First pair of Denims.

[George Gunn]

I was young and just wanted to be one of the boys and I quickly worked out that I needed to wear the unofficial uniform, a pair of Levis ,wranglers or a pair of Lee jeans.The deck crew wore them for work and going ashore they even had them cut down to shorts !! the galley boy wore them and the stewards wore them when going ashore. I had to get a pair !! Managed to get a pair of Lee jeans in Rotterdam I was over the moon the only problem was that they were hard and stiff and could stand on their own. I asked some of the old hands how can I get them to look like there's , worn and faded , you can imagine some of the suggestions, scrub with caustic soda, with diesel, and vinegar etc, etc.The option I went for was to tie a line through the belt loops and secure to the railing then over the side and leave overnight !!!Next morning ,no jeans !! heartbroken !! Anyway couple days later joined some of the boys for smoko and tab-nabs out on deck became aware that they were smirking and looking at me couldn't work out what was going on until I looked up and there were my Lee jeans attached to a samson post, more ribbing but it never did me any harm.
PS.
It took a lot of scrubbing to make me look like an old hand.

[Mo Docherty]

were you in the jeans

[Tony Taylor]

I was young and just wanted to be one of the boys and I quickly worked out that I needed to wear the unofficial uniform, a pair of Levis ,wranglers or a pair of Lee jeans.The deck crew wore them for work and going ashore they even had them cut down to shorts !! the galley boy wore them and the stewards wore them when going ashore. I had to get a pair !! Managed to get a pair of Lee jeans in Rotterdam I was over the moon the only problem was that they were hard and stiff and could stand on their own. I asked some of the old hands how can I get them to look like there's , worn and faded , you can imagine some of the suggestions, scrub with caustic soda, with diesel, and vinegar etc, etc.The option I went for was to tie a line through the belt loops and secure to the railing then over the side and leave overnight !!!Next morning ,no jeans !! heartbroken !! Anyway couple days later joined some of the boys for smoko and tab-nabs out on deck became aware that they were smirking and looking at me couldn't work out what was going on until I looked up and there were my Lee jeans attached to a samson post, more ribbing but it never did me any harm.
PS.
It took a lot of scrubbing to make me look like an old hand.

I once sailed with an engine room storekeeper who joined in Levi jeans and jacket and baseball boots, white teeshirt under the jacket.
That was all he had. He turned to in jeans and tee shirt, baseball boots minus the laces. Washed all every night and just lived in a towel.
Going ashore, he put laces in the boots .

[j.sabourn]

Did he have to bend down to put the laces in his baseball boots Tony if so bet he made sure he put his jeans on first . JS

[happy daze john in oz]

My first ever pair were bought for me by my aunt in a Newcastle store.
Brougt them home for me saying how good I would look in them, I was only about ten at the time.

Fine but can I have a male pair I asked when I saw them.
Bloody female ones with the zip on the side.
We went back to the store and got it sorted.

[j.sabourn]

Your lucky John as said once before I was 13 before got my first long pants. Excuse was let the air get to your knees , and you know what the air was liken in the NE especially in winter., JS

[George Gunn]

You have just made me think Mo, glad that they weren't Levis as they were supposed be (shrink to fit ) remember the advert with the guy sitting in the bath of water to make his jeans fit. God knows what that lot might have done to me !!!

[j.sabourn]

#1.,Thats the way you buy them today and pay extra for the holes in them. Some wealthy person calling himself a designer had to stick a spike through various parts to make them look authentic. Being careful not to be wearing them,when he did so . JS

[Johnny Kieran]

First pair of long trousers offa me bruva when I was 12, then jeans offa me bruva like everything else I wore.
Used to get loadsa jeans, pants and jackets in the US, then flog em all off in Kiwi for a great profit, they loved em. I still wear "Wranglers", but they're not so good as the old ones. Also used to buy "Big Yank" jeans for myself, they were right classy.

[Mo Docherty]

George,good one