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Dacks and other Canadian shoe brands

suitforcourt

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John McHale for Florsheim. Manufactured in London and rebuilt by London cobbler Gary Coakley. My friend added his museum patina.

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mackbrad

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Here's an unusual pair of Dack's Bespoke that I recently picked up. They appear to be suede (or nubuck or an exotic hide, maybe elephant or rhino?) with Vibram soles, which look like they are original. At first I thought they were added after the fact, but I think I recall someone (@Jiqea ?) discussing Vibram soles as something Dack's did for a brief period?

Based on the insole, toe-shape, and condition these appear to be NOS from maybe the 60s/70s? About a size 9/9.5.
 

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suitforcourt

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Here's an unusual pair of Dack's Bespoke that I recently picked up. They appear to be suede (or nubuck or an exotic hide, maybe elephant or rhino?) with Vibram soles, which look like they are original. At first I thought they were added after the fact, but I think I recall someone (@Jiqea ?) discussing Vibram soles as something Dack's did for a brief period?

Based on the insole, toe-shape, and condition these appear to be NOS from maybe the 60s/70s? About a size 9/9.5.

Size is 9.5D
 

suitforcourt

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Dacks rebuilt to be used as rain shoes.
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VintageZealot

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It's been awhile since I've posted but I'm still here, and have been meaning to post a few things too.

I recently came across these NOS "The Belmont" shoes in a thrift store and they appear to be quite old, I would guess 50s maybe? I've never heard of the Belmont brand and nothing much comes up about it on the internet, I figured if anybody knows more about the brand it would be someone here. I don't actually know if they're Canadian but as I live in Canada the very old shoes I find in thrift stores tend to be Canadian ones.

These have a bit of storage wear on them but appear to be in excellent shape otherwise, the laces appear to be original too. They might be a bit too big for me but I'd rather not walk around in them much to find out due to their NOS state, I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet.

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mackbrad

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Here's an unusual pair of Dack's Bespoke that I recently picked up. They appear to be suede (or nubuck or an exotic hide, maybe elephant or rhino?) with Vibram soles, which look like they are original. At first I thought they were added after the fact, but I think I recall someone (@Jiqea ?) discussing Vibram soles as something Dack's did for a brief period?

Based on the insole, toe-shape, and condition these appear to be NOS from maybe the 60s/70s? About a size 9/9.5.
Just a note: I've been wearing these in the wet/snowy weather in my part of the world and they are great walking-around shoes. Nice to have the style and quality of a Dack's combined with the functionality of a more modern sole. I even like the look of them now.
 

suitforcourt

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It's been awhile since I've posted but I'm still here, and have been meaning to post a few things too.

I recently came across these NOS "The Belmont" shoes in a thrift store and they appear to be quite old, I would guess 50s maybe? I've never heard of the Belmont brand and nothing much comes up about it on the internet, I figured if anybody knows more about the brand it would be someone here. I don't actually know if they're Canadian but as I live in Canada the very old shoes I find in thrift stores tend to be Canadian ones.

These have a bit of storage wear on them but appear to be in excellent shape otherwise, the laces appear to be original too. They might be a bit too big for me but I'd rather not walk around in them much to find out due to their NOS state, I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet.

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I've never heard of this brand, and will defer any information from @Jiqea

I'll only say these look very well constructed, and the numbering system suggests a Canadian or English manufacturer.

The stitching work alone is tight and nicely executed.
 

mackbrad

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I just picked these NOS British shoes that are a mystery to me. They appear to be from the 1950s, and have no name inside but bear Dr. Marten's soles. From what I understand, Marten's didn't really get going as a brand until the 1960s so I'm wondering if these were resoled? But they look original to me. (I realize this post falls a bit outside the boundaries of this thread, but I figured they'd be enough of a curiousity to the folks in here that you'd forgive me for my transgression lol.)
 

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mackbrad

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It's been awhile since I've posted but I'm still here, and have been meaning to post a few things too.

I recently came across these NOS "The Belmont" shoes in a thrift store and they appear to be quite old, I would guess 50s maybe? I've never heard of the Belmont brand and nothing much comes up about it on the internet, I figured if anybody knows more about the brand it would be someone here. I don't actually know if they're Canadian but as I live in Canada the very old shoes I find in thrift stores tend to be Canadian ones.

These have a bit of storage wear on them but appear to be in excellent shape otherwise, the laces appear to be original too. They might be a bit too big for me but I'd rather not walk around in them much to find out due to their NOS state, I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet.

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I think these were made in MOntreal in the mid-20th Century. Something about that branding on the sole triggered a memory.
 

goatamous II

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@mackbrad you could try the vintage shoes thread. It's a bit more active than this one and somebody there might help you ID'ing those. They're neat!
 

Jiqea

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It's been awhile since I've posted but I'm still here, and have been meaning to post a few things too.

I recently came across these NOS "The Belmont" shoes in a thrift store and they appear to be quite old, I would guess 50s maybe? I've never heard of the Belmont brand and nothing much comes up about it on the internet, I figured if anybody knows more about the brand it would be someone here. I don't actually know if they're Canadian but as I live in Canada the very old shoes I find in thrift stores tend to be Canadian ones.

These have a bit of storage wear on them but appear to be in excellent shape otherwise, the laces appear to be original too. They might be a bit too big for me but I'd rather not walk around in them much to find out due to their NOS state, I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet.

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is it possible to get a complete photo of the coding? are there any markings in the interior at the waist? That style of heel was used in Canada from the late 40's to the mid 60's. I will look for more info. Wonderful shoes!
 

Jiqea

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It's been awhile since I've posted but I'm still here, and have been meaning to post a few things too.

I recently came across these NOS "The Belmont" shoes in a thrift store and they appear to be quite old, I would guess 50s maybe? I've never heard of the Belmont brand and nothing much comes up about it on the internet, I figured if anybody knows more about the brand it would be someone here. I don't actually know if they're Canadian but as I live in Canada the very old shoes I find in thrift stores tend to be Canadian ones.

These have a bit of storage wear on them but appear to be in excellent shape otherwise, the laces appear to be original too. They might be a bit too big for me but I'd rather not walk around in them much to find out due to their NOS state, I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet.

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There was a Belmont Boot and Shoe Co in Victoria BC in the late 1800's to at least 1911. The called their shoes "The Belmont". But I can find no later references to them whatsoever, but perhaps they hung on to the late 40's or 50's. There was also a Belmont shoe co in Lynn Massachusetts that operated until the mid 20th century. In what part of Canada did you find them. The early BC stuff like Leckies, Dayton and Viberg never seem to have made it very far east.
 

VintageZealot

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is it possible to get a complete photo of the coding? are there any markings in the interior at the waist? That style of heel was used in Canada from the late 40's to the mid 60's. I will look for more info. Wonderful shoes!
Unfortunately that last image includes all of the coding there is. "4110 58272 21" is the only coding inside, and "the Belmont" label is only featured in the right shoe's heel pad while the left is blank. There's also no writing in the waist of either shoe.
There was a Belmont Boot and Shoe Co in Victoria BC in the late 1800's to at least 1911. The called their shoes "The Belmont". But I can find no later references to them whatsoever, but perhaps they hung on to the late 40's or 50's. There was also a Belmont shoe co in Lynn Massachusetts that operated until the mid 20th century. In what part of Canada did you find them. The early BC stuff like Leckies, Dayton and Viberg never seem to have made it very far east.
I found them in a small thrift store in the interior of British Columbia so those western makes are probably fairly close if these are Canadian. I thought they were a mysterious pair when I found them as I couldn't find any reference to the brand here, on vcleat, Fedora Lounge, or anywhere else. Every search I did the results only brought up the Belmont model of Allen Edmonds shoes.
 

Jiqea

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Unfortunately that last image includes all of the coding there is. "4110 58272 21" is the only coding inside, and "the Belmont" label is only featured in the right shoe's heel pad while the left is blank. There's also no writing in the waist of either shoe.

I found them in a small thrift store in the interior of British Columbia so those western makes are probably fairly close if these are Canadian. I thought they were a mysterious pair when I found them as I couldn't find any reference to the brand here, on vcleat, Fedora Lounge, or anywhere else. Every search I did the results only brought up the Belmont model of Allen Edmonds shoes.
The Best known BC maker through the early and mid 20th century was Leckies. They made wonderful shoes. I have only ever found one pair. I will see if I can find if the Belmont Boot and Shoe Co of Victoria was still around until 1950. I think the very earliest they could be is late 40's. Certainly not post 1960 given the build quality.

Update: I have the Belmont Shoe as being sold throughout Canada up until 1930 now. The company must have held on through to at least 1950. When they started production in Victoria around 1875 they also ran a tannery. I am 100% convinced that these shoes are indeed Canadian.
 
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