Dacks and other Canadian shoe brands

[suitforcourt]

i wonder if those folks are taking mail in business now, but keeping their doors locked. I will phone around. The fellow in London is located about one big city block from the old McHale factory. I would go with JR soles on these and try to source a pair of vintage cat's paws heels. McHale put Cat's Paws on their shoes from the factory if you didn't want nails. I have seen three NOS John McHale Custom pairs with Cat's Paws (70's vintage).

So Martin is not accepting mail in right now. I believe the others are. All of the mentioned cobblers have cat paws. I really like CP. The nostalgic value and the placebo effect where I believe I am getting better grip.

Try calling Dan at Heels n soles in Sudbury. If not, try Corey Hiltz at Fix em up shoe repair in Barrie. I believe both are accepting mail in.

Gary in London - not sure if he is accepting mail in. Never hurts to ask.

 

[Jiqea]

So Martin is not accepting mail in right now. I believe the others are. All of the mentioned cobblers have cat paws. I really like CP. The nostalgic value and the placebo effect where I believe I am getting better grip.

Try calling Dan at Heels n soles in Sudbury. If not, try Corey Hiltz at Fix em up shoe repair in Barrie. I believe both are accepting mail in.

Gary in London - not sure if he is accepting mail in. Never hurts to ask.

I will do that. Elephant McHales! They remind me of the old joke..... Why did the Elephant paint its toenails red? So it could hide in the strawberry patch.

I wont be hiding in those shoes.

 

[suitforcourt]

I will do that. Elephant McHales! They remind me of the old joke..... Why did the Elephant paint its toenails red? So it could hide in the strawberry patch.

I wont be hiding in those shoes.

Just chatted with Gary in London. He is not accepting mail in right now. He will accept mail to his house, but he won't work on them until he reopens.

 

[suitforcourt]

Just chatted with Gary in London. He is not accepting mail in right now. He will accept mail to his house, but he won't work on them until he reopens.

Dan and Corey will accept mail in right now, but won't start work until province allows them to reopen.

 

[Jiqea]

Here is a picture of one that got away. They are the early 1950's Dacks Custom Grade "Viscount". It has the early three digit style code. The advert is from 1952. Pretty rare shoes.

 

[Jiqea]

I picked up two nice pairs of Dacks Antelope whole-cuts today. The smaller pair should fit me. I also got a very nice pair of early 60's Hartt's with correct shoe-trees, Size 10.5E. My shoe buying budget is blown for the year, but the time to buy is when you see them, so I couldn't resist.

 

[suitforcourt]

I picked up two nice pairs of Dacks Antelope whole-cuts today. The smaller pair should fit me. I also got a very nice pair of early 60's Hartt's with correct shoe-trees, Size 10.5E. My shoe buying budget is blown for the year, but the time to buy is when you see them, so I couldn't resist.

View attachment 1373827

View attachment 1373826

All 3 pairs are amazing. The whole cuts in particular are extremely handsome.

 

[Jiqea]

I thought I would provide a little more detail on the most recent pair of Strathcona boots that I acquired. I haven't seen a pair quite like this before and I think they date to just before the Hartt era of manufacture, which began in 1974. They have the style of Biltrite heels that date to the late 60's and 70's, so I don't think they are much earlier.

From what I understand, MacFarlane and Levaivre of Montreal made the high browns from the early 50's through to 1974. I have seen at least 5 pairs of the Mac & L boots from the 50's and they were each stamped "Mac & L" along with the year of their manufacture on the soles near the waist. These boots have no manufacturer markings, and the coding style used in the interior uppers is not one that I recognize. Their triple soles are also unusual in that the down-stitching is hidden in a channel which has been chased along the circumference of the soles by small nails. They also have the "free" upper side flap, which was fixed in place on the Hartt boots, and the leather is the pebbled top grain typical of earlier boots as well as the early Hartt boots. Later Hartt and Canada West made boots used smooth calf.

Given the above I presume that these boots provide an example of the later MacFarlane and Levaivre boots from the late 60's or early 70's.

 

[suitforcourt]

Hartt PTBs in prairie oxhide. I have the matching pair in black.

I much prefer Florsheim's PTB design, but these are really comfortable.

 

[mackbrad]

I seem to remember someone in here talking about revisiting Bally shoes. I just got a pair from a seller in Montreal, and they don;t look too shabby. Made in Switzerland by an Italian cobbler. They even have Goodyear welted soles. Thoughts?

 

[nikolau]

I seem to remember someone in here talking about revisiting Bally shoes. I just got a pair from a seller in Montreal, and they don;t look too shabby. Made in Switzerland by an Italian cobbler. They even have Goodyear welted soles. Thoughts?

In my eyes it really depends on what you paid for them. I don’t think Bally fall apart at the seams and at some price points might represent an amazing value, but they don’t seem to represent a good value at MSRP. They are priced to compete head to head with firms like C&J, Bontoni, Alden, Santoni, Dinkelacker, etc. That’s stiff competition.

At $800 USD I’d much rather have shell Aldens or H-Dinkelacker’s “extravagant” (their term) longwings, but that’s a matter of taste. I don’t think Bally are “built” like I’d expect of a shoe that’s just so expensive. Then again, I buy basically all my shoes used so perhaps someone older (and therefore wiser) is better equipped to comment.

 

[suitforcourt]

I seem to remember someone in here talking about revisiting Bally shoes. I just got a pair from a seller in Montreal, and they don;t look too shabby. Made in Switzerland by an Italian cobbler. They even have Goodyear welted soles. Thoughts?

My late grandpa only wore Bally. Be careful as there are different lines of quality. The best ones are Swiss made. Some of the Italian made ones are cheap.

I personally prefer Goodyear welted shoes.

 

[mackbrad]

My late grandpa only wore Bally. Be careful as there are different lines of quality. The best ones are Swiss made. Some of the Italian made ones are cheap.

I personally prefer Goodyear welted shoes.

Yeah - these are Swiss. I'll post some pics in a bit.

 

[suitforcourt]

The matching black pair of Hartt PTBs in prairie oxhide. Black looks slimmer for some reason. When the time comes, I will ask cobbler to replace with double leather soles.

 

[mackbrad]

Yeah - these are Swiss. I'll post some pics in a bit.

As promised. Never bought Ballys before, but took a chance on a low-ball eBay bid and so far am impressed. Shines up nice and they feel great. The brass plate on the sole is a nice touch.