Tag guide · RN 72987 · CA 22134
Brockum
Brockum tag history
Brockum was a merchandising company rather than a pure blank maker. It held licenses for major touring acts in the late 1980s and 1990s and printed official tour and band shirts on a range of blanks.
Because Brockum printed on different blanks, a Brockum shirt can show a Brockum label, a blank-maker tag, or both. The printed copyright line under or beside the graphic is often the strongest clue.
For collectors, Brockum signals official, licensed merch. That matters when comparing a shirt against bootlegs, which can be collectible too but are valued differently.
How to date a Brockum tag by era
1987–1991
Tags read "Brockum Worldwide"; often printed on Hanes or Giant blanks.
1992–1999
Brockum woven tag with copyright dates on the print itself.
Single stitch vs double stitch on Brockum
Single stitch until about 1994.
Real signs
- Copyright line with year under the graphic
- Licensed artwork with crisp halftones
Red flags
- Missing copyright line
- Pixelated scanned artwork
How to authenticate a Brockum tee
Copyright line
Look for a copyright symbol, year and licensor name on the print. Missing or wrong-era lines are worth investigating.
Print quality
Official merch generally has clean screen-printed halftones. Pixelated edges or a soaked-in digital look suggests a modern reproduction.
Blank consistency
Check that whatever blank the shirt is printed on is itself era-correct using the rest of this directory.
Tour dates
Back prints listing tour dates and cities should match the act's real tour history for that year.
Archive tees on Brockum blanks
What collectors should know about Brockum
Brockum operated as a merchandiser rather than only a blank maker, so the tag frequently appears on official tour merchandise for major rock acts of the late 80s and 90s.
Brockum tags often carry copyright and licensing information close to the label or on the print itself. A copyright line that matches the tour year is a strong supporting signal.
Brockum shirts were printed on a mix of underlying blanks, so fabric weight can vary from one shirt to the next even within the same era.
Anatomy of a Brockum tag: what to read, line by line
Front of the tag
On a Brockum tag, start with the logo, font and colors. Compare letter spacing and ink tone against confirmed examples from the same era; modern reproductions often look too crisp, too bright or slightly off in proportion.
Size marking
Look at how the size is shown on the Brockum tag: printed directly, on a separate size tab, or stamped. Era changes often show up first in small details like size placement.
Fabric content line
The fiber content line (for example 50/50, 100% cotton or tri-blend) should match how the shirt actually feels. A heavy, stiff shirt with a tag claiming paper-thin 50/50 is a mismatch worth questioning.
Country of origin
"Made in USA" lines are common on older Brockum tags. Later shirts may say assembled elsewhere from U.S. components, or list a fully offshore origin. This one line often narrows the date range more than anything else.
RN number and care text
The RN number identifies the company responsible for the garment. Care instructions and symbols also changed over time; modern pictogram-heavy care labels on a supposedly early tee are a red flag.
How the tag is attached
Check the thread holding the tag. Original stitching should look as aged as the collar. Fresh, bright thread or extra needle holes suggest a tag was swapped or re-sewn.
Brockum country of origin timeline
Late 1970s – 1980s
Most Brockum shirts collectors encounter from this period are U.S.-made, often in thin 50/50 or soft cotton, with single-stitch sleeves and hems.
Early – mid 1990s
Fabric weights increase across the industry and 100% cotton becomes more common. Single stitch gradually gives way to double stitch around 1994–1996.
Late 1990s
Production shifts offshore across most U.S. apparel brands. Tags begin listing Mexico, Central America or other origins, and double stitch becomes the norm.
2000s and later
Any Brockum tag produced in this era should be treated as modern for collecting purposes, even if the graphic references an older band, film or event.
Vintage Brockum sizing: pit to pit and length
Vintage sizes run differently from modern ones and vary shirt to shirt. These are typical ranges collectors report; always ask for real measurements before buying.
| Tag size | Pit to pit | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Small (vintage) | 17–18 in | 25–26 in |
| Medium (vintage) | 19–20 in | 26–27 in |
| Large (vintage) | 20–21.5 in | 27–28 in |
| XL (vintage) | 22–23.5 in | 28–30 in |
| XXL (vintage) | 24–26 in | 29–31 in |
Shirts commonly found on Brockum blanks
- Official arena rock tour shirts
- Classic rock reunion tours
- Metal and hard rock tours
- Pop and dance acts of the early 90s
- Festival lineup tees
How Brockum fakes and reprints are made
Reproduced tags on modern blanks
Some sellers attach printed copies of a Brockum tag to new shirts. The giveaway is usually the blank itself: modern double-stitched hems, tubular vs side-seam construction mismatches, and fabric that feels too uniform.
Swapped tags
A genuine old tag can be cut from a cheap shirt and sewn into a reprint. Look for extra needle holes in the collar, mismatched thread color, and tags that are noticeably cleaner or dirtier than the collar around them.
Artificial aging
Sanding, bleaching and heavy washing can fake fade. Real age wears unevenly: collars, cuffs, armpits and print edges fade first, while protected areas stay darker.
Too-perfect prints
Digitally printed or freshly screen-printed reproductions often have flat, plastic-feeling ink with no cracking. Vintage plastisol and water-based prints show cracking, softening and fading that follows the fabric's wear.
Buying a Brockum tee online: checklist
- Ask the seller for clear photos of both sides of the Brockum tag, the sleeve hem, bottom hem and any copyright line on the print.
- Request pit-to-pit and length measurements in inches; vintage tag sizes run differently from modern sizing.
- Check for holes, stains and dry rot by asking for photos in natural light, held up to a window.
- Compare the listing against several confirmed examples, not just one reference photo.
- Be extra careful with high-value graphics: the more valuable a shirt is, the more likely it has been reproduced.
Brockum tag FAQ
Is Brockum a blank or a licensor?
Brockum was a merchandiser that printed on several blanks; the print copyright line is key.
Is Brockum a T-shirt blank?
Brockum is best known as a licensed merch company that printed on several blanks, so the print details matter more than one tag.
Are Brockum shirts official?
Brockum produced licensed merchandise, so a genuine Brockum shirt is generally considered official merch.
Does a Brockum tag prove a shirt is vintage?
No. Tags can be cut from old shirts and sewn into new ones. Confirm the tag agrees with the stitching, fabric weight, print method and wear before trusting it.
How much is a vintage Brockum tee worth?
The blank rarely sets the price. The graphic, band or subject, size, condition and whether it is single stitch drive value. The Brockum tag mainly helps confirm age.
How do I fit a vintage Brockum shirt?
Ignore the size on the tag and measure pit to pit and length. Decades of washing shrink and twist old cotton, so a tagged XL often fits like a modern medium or large.