Custom White's Boots ... Thoughts?

[Rymanocerous]

Yes and no. Specifically, as I wrote in an earlier post , several decades ago the industry standard was to produce and retail an expansive selection of width sizing. The "odd widths" did sell reasonably well. The reality today is that there are more consumers who could truly use an "odd width" than one might imagine. "If you build it they will come" so to speak.

Decades ago asbestos was plentiful...surely we should go back to that practice amiright?

Let me give you a crash course in business acumen since you lack any. Manufacturing and inventory management practices have changes (surprising I know) over the last several decades. If you carry inventory, it's a liability until it is sold. Inventory requires space. Space costs money. Inventory consumes $$ and limits agility and potentially opportunity. In other words, maintaining a large inventory is not best practice for most business and certainly not for a business with low production and lengthy manufacturing times.

The Internet. Someone figured out how to connect a bunch of computers together to form a web. This connected huge swaths of people and business in a way never before possible AND was commercialized starting in 1995 (26 years ago, amazing!) You're probably asking yourself why this matters, and I get it, you don't understand consumerism so you're confused. Once companies were able to connect with customers all over a region (or the world) it changed how they needed to deliver and manage product. Also you know computers became huge, algorithmic management became a thing and so on.

As a self described shoemaker, you should be aware of the declining skill pool for that craft. Why does that matter, well if your business is making custom boots, it's not as simple as just increasing size and production. If you can't recruit the skilled labor you need, it doesn't matter. Also consider for a fact that White's lead times already indicate that they are working at capacity and their continuous back-order means the demand continues. If you're working at capacity, can't grow due to a lack of labor and are constantly generating consistent demand, there isn't an opportunity to create a huge inventory of random combinations for one particular person on the internet (thanks 1995). Also, their business of customization is an additional complication. They make many styles, in several different leathers, hardware options, sole options. Im sure someone better at math could calculate how many possible combinations that is, spoiler alert, it's a lot.

So any person who does not support the group mindset is a "troll"?

AND to address this nonsense. Like in life, attitude matters for a lot. It's clear you have a bad attitude and aren't looking to have a meaningful conversation. Your lack of understanding that an enthusiast thread is going to be made up generally of supporters of a brand is astonishing. People come here and complain all the time and it leads to a discussion. It is certainly different when they appear to have an agenda as you do, or espouse falsities, also as you do. Your negativity is clear and you haven't added anything to the discussion or built credibility for yourself within the context of this discussion, or you as a consumer or industry professional/business owner. Any of these could be reasons why some here see you as a troll.

I hope you find better success with whatever brand of footwear you move to next.

 

[iamntbatman]

Well, I'm certainly glad someone other than myself took the time to write that up!

I'm eagerly awaiting a rebuttal by the industry professional who thinks that lasts are only for aesthetic purposes and all fit the same excepting length and width who is armed with a wealth of marketing knowledge. Maybe he's busy on another forum explaining why Apple ought to be making a variety of iPods to suit his needs.

 

[Rymanocerous]

Well, I'm certainly glad someone other than myself took the time to write that up!

I'm eagerly awaiting a rebuttal by the industry professional who thinks that lasts are only for aesthetic purposes and all fit the same excepting length and width who is armed with a wealth of marketing knowledge. Maybe he's busy on another forum explaining why Apple ought to be making a variety of iPods to suit his needs.

I think I found the shoes they make and now it all makes sense

 

[DG123]

White's lasts are simply not comfortable unless they are fitted properly.

"Fitted properly" is precisely why offering an expansive selection of width sizing is very helpful , and I expect that 50 years ago White's boot line offered fewer styles/models but more stock inventory of width sizes.

 

[Danitch]

"Fitted properly" is precisely why offering an expansive selection of width sizing is very helpful , and I expect that 50 years ago White's boot line offered fewer styles/models but more stock inventory of width sizes.

50 years ago, whites offered 4 widths.
Now Whites is offering 9 widths.

Whites offers custom shoes in 5 basic lasts - 4811, 55, 461, northwest and 38. Each last is available in 19 sizes and 9 widths.
To just have 2 samples of shoes, white shoes should have a stock of 1,800 pieces.

If you are confused by so many options, you can go with a red wing, for this there is a choice of 8 or 23 last and width d and width d avaliable. And sometimes EE.

If this is too much - Dr. Martens is a great option, you can choose between the comfort last or comfort last. Also, half sizes are turned off for your convenience. It's hard to make a mistake, docs are also available for fitting in stores in your city.

 

[Fueco]

50 years ago, whites offered 4 widths.
Now Whites is offering 9 widths.

Whites offers custom shoes in 4 basic lasts - 4811, 55, 461, northwest and 38. Each last is available in 19 sizes and 9 widths.
To just have 2 samples of shoes, white shoes should have a stock of 1,800 pieces.

If you are confused by so many options, you can go with a red wing, for this there is a choice of 8 or 23 last and width d and width d avaliable. And sometimes EE.

If this is too much - Dr. Martens is a great option, you can choose between the comfort last or comfort last. Also, half sizes are turned off for your convenience. It's hard to make a mistake, docs are also available for fitting in stores in your city.

Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but 50 years ago you couldn’t order White’s Boots online...

 

[Danitch]

"Fitted properly" is precisely

Seriously, you're just whining.
Read the description of the shoes, it says that the Chukkas are built on an MP block, if you want to determine your size, try on MP shoes in any store where they are available. If tjust how to piss two fingers.hat doesn't work, write to the bakers, send them your measurements and tell them about your fitting experience.
In Russia, such questions are called "it's as easy as pissing two fingers"

 

[DG123]

From the posted page of an old White's catalog, we know that 50 years ago White's offered at least one boot model, in stock, available in 4 widths. If we could see more page of the 50 year old catalogue I expect it would reveal more in stock models, all offered in multiple widths, in stock available.
A poster to this thread contributed that today's White's line includes one boot, the best selling Smokejumper, available in multiple widths, in stock. This is much different from 50 years ago when White's was stocking on hand a variety of models , including width sizing, in stock.
Today's width size customer , if he is willing to wait several months for a custom order to be produced, can get any size/width he wants. This is different from 50 years ago when White's owned/carried in stock the inventory.

 

[DG123]

Seriously, you're just whining.

Or I am giving you the opportunity to learn something.

 

[Fueco]

From the posted page of an old White's catalog, we know that 50 years ago White's offered at least one boot model, in stock, available in 4 widths. If we could see more page of the 50 year old catalogue I expect it would reveal more in stock models, all offered in multiple widths, in stock available.
A poster to this thread contributed that today's White's line includes one boot, the best selling Smokejumper, available in multiple widths, in stock. This is much different from 50 years ago when White's was stocking on hand a variety of models , including width sizing, in stock.
Today's width size customer , if he is willing to wait several months for a custom order to be produced, can get any size/width he wants. This is different from 50 years ago when White's owned/carried in stock the inventory.

Feel free to contact Doc Brown about a ride to 1971, and then to Spokane to try those on.

 

[Danitch]

From the posted page of an old White's catalog, we know that 50 years ago White's offered at least one boot model, in stock, available in 4 widths.

50 years ago, to try on shoes, you had to come to Spokane.
After that the shoes COULD BE made in "size 4-12 and width" A ... F "
On last 4811 or 38

 

[Legal Eagles]

50 years ago, to try on shoes, you had to come to Spokane.
After that the shoes COULD BE made in "size 4-12 and width" A ... F "
On last 4811 or 38

Forget this whole debate... it is not going anywhere... in any event, I am now enthralled by the olde time catalog @Danitch posted. I had never seen that before... so cool!

I find it fascinating that back then you could not get a size larger than 12... maybe peoples' feet were smaller in the past... in any event, the semi-dress looks little changed... thanks for posting that!

Edited to add: It seems our feet are larger than they used to be... what do you know... you learn something new every day...

Why Britain’s feet are getting bigger

The nation's feet have grown by two shoe sizes in just four decades. In fact, we're bigger and taller all over, reports Jeremy Laurance – and that may not be a good thing

www.independent.co.uk

Feet Are Getting Bigger, and Many People Wear Shoes That Don't Fit Right

In a U.K. survey, more than a third of men and nearly half of women admitted buying shoes that didn't fit right

www.wsj.com

 

[chicagoan2016]

Yes I agree, let's just set aside this discussion and help me pick leathers for my third and fourth White's. I own Burgundy HH and British Tan
1) should I get brown dress or brown elk tan for my BHs?
2) For my packers, I have thought of red dog but I don't have any use for work leather.
Suggestions please?

 

[theofficialhung]

Yes I agree, let's just set aside this discussion and help me pick leathers for my third and fourth White's. I own Burgundy HH and British Tan
1) should I get brown dress or brown elk tan for my BHs?
2) For my packers, I have thought of red dog but I don't have any use for work leather.
Suggestions please?

I vote for brown elk since I've read here it's a thicker version of brown dress.

I'm going for a combo red dog smooth + red dog RO on my next pair and the toughest work I do is walk the dog and hike in the woods. My distressed RO is a work leather and they work great for casual wear.

 

[chicagoan2016]

I vote for brown elk since I've read here it's a thicker version of brown dress.

I'm going for a combo red dog smooth + red dog RO on my next pair and the toughest work I do is walk the dog and hike in the woods. My distressed RO is a work leather and they work great for casual wear.

Thank you, I think only brown dress is tea core which will develop "interesting" patina?

Is it recommended to get red dog lined?