A Brooks Bros Peal Shoe sizing question?l

[rnoldh]

Hello,
I have these vintage Brooks Bros Peal shoes that are marked a size 41C. they are 11 & 5/8 inches long and 4 inches wide. I always thought that Peal shoes would be marked with English sizing or perhaps American sizing. They seem to be about a size 8 & 1/2 American. Do any of the experts out there know about Peal/Brooks sizing?













Note the neat lasted Peal shoe trees. Any info as to sizing would be appreciated.

Regards,
rnoldh

 

[Shoe-nut]

A 41 is a Euro or Metric size which translates into a size 8 American.

 

[rnoldh]

Originally Posted by Shoe-nut

A 41 is a Euro or Metric size which translates into a size 8 American.

Thanks,
Any idea why an English made shoe would have metric sizing? I thought English shoes are generally sized like American shoes but one size smaller. For instance an English shoe would be sized as a 7 and convert to an American size 8. Is this incorrect?

 

[Shoe-nut]

Originally Posted by rnoldh

Thanks,
Any idea why an English made shoe would have metric sizing? I thought English shoes are generally sized like American shoes but one size smaller. For instance an English shoe would be sized as a 7 and convert to an American size 8. Is this incorrect?

I can't answer that but I do know that the metric system was a commonly used sizing system here in America for many years during Victorian times and on into the 1920's. You are right about English size conversion to US.

Also many older American shoes had a sizing code that didn't follow any particular system where in they would jumble up the numbers so no normal person could decipher it. I never understood why they did that.

 

[well-kept]

Your trees are made by the defunct Peal bespoke makers, not however the same as Peal for Brooks Brothers. The shoes are a separate matter. They don't say Peal. They are Brooks English made for BB by Church's some years ago. The Church-made Brooks English were often although not always sized using European designations. Someone put those trees in the shoes but they didn't start out together.

 

[rnoldh]

Originally Posted by well-kept

Your trees are made by the defunct Peal bespoke makers, not however the same as Peal for Brooks Brothers. The shoes are a separate matter. They don't say Peal. They are Brooks English made for BB by Church's some years ago. The Church-made Brooks English were often although not always sized using European designations. Someone put those trees in the shoes but they didn't start out together.

Thanks,
The knowledge of some SF members amazes me! It sounds like the trees are really old. How long ago did Church's make Brooks Bros shoes. Any idea how old the trees and shoes might be?

 

[norcaltransplant]

I second the remarks by Well-Kept. The trees are unlike anything I've seen packaged with Brooks Brothers shoes since the Marks & Spencer purchase and subsequent divestment of the BB chain.

Chruch's manufactured the Brooks Brothers English line, as far as I can tell, until around 2000, when Church's was purchased by Prada Group. The relationship may have lasted a few years later when production was switched to Crockett & Jones. Given the current stock of Church lasts (the 100s series) that evolved from the 73 (used extensively around 2000), I would venture these shoes are from the late eighties to nineties.

EDIT: The trees are much older. I don't think Peal has been existence as a seperate entity in my lifetime (>30 years).