Dacks and other Canadian shoe brands

[Stoney]

Thanks for the suggestion. They have 10.5F but no 11E so may try that 10.5F. as long as the F still means the same width as it used to i should be OK.

 

[Bjorling]

I came across an older pair of Dacks that are likely from the early 1980s. The name "Dacks" is in cursive script and the leather is described as "Imported Harra Calf." Does anyone know anything about this shoe and the leather?

 

[tonylamer]

For the thread: kangaroo shortwings. I've built up a substantial collection of Dack's; out of necessity, at first, as a penniless student buying in Goodwill basements; now strictly as a collector stopping in at thrift stores on weekends. These are up there with my Prairie Oxhide apron-toe bluchers as my favourite exotics. (Sadly my bison longwings fell apart years ago.)

Can any of the old thread regulars explain the meaning of "custom grade"? I have custom-grade Dack's with nail waists and without; welted and not welted; lined and 1/2-lined. Would there have been any reason for the difference in construction?

 

[meister]



These are Brown Kudu Antelope, with the one piece upper . The size is 8 1/2 F or double E .

8.5F is not a double E fitting it is single E. Like a widish US "D" width fitting.

 

[meister]



These are Brown Kudu Antelope, with the one piece upper . The size is 8 1/2 F or double E .

8.5F is not a double E fitting it is single US "E". Like a widish US "D" width fitting.

 

[Bill Smith]

Ok I'm a little confused here. I own an older pair of black Dacks Longwings (made by Cheany in 11B) from about eight years ag. Is the relaunched Matthew Dack online store offering shoes in UK or North American sizing because they are using the British designation for widths (E, F and G)? Should I be sizing down a half or full size. Honestly the shoes are nice but not a lot of clarity regarding sizing.

 

[COLONEL77]

YOU MIGHT BE BEST ADVISED TO CONTACT THE NEW MATTHEW DACK WEBPAGE TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT SIZING AS BELIEVE THEY MENTION IT SOMEWHERE ON THEIR WEBPAGE ...

FAILING THAT SEND THEM AN EMAIL AS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR BUSINESS SO WILL GET BACK TO YOU.

 

[COLONEL77]

ADDITIONALLY, YOU MAY WISH TO ADJUST YOUR TAG LINE ON BOTTOM AS IT IS ' BUELLER ' not ' BEULLER '.

 

[COLONEL77]

tonylamer - THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STAMPINGS TO BE FOUND IN DACK'S HEEL SOCKS AND ON SOLES, SUCH AS ' S.E. DACK ', ' BESPOKE ', ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS ...

' CUSTOM GRADE ' WAS THE STANDARD LINE FOR MOST DACK'S MODELS, THEREFORE YOU WILL FIND MORE OF THAT LABELING THAN ALL OTHERS.

 

[Bill Smith]

Hey Colonel77,

Got the message loud and clear, you didn't have to type in bold and in caps at the same time unless you want to come across loudmouth know it all. I asked a legit question.

Bill

 

[tonylamer]

Thanks, Colonel. Can you explain the difference in quality (if any) between the "bespoke" stampings and the "extra quality" or "custom grade" stampings? Was there a line of Dack's that was internally classified as its highest level of quality? And what would the difference be in terms of construction?

For the thread: Dack's Prairie Oxhide derbies:

 

[COLONEL77]

BILL SMITH - SORRY YOU ARE INSULTED - HOWEVER, IF YOU READ BACK TO INITIAL POSTS YOU WILL SEE REASON WHY EVERYTHING IS IN UPPERS / BOLD - THANK YOU - COLONEL77

 

[COLONEL77]

tonylamer - THE NAME S.E. DACK WAS FOR THE TOP OF THE LINE MODELS, BEING SHOES OF THE VERY BEST MATERIALS TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY STANDARDS -

BESPOKE IS ANOTHER WORD FOR MADE - TO - ORDER / MADE - TO - MEASURE, WHICH DACKS PRODUCED FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL THE 1970s - FOR A DEFINITION IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO LOOK THIS UP AS IT WAS A COMMON TERM IN TAILOR MADE SUITINGS AND ALSO MEANS A CUSTOM BUILD WHEN REFERRING TO THINGS LIKE SHOES ALONG WITH MANY OTHER MADE TO ORDER ITEMS.

THE MAJORITY OF ALL DACK'S AND HARTT'S MODELS FELL INTO THE CUSTOM GRADE CATEGORY.

HOWEVER, DACK'S AND HARTT'S WERE THE TWO VERY BEST SHOE MANUFACTURERS IN THE HISTORY OF SHOE MAKING IN CANADA, SO ALL MODELS WERE TURNED OUT TO THE VERY HIGHEST STANDARDS AND WERE MADE FROM THE VERY BEST QUALITY LEATHERS, NO MATTER THE MODEL.

ONE FINAL ITEM, MANY TODAY ARE NOT AWARE OF, IS THAT DACK'S WAS BEGUN IN 1834 MAKING IT THE 7th OLDEST CONTINUING BUSINESS IN THE HISTORY OF CANADA, STARTING 33 YEARS BEFORE CONFEDERATION AND REMAINING IN OPERATION UNTIL CLOSING OUT IN 2009. - COLONEL77

 

[martinottawa]



Ok I'm a little confused here. I own an older pair of black Dacks Longwings (made by Cheany in 11B) from about eight years ag. Is the relaunched Matthew Dack online store offering shoes in UK or North American sizing because they are using the British designation for widths (E, F and G)? Should I be sizing down a half or full size. Honestly the shoes are nice but not a lot of clarity regarding sizing.

The Matthew Dack shoes use US sizing. F width is regular width.

 

[Bill Smith]



The Matthew Dack shoes use US sizing. F width is regular width.

Ok so I got this straight, North American sizing as in I'm a 11 in Allen Edmonds so I'm also 11 in Matthew Dack but instead of a D it's a F as in UK widths?