the lemon stitch and other era-specific details, not all product from that era have it, and it may be found on products that “shouldn’t” have it.
Let’s face it, Levi’s and their factories weren’t always that consistent; back then it didn’t matter much. The products were (and still are) made by humans and one worker may have used a different thread (or in your case a different button) than the one sitting next to him/her. If only they had know that people would one day care about these details 🙂
– Thomas Stege Bojer
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for the quick and thoughtful reply. Hopefully as interest in these garments keeps rising, more information will come to light. I’ve uploaded a picture of the “522” stamp just for record.
My biggest concern is that I’ve read on some threads that a 3 digit code means that the jacket was made post-1970’s – meaning, my jacket is a repro. Do you know if that is true and are there other ways to tell whether a big “e” with domed buttons, single stitch by the bottom button, black stitch reinforced pockets, with a small label, and no care tag is genuine or not?
Otherwise, I’m fine with a little mystery and happy with the quality of the jacket as is.
Thanks again!
– Fred
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for the quick and thoughtful reply. Hopefully as interest in these garments keeps rising, more information will come to light. I’ve uploaded a picture of the “522” stamp just for record.
My biggest concern is that I’ve read on some threads that a 3 digit code means that the jacket was made post-1970’s – meaning, my jacket is a repro. Do you know if that is true and are there other ways to tell whether a big “e” with domed buttons, single stitch by the bottom button, black stitch reinforced pockets, with a small label, and no care tag is genuine or not?
Otherwise, I’m fine with a little mystery and happy with the quality of the jacket as is. Thanks again!
“522” stamp.
There is no care tag, only the leather patch, which I uploaded before.
All right, just wanted to make sure it isn’t a repro 🙂
Maybe it’s time we contact Levi’s again and ask if it wouldn’t make sense to help us research on this topic.
Sounds great! Not sure if this will help, but I picked mine up in a used clothing store in NYC, and here are a list of other “525” type 3’s that have come up in the last couple of years:
http://www.reddit.com/r/rawdenim/comments/272dwl/another_levis_trucker_id_thread/
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Awesome-Vintage-Levi-s-Denim-Jacket-Type-3-Trucker-525-Button-Blanket-Lined-/331482797760
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-LEVIS-jean-jacket-denim-BIG-E-single-type-3-rivets-stamped-525-/271845960748
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-LEVIS-jean-jacket-denim-BIG-E-single-type-3-rivets-stamped-525-/281717842149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4197b120e5
What does the care tag look like (if there is one)?
I recently bought this item from goodwill for 5$ and it had the 70505-0217 stamp but I’m not sure if it’s a reproduction (if they made reproductions) it also does not have numbers on the back of the buttons. is it a real vintage jacket?
Hi, I have my Dad’s Levis jacket, but it has a big E but on a white tab. In the back there isn’t a leather logo but a material embroidered logo. How can I find out the type of jacket? Can anybody help? Thanks!! Sarah, UK
I have a “Vintage?” Trucker jacket with no hand warmer pockets, donut hole buttons, large leather levis tag inside, no inside pockets and red flannel lined, all single row stitching. This was purchased on eBay about two years ago and never worn. I was wondering the time frame and the possible value of the jacket or if its a possible counterfeit
Hi trucketbob,
Does the jacket have a white care label inside? If so, it’s probably from the LVC collection.
Yes it did have a white care tag, no longer does. Can you tell me the age and possible value of this jacket
Without more info than this it is impossible for us to tell you about age and price – it will also highly depend on the condition.
Did you remove the care tag yourself? What does it say on the back on the buttons (there’s a button stamp code as you see in the picture above in the article).
No, the tag was removed when I got the jacket. I don’t believe the jacket has ever been worn, it appears to be new, its a washed denim with donut hole buttons, on the inside button is stamped 3431
All right, we have tried to get details about the factory button stamps from Levi’s, but whenever you ask they clam up. So we do not know what 3431 refers to, but it almost definitely means that the jacket was made in the 21st century. Which would very likely make in an LVC piece, and i.e. not a vintage one.
I have a big E jacket with 57 on the back of the buttons I’ve had it for 40 years and it was my boyfriends dad’s before that. Orange stitching, no hand warmers on label inside. Blanket lined. Does any one know how old it is?
I just purchased a Big E 70505-0217 Levis jacket at a thrift store and am wondering if it is genuine vintage. It has all the markings and details of a 1969 Big E Trucker jacket, except it has a white care tag under the small leather badge and a perforated leather size tag. Size is 38 on both the badge and perforated tag. Also, the buttons are stamped 526 on the back. Can anyone help me identify whether this is a repro or vintage? I’m stuck on this one.
Hi Lance,
Sure we can. Upload pictures of the details based on what we highlight in the article and we’ll see if we can help you.
I see worn “525” buttons everywhere except on the two chest pockets which read “522” (“E” w/o tags).
I got a jacket used jacket online. It is in really good condition. it looks unused and for a jacket made in the early 70’s that’s hard to believe.
Could this jacket be a reproduction? or is it a legit jacket that somehow was never used? All the buttons are stamped with 522 except for the 2 buttons on the front pockets which are not stamped.
Hi! I just bought a Levi’s Trucker Jacket, and am https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/91c809e77eec9f89356faa7c61f652077042ec8922e71a39e412f7d47501dad7.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/83e65facf438687acefc6eaa268de30e92d0742d75f8288b5ec8168d499f6827.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/95d1c8de9ac1289e3c503df7ae02e76a315f3ab3453c80d8813a45ead8628ac4.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eee4e1bae6fd1967273552438aaaa28945f88e5ee8a706cced2043736dbe3175.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5c4e2e971ddacbd94570f19cb9a120e0129574cb56438dfea41b24e99da8b2d1.jpg hoping you can help me date it, or tell me if it’s a reproduction.
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: cheapest mexico drugs – mexico pharmacy
indian pharmacy online https://indiaph24.store/# cheapest online pharmacy india
indian pharmacy paypal