Edward green crocodile size 7-1/2 (uk) on ebay

[kabert]

Nice, very subtle (no shiny finish used). http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....50&rd=1 She's got a suede pair too in another auction (labeled "Wildsmith" - I know at least some Wildsmith shoes were actually made by EG)

 

[kabert]

OK, these are $2,000 shoes, right? No takers? Someone's going to get quite a bargain at $36 (one bid so far). (Granted, the crocodile isn't for everyone, and the size isn't either; however, this seller is very good about responding quickly to emails.)

BTW, I've go no affiliation with the seller -- just surprised that no one is going after these (or her other shoes, Wildsmiths, which may be EGs also).

 

[bengal-stripe]

Well they had a little boom in the last seconds of the auction and made a respectable (but not outstanding) showing in the end.

I think it was a case of bad listing: EG should have been in the title and they should have been listed on eBay.com to attract the Japanese buyers.

 

[dah328]

She's got a suede pair too in another auction (labeled "Wildsmith" - I know at least some Wildsmith shoes were actually made by EG)

Does Wildsmith not make their own shoes?  If not, is there any way to tell if these are EG-made?  I won them for a pretty low price, so I figured it was worth the risk.

dan

 

[bengal-stripe]

Does Wildsmith not make their own shoes?

Wildsmith used to make their own shoes, at least bespoke; but in recent years have sold private label made by C & J or EG.

It is possible they are bespoke, are EG (on the Japanese sites I've seen some double monkstrap in stag suede made by EG), or are made by C & J. Only close inspection of the actual shoe will reveal that.

Same thing with auctioning BB/Peal. Depending on the year they were produced they can be EG, C & J or Alfred Sargeant, maybe a few other manufacturers in between.

When you got the shoes, post a picture of the style/last markings. Hopefully someone can tell you what stable they came from.

 

[kabert]

The seller should be able to give you details on the inner markings on the size/last (which might indicate EG or otherwise) -- I emailed her, and she was very quick and detailed in her reply email.

 

[AJL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kabert,26 Sep. 2004, 12:31
She's got a suede pair too in another auction (labeled "Wildsmith" - I know at least some Wildsmith shoes were actually made by EG)
Does Wildsmith not make their own shoes? Â If not, is there any way to tell if these are EG-made? Â I won them for a pretty low price, so I figured it was worth the risk. dan
dan, I considered bidding on these but was less than confident regarding the sizing (I believe you & I are pretty much the same size based on "The Seymour Affair", no? --7.5D U.S.). I'd be curious to find out how they fit you, as well as overall appearance & quality. I missed the end of the auction, but if you don't mind my asking, how much $? - Andrew

 

[dah328]

$55. We'll see how they turn out.

dan

 

[dah328]

So the suede Wildsmith shoes showed up today. They've obviously been worn before, but they're also obviously quality shoes -- nice last shape, heels, soles, etc. The uppers could use a little attention and a few minutes with an eraser-type cleaner and a suede brush didn't seem to have much effect.

I couldn't find any markings of any kind other than the Wildsmith and Co. stamp under the heel on the insole. Any hints on how to identify the manufacturer?

dan

 

[bengal-stripe]

I couldn't find any markings of any kind other than the Wildsmith and Co. stamp under the heel on the insole.  Any hints on how to identify the manufacturer?

Looking at the shoes in the photograph, I would think their very large brouging holes place them stylistically in the 1960s, maybe even the 1950s.

All right, that's only a guess, but I presume very much your shoes are truly bespoke and were hand made for a particular person. (One indication is the lack of a marked size.) Wildsmith was very famous bespoke shoemakers and made their own shoes (apparently Wallis Simpson was one of their clients). When I say that they "made" the shoes I mean they designed them and co-ordinated the process but that the individual work was done by a number of outworkers, each one specialising in a particular field. That's the way (up to these days) things get done in London.

There is one way to see if the shoes are truly handmade, have a look at the insoles. Do they have a row of dimples going all the way around the shoe? When the welt gets stitched by hand the stitches have a downward force and are seen from above as dimples. In a machine made shoe, where the welt is place onto a glued on linen strip, the force goes sideways and the stitches cannot be seen from above.

You can get suede spray that has a component a color mixed in, to give the shoes a bit of a lift in the coloration.

 

[dah328]

There is one way to see if the shoes are truly handmade, have a look at the insoles. Do they have a row of dimples going all the way around the shoe? When the welt gets stitched by hand the stitches have a downward force and are seen from above as dimples. In a machine made shoe, where the welt is place onto a glued on linen strip, the force goes sideways and the stitches cannot be seen from above.

Wow, cool.  I noticed those dimples on the inside, but didn't have any idea what they were.  The shoes do have a pretty unique shape and they're exceptionally light, even compared to other quality English shoes such as C&J or Grenson.  I think they'll make for a pretty unique casual shoe.

Thanks for the info.

dan

 

[bengal-stripe]

Now that we know these Wildsmith shoe have been made bespoke, the only question remaining is: who for and when.

Shame that Mr Wildsmith has just closed shop, otherwise with the custom number (assuming it is still legible) we could have found out for whom and the date these shoes were made.

We probably will never know; just believe they were made for some very famous (and now long gone) personality.

 

[DARLEY]

Hi. Your shoes show "Duke Street, St. James's", right? Wildsmith is located on "Piccadilly Arcade" now, so your shoes were made at the former store. They are vintage, but I don't know when Wildsmith moved and how old they are.

 

[DARLEY]

The uppers could use a little attention and a few minutes with an eraser-type cleaner and a suede brush didn't seem to have much effect.

Are they very dirty? I recommend not to wash vintage leathers. It's very difficult to wash vintage leathers from my experience. Even if they seem to be supple before washing, sometimes they lose suppleness after drying.

 

[Wildsmith]

Originally Posted by DARLEY

Hi. Your shoes show "Duke Street, St. James's", right? Wildsmith is located on "Piccadilly Arcade" now, so your shoes were made at the former store. They are vintage, but I don't know when Wildsmith moved and how old they are.

no it doesnt mean that they were made in st. james's street, all it means that the inner sole that was used id from that era, not the whole shoe!