Dack's shoes question - Page 9

If memory serves, I have one pair of Hartt but with a thin sole. Still have the Hartt shoe trees too. My SO has a beautiful pair of Hartt captoe boots with an extremely tough nylon sole. They still look like new. To any thrifters out there, be aware that Hartt / Dack's made shoes for Eatons as well and I am sure there are plenty of pairs that still exist today.

I think I own 10 pair of Hartts and all of them have lasted extremely well. IIRC, they made the boots worn by the RCMP, which, if you've seen, look pretty well indestructible. Here's a link to a story about the company:
http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=2850

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

I have 2 more at work, including a burgundy slip-on and a black slip-on (so a total of 9, not 10).

Just as Dacks sold rebadged Cheaney, so too did Hartt -- see the carmel colored pair second from the bottom.

Damn.....you called my bluff...now I have to photo mine after all...will do asap.
Thank you for posting the photos. Yes those Caramel loafers are nice. I love the grain on them.

The other two, black made in Canada, burgundy made in England by Cheaney

I found an interesting pair of shoes on E-Bay under "Dack's Shoes".  They are listed as 1950s Dack's.  As soon as I saw them:  Black, Balmoral, Toe Cap, I thought they looked like the old RCAF Officer's Dress shoe.  There is no identification on the soles or the insoles.  However, there is a size marked on the outsole, the insole, and the heel counter:  A very strange combination size:  11 1/2  12.  Part of the stamp on the heel counter includes the letters DCGEM.  Military.  It didn't take too long to decode it:  Directorate of Clothing, General Engineering and Maintenance.  Canadian Army.  I don't know how the shoe store (seller) determined that they were Dack's, but I suppose it is possible that Dack's or Hartt's made shoes under contract for the military.  But the size is very puzzling.  When I was in the RCAF, dress shoes were not supplied to officers - we bought our own, but it looks like the Army did supply them. Perhaps one of our number with a long association with the companies could shed some light on these shoes.

Hey team, picked up these bench made in England dacks dufferin in oxblood (99% sure corrected grain leather). Look to have been worn a handful of times and then stored in the closet, have topies and metal toe taps on em. Pretty sure they are Cheaney but thought they used the 2003 last for the dufferin instead of the 73 last (which is church's?). They do have the "made in leather insoles England" stamp on the insole which again is Cheaney. A bit tight in width on my wide feet (tagged 9d). Still an awesome pair of leather though.






Can anyone confirm Cheaney and possible age as well?

Message to FaceOfBoh.  Just noticed on EBay a pair of new Hartt Brown Moc Vamp shoes for sale at $60.  The seller says they are 10 1/2 "medium" width.  Can't see the size stamp in his pictures.  Looks like a crushed grain leather.  Very nice.  You'd look pretty snappy wearing these down Jasper Ave this summer.

I'm a 9.5
but I'll check it out, just to see what they're like.

On another note, I saw some Dacks shoe trees today. They were marked 11N (maybe N for narrow). They were painted black.
Way too big for me but if anyone wants them I can pick them up.

About two years ago I was told by Sheila Bone at Cheaney that the Cheaney 2003 last was identical to the Church's 73 last. She checked with one of their lastmakers, so that's kosher.

In case anyone is wondering about the new Dack's being sold online (at matthewdack.com), I just picked up a pair - the Harrison in "dark leaf".  They seem to be quite well made.  I have noticed that, on the inside, they are marked "Harrison 73/F" - Possibly an indication that they are made on a 73 last.  They appear to be identical in shape to my Last 73 Churchs.  BTW Matthew Dack is having a sale on right now, in case anyone is interested.

"They do have the "made in leather insoles England" stamp on the insole which again is Cheaney. Can anyone confirm Cheaney and possible age as well?"


With the stamping on the insole that you note, it's 99.9% likely they are Cheaney.

I don't want to hijack the Dacks thread but...
Has anyone heard of the Tyrol Shoe Co. of Montreal? They seem to have gone out of business in '86 and I found a photo online (at the Bata Shoe Museum) of a ski boot they made in 1945.
I found a really nice pair of vintage balmoral boots. They are very well made and one treatment of Lexol Conditioner kicked some life into them. Photos (Click to show)

FaceOfBoh,
nice find. I've never heard of this manufacturer myself but nice find. Give them at least a second lotioning before wearing. Rub lotion in by hand to further ensure penetration into the leather. Nice Scotchgrain on them. Keep your eye out for McHale shoes too, another long gone quality Canadian make.