Dacks and other Canadian shoe brands

[mackbrad]

PSA (for those in the Ottawa, Ontario region): Shoelution is going out of business as of October 31, 2021 and is having a sale. I happened to wander in to stock up on some supplies (mostly Saphir stuff) and I ended up saving some coin. The site says 25% off, but they also had a buy three get one free sale on. Worth it either way! Here's their site. http://www.ottawashoelution.com/

EDIT: the Shoelution sale is buy 2 get 1 free. @Jiqea

 

[whirlwynds]

I've got a pair of these WM. Moorby 14342 Chisel Toe Horween Chromexcel Leather in Havana Brown on the way. I already have a pair of Canada west Romeo/Chelsea boots, but this will be my first encounter with Horween leather. I like the style and the fact that these are a Canadian-made alternative to the Blundstones that EVERYBODY here wears. I shall report in the fullness of time...

View attachment 1355644

How did these turn out?

I ordered a pair but ended up returning them. Significant loose grain on one of the boots. Not normally very picky buy you could feel the outer layer floating above the rest of the hide. The good boot was gorgeous, though!

 

[Quantum17]

Two NOS pairs of Dacks came in today. The suede derbys with the Vibram soles are from the late 60's or very early 70's, size 9E, while the split toe derbies are 9.5D and have the anniversary sock liner (late 1983-1987). I wish the suede pair were a size bigger. Maybe they will work for @suitforcourt

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I know a great guy who happens to wear 9.5D

 

[suitforcourt]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/blanchet-shoe-store-closes-find-treasure-behind-door-1.6075594

 

[mackbrad]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/blanchet-shoe-store-closes-find-treasure-behind-door-1.6075594

"Inside were rows and rows of boxes, which contained close to 400 pairs of shoes, all manufactured in Quebec City around the 1960s."
Road trip!!

 

[Jiqea]

Road trip!!

They are for sale right now. Check out their facebook page. Looks like ladies stuff.

 

[suitforcourt]

These John McHale gunboats just don't work for me. Size marking is 8.5ee but my heels keep slipping. I tried using waxed laces to keep my feet in. And then my feet would slide forward rubbing against the toe box. I guess this last doesn't fit me well. I tried so hard to make them work, as they are from McHale's higher line. The stitching work, especially in the interior is phenomenal. Not meant to be. I will be consigning these through @mariusscott .

 

[Jiqea]

I have been thumbing my way through Vcleats back listings using David's new search feature. Below is a pair of 1950's John Ritchie Bluchers that riff on the John McHale Viking style. It seems most top Canadian manufacturers at one point our another produced a super heavy duty cap-toe Blucher and dressed it up with the John McHale "Box-Barring". In the 1950's Scott-McHale ran adds saying that Box-Barring was their "hallmark". I think the other firms were having a bit of fun with them.

Lovely shoes!

 

[Jiqea]

Further to the point made in the last post, here is a pair of late 1950's triple soled Dacks bluchers, which on first glance one would definitely say were John McHale Bombers, right down to the "box-barring" on the lacing stay flaps. The sock-liner is highly unusual in that it is a design that was last used by Dacks in the early 1920's, when they only had a Toronto factory/retail location. It was not used post-1923 when they opened Montreal and Winnipeg locations. In the teens and early 20's the design was featured on the upper front interior of boots, and was not used on the sock-liner.

I am reasonably certain that shortly after Dacks purchased Hartt in 1958, they released a handful of shoes using throwback sock-liner designs, perhaps to celebrate the unification of the two historic firms. I have a NOS pair of Hartt's that I believe based on design features and sole markings date to 1959, which have a sock-liner design last used by Hartt in 1936. Regrettably I have not been able to find any corresponding advertising which would help me pin the whole thing down.

They are a really amazingly well made pair of shoes. I can only imagine that they really pissed off the fine folks at John McHale.

 

[suitforcourt]

Further to the point made in the last post, here is a pair of late 1950's triple soled Dacks bluchers, which on first glance one would definitely say were John McHale Bombers, right down to the "box-barring" on the lacing stay flaps. The sock-liner is highly unusual in that it is a design that was last used by Dacks in the early 1920's, when they only had a Toronto factory/retail location. It was not used post-1923 when they opened Montreal and Winnipeg locations. In the teens and early 20's the design was featured on the upper front interior of boots, and was not used on the sock-liner.

I am reasonably certain that shortly after Dacks purchased Hartt in 1958, they released a handful of shoes using throwback sock-liner designs, perhaps to celebrate the unification of the two historic firms. I have a NOS pair of Hartt's that I believe based on design features and sole markings date to 1959, which have a sock-liner design last used by Hartt in 1936. Regrettably I have not been able to find any corresponding advertising which would help me pin the whole thing down.

They are a really amazingly well made pair of shoes. I can only imagine that they really pissed off the fine folks at John McHale.

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If you ever find another pair like this in 8.5G, or 9F... You know what to do.

 

[Jiqea]

I was poking about on the internet and saw this pair of 1960's Dacks loafers made from shark leather. I am pretty sure they are the first pair of Dacks I have seen made from shark. They are on Poshmark at only $750. That will take a bite out of your shoe budget. I think I will need a bigger wallet.

 

[mackbrad]

I was poking about on the internet and saw this pair of 1960's Dacks loafers made from shark leather. I am pretty sure they are the first pair of Dacks I have seen made from shark. They are on Poshmark at only $750. That will take a bite out of your shoe budget. I think I will need a bigger wallet.

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Amazing. BUt did $750 for loafers?? Mayyybe $600!

 

[goatamous II]

After I bought these I realized that they're probably the new release Dack's
Can anybody confirm?
If yes I'll probably take em back to the store unless somebody wants them for cost

 

[suitforcourt]

After I bought these I realized that they're probably the new release Dack's
Can anybody confirm?
If yes I'll probably take em back to the store unless somebody wants them for cost View attachment 1689326 View attachment 1689327 View attachment 1689328 View attachment 1689329

Definitely current ones made by Cheaney of England. Those are very well made. Keep em.

 

[goatamous II]

Not my size unfortunately and doesn't seem to have the same appeal on the resell market

I will agree on the quality though. Definitely what caught my eye to begin with

No biggie. Up for grabs with free shipping across Canada.
Otherwise back they go