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AE Pebble Grain Leather..pics and question

Henry Boogers

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As I've mentioned previously on this site I have amassed quite a collection of shoes from Ebay at ridiculously low prices. Due to the use of poor pictures I managed to pick up this pair of vintage pebble grain semi-brogues for less than $30. They had never been worn, but the heel had been replaced with a full leather heel and metal taps. It seemed as if the owner made the change prior to wearing them and for some reason they never did find the gentleman's feet.

In any event, they found my feet and I have worn them 5-6 times since purchasing them. Each time I've worn them I look down at my shoes and think:

1) These are the nicest AE's I've seen.....

2) What is the origin of pebble grain leather?? It is somehow embossed, or is this a natural surface?

Thanks for any insight.

Picture026.jpg


Picture027.jpg


Picture028-1.jpg
 

Duveen

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My understanding is that pebble grain leather is, indeed, embossed. I love it - have several pairs of pebble grain shoes in various shades of brown.

Also - those AEs rock! Agree that I have not seen a nicer pair in some time.

While the last is not as elongated as the Europeans do it, it is fairly sleek for AE, and its weight fits the style of the shoe.

Awesome find! What size are you?
 

Duveen

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Thank goodness - I don't have to worry about you snapping up all the beauties that would fit me...
 

timekeeping

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Is it just the view or is the sole (the bits around the edges) not extending outwards as much as the modern AEs?

I think that helps to make the shoe more elegant.

On the other hand, isn't pebble grain more a "country" shoe rather than a "city" shoe?

Also, I think certain manufacturers apply this embossed finish to hide certain imperfections in the leather or use lower grade (or perhaps thicker) leather to start off with. I'm not sure if a quality maker like AE would do such a thing though.
 

Roger

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I agree with Timekeeping that the sole extension is refreshingly non-A-E in that it is far less pronounced than normally seen on A-Es. These shoes look more Crockett & Jones than some C&Js I've seen! They're really lovely shoes, and you did phenomenally well in getting them at that price. What is the model name (it should be inside the shoe, usually on the insole)? Is the replacement heel completely leather, without a dovetailed or halfmoon rubber insert? If so, that's very unusual in my experience. If they were mine, I think I'd probably take the metal taps off. Another slightly unusual feature is that they are 6-eyelet balmorals, rather than the more usual 5-eyelet form. To my eye, this makes them a little more elegant. The pebble-grain feature--which I agree is very nice--definitely does put them in the "country" class, but that doesn't mean all that much, in my opinion, except that they wouldn't work well in a very dressy, nearly-formal context. They would look fabulous with a suit or jacket/trousers combination that departed from the super-smooth worsted, city form--something like flannels or tweeds. Great find!
smile.gif
 

Henry Boogers

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This should answer your question:

100600009025_04_04.jpg


I found this other image on the web of this particular model in (presumably) calf:

Strand-Euro-Glamour.jpg


And this auction that has ended:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=7761657454

It is clear that the heel was removed and another heel was put onto the shoe. It is full leather and the cobbler did a great job. I don't particularly care for the taps either, so those will eventually be removed. Heck, after paying $26 for the shoes I have some wiggle room to visit my cobbler!
 

Teacher

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Great score! I wasn't aware that the Strand had been available in pebble grain. It's not surprising, though; they used to offer the MacNeil, Leeds, and a few other models in a dark brown pebble grain. Those were the days....
 

cheapmutha

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yeah... i found a pair of the leeds in pebble grain with a crepe sole for 2.50 at a thrift store a while back.
158670.jpg

i love these shoes. work amazingly well with jeans.
 

Girardian

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Excellent find. I was on a lengthly quest for pebble grains and finally found a nice pair of Ferragamo cap toes. I paid handsomely for them but there are times (moods/outfits) when only a particular shoe will do. I agree these would look fantastic with jeans.
 

well-kept

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Henry,
Are these the Strands that were photographed rather collapsed in the eBay listing? If so, you've brought them back to life beautifully. A whole size small for me or else you would have had a competitor. Wear them happily.
 

Henry Boogers

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Originally Posted by well-kept
Henry,
Are these the Strands that were photographed rather collapsed in the eBay listing? If so, you've brought them back to life beautifully. A whole size small for me or else you would have had a competitor. Wear them happily.


Indeed
smile.gif
Bringing them 'back to life' consisted of 48 hours in trees and 1 day on my feet. They are 100% back to life.

100600009025_01_01.jpg
 

timekeeping

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Originally Posted by Henry Boogers
Indeed
smile.gif
Bringing them 'back to life' consisted of 48 hours in trees and 1 day on my feet. They are 100% back to life.

100600009025_01_01.jpg


Looks to me like someone stuck the shoes in a flatbed scanner and held the cover down...
crazy.gif
 

DNW

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Beautiful shoes, and you did an awesome job with the resuscitation.
 

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