Dacks and other Canadian shoe brands

[Satoman1]

Just picked up a pair of Mchale's Caravan Collection in almost NOS condition. Camel leather i guess

 

[suitforcourt]

Evening event calls for something a little more dressy. Dacks never fail.

 

[suitforcourt]

Ritchie shoes in 9ee in a fit I enjoy. Ankles and most of feet are snug with wiggle room for toes.

 

[SecondHandStyle]

Haven’t been able to hit the thrift much since moving but stumbled onto a beautiful pair of custom grade single straps!

 

[suitforcourt]

Haven’t been able to hit the thrift much since moving but stumbled onto a beautiful pair of custom grade single straps!
View attachment 1868878 View attachment 1868879 View attachment 1868880 View attachment 1868881 View attachment 1868882 View attachment 1868883 View attachment 1868884

I love that style. Found a pair in 8.5G which should be my size but heels kept slipping out.

 

[Jiqea]

In December of 1998 you would have proudly carried home your new Dacks shoes in a white plastic Dack bag, which neatly fit one standard shoe box. This particular bag contained a pair of Genuine Crocodile kiltie split toe loafers, which were purchased on December 7, 1998 at 2:57 in the afternoon at the store located at 101 Richmond Street West in Toronto. This is quite interesting in that the shoes, based on their sock liner, were made between late 1983 and the end of 1987, and as such they must have sat in inventory for at least 11 years. They sold for $279.95, which was likely a considerable mark down from their original list price. They are a 9D and almost NOS, complete with their little leather "Genuine Crocodile" hang tag, box, receipt and the plastic carrying bag.

 

[Satoman1]

Just bought this pair of Dack's Bond Street Water Bison

The shop i buy from have some more fun pair

 

[RubenMcT]

Hi folks. I've pored through past posts about Dack's coding system but I'm afraid I'm still coming up a bit short. Would one of you enthusiasts kindly help me interpret the numbers stamped inside these old derbies I've found? Is 15 the size? There aren't any letters, but is there a width indicated somewhere in these numbers?

[EDIT] The numbers are too faded to easily read from a photo, so here they are, transcribed:

690 0162 15
400515 87

Thanks in advance for your time!

 

[Satoman1]

Hi folks. I've pored through past posts about Dack's coding system but I'm afraid I'm still coming up a bit short. Would one of you enthusiasts kindly help me interpret the numbers stamped inside these old derbies I've found? Is 15 the size? There aren't any letters, but is there a width indicated somewhere in these numbers?

Photo to come in a moment, but here are the numbers as they appear inside the shoes:

690 0162 15
400515 87

690 is the size (6 = EE or F, 90 = size 9) so your pair size is size 9F
87 mean 87 last i guess

 

[suitforcourt]

Hi folks. I've pored through past posts about Dack's coding system but I'm afraid I'm still coming up a bit short. Would one of you enthusiasts kindly help me interpret the numbers stamped inside these old derbies I've found? Is 15 the size? There aren't any letters, but is there a width indicated somewhere in these numbers?

[EDIT] The numbers are too faded to easily read from a photo, so here they are, transcribed:

690 0162 15
400515 87

Thanks in advance for your time!

690 is the size (6 = EE or F, 90 = size 9) so your pair size is size 9F
87 mean 87 last i guess

Size is 9F

6 = width by alphabet
09 = size

 

[Jiqea]

Hi folks. I've pored through past posts about Dack's coding system but I'm afraid I'm still coming up a bit short. Would one of you enthusiasts kindly help me interpret the numbers stamped inside these old derbies I've found? Is 15 the size? There aren't any letters, but is there a width indicated somewhere in these numbers?

[EDIT] The numbers are too faded to easily read from a photo, so here they are, transcribed:

690 0162 15
400515 87

Thanks in advance for your time!

They are size 9F (or 9EE if you prefer; same thing). That is the 690. The first digit is the width. 1=A, 2=B and so on.

So a 3115 in the upper left would be an 11.5C.

The 15 is the unique identifier for the quality control staff member. That number will always be between 1-15.

Your shoes were built on the 87 last. As such the last numbers are the last numbers. A shoe insider's joke.

 

[RubenMcT]

Well, thank you very kindly, @Jiqea, @suitforcourt, and @Satoman1 .

Would the 400515 be some sort of model number, or a batch number maybe?

They are size 9F (or 9EE if you prefer; same thing). That is the 690. The first digit is the width. 1=A, 2=B and so on.

So a 3115 in the upper left would be an 11.5C.

The 15 is the unique identifier for the quality control staff member. That number will always be between 1-15.

Your shoes were built on the 87 last. As such the last numbers are the last numbers. A shoe insider's joke.

 

[Jiqea]

Well, thank you very kindly, @Jiqea, @suitforcourt, and @Satoman1 .

Would the 400515 be some sort of model number, or a batch number maybe?

The 0162 is the model number. The longer number on the bottom row is apparently a Factory Order Number. I have no idea how to read that. The 4 digit model number provides the and type of style, colour and type of leather. I understand some of it but not all of it. This was a three digit number up until about 1956-57.

 

[VintageZealot]

Classic Canadian thrift store find from a few days ago, and I almost missed them because someone was trying on shoes in front of the shelf where they were sitting.

1950s S.E. Dack black "Harra calf" two eyelet derby shoes. I've never heard of Harra calf before but it looks great! They're in surprisingly good condition for a thrift store find, let alone a shoe of their age. I didn't have to do any restorative work to them, even the laces appear to be original. Unfortunately they're a size 8.5 C which is too small for me, this is the second pair of 50s shoes I've found in a local thrift store now and both are far too small for me which is a bit irritating.

The sole reads "Extra quality Dack's bench made".

 

[suitforcourt]

Canadian made Gorilla boots. But sole finishing is sloppy.