Historic Shoes

[robdpittman]

Something that just came to mind when watching a film about the 1930's;

Back then, and since days well before, even low-grade shoes were made by hand and had leather soles. Yes, they may not have been well-fitted, the stitching might have been shoddy, they probably used poor quality leathers and more than likely they offered little in the way of support or protection for the foot.

But, were there any good, inexpensive shoes in those days, and if so, what were they? Are any of the artisans we look to in modern times the sup-par hacks of yesteryear, who have simply improved their craft over time? What were the old equivalents of Clarks, Rockport and Hush Puppies?

 

[MyOtherLife]

I'll fill in until the heavyweights arrive..
This is a massive topic, and sub-categories underneath it are the ongoing subject of countless threads on the forum here.
High end shoes today are employing very similar, if not the same methods commonly used in the 1930's.
All that hand work costs $$$. This level of workmanship is still very much appreciated and sought after among shoe afficiados today.
Browse Google images for shoes of that period and you'll be quite suprised how advanced footwear was.
We are still wearing the same shoe styles today, amazingly. They are timeless.
In fact, you could even go back to the 1700's and see shoe masterpieces in developed countries,
albeit for the aristocracy...but it did exist.
In other words, they certainly did know what they were doing back then.
The leathers were vegetable tanned and the craftsmanship was all there.
A pair of American made Florsheim Kenmoors in the 1930's, if I remember right, would have been between $4-$6.
Had they maintained that level of quality today, the same pair would be $400-600 and up.
As to your question of low-end (your list of Clarks, Rockport and Hush Puppies?)
The 'sub-par hacks' I don't think existed in the 1930's (maybe they did, but I'm too young to know)
Sub-par hacks can be found in 90% of todays footwear. (No Croc's in the 1930's)
In the 1930's, the mentality was very different...do it right, or don't do it at all.
Shoes were handed down from older brother to younger; father to son, etc.
They would be mended so many times you couldn't tell which leather was the original and which were the patches. They were not a disposable society. Things were built to last.