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Shell or not Shell? Thread

makewayhomer

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figured this thread could be a catch all for discussions regarding leather provenance, in particular the often wondered "are these shoes shell or not?".

I will start! here are some vintage shoes I stumbled on. they are not marketed as being shell, but seem to have its characteristics. the soles have a good deal of wear on them, but the uppers have no fine creasing. so...thoughts on these?

104.jpg


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Wes Bourne

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Corfam.
devil.gif
Seriously though, the ripples across the vamp look like shell to me.
 

Albern

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How do the uppers feel; are they waxy / rubbery or does it feel smooth?

It's hard to tell without a close up but the heel on the right shoe does have some fine creases that are indicative of calf.
 

Pundit

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I vote not shell based on the lack of dimpling at the eyelets.
 

ManofKent

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I vote calf from the heel shots.
 

ramuman

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Looks like the AE MacNeil in black shell.
 

voxsartoria

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Originally Posted by makewayhomer
104.jpg


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108.jpg


Inline requoted in their entirety as being top candidates for relasting by Koji Suzuki on a custom last.


- B
 

Don Carlos

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Originally Posted by rebel222
Those are shell. Look like crap, but shell.

This.

They look like shell, but in the condition they appear to be in, they don't seem worth it.
 

makewayhomer

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Originally Posted by rebel222
Those are shell. Look like crap, but shell.


Stumbled on? on eBay??
Link


yes, those are them
 

voxsartoria

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Originally Posted by DocHolliday
Don't blaspheme.

I am sure that Koji can get the creases out...he's got a whole deep, Japanese soaking tub of Saphir Renovateur at the ready.

Koji will actually wear these MacNeils himself and sit in this tub of Renovateur for three days and three nights. Why? The body heat releases the uncreasing enzymes in a way that constant application and removal with discarded panty hose (i.e.,
00a9.png
thode AAAC
) could never match.

Show me another bespoke shoemaker...or any cobbler, really, even those central European ones who consume no carbohydrates except in beer form...who will do that.


- B
 

makewayhomer

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thanks all, they are not AE Macneils but are similar styled Florsheim Imperials. I'm pretty sure they made this in black calf and in black shell though.
 

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