Shoe history

[janne melkersson]

Here is the link back to a time when most factories still made quality footwear, enjoy; http://www.archive.org/details/story_of_shoes_1 http://www.archive.org/details/story_of_shoes_2

 

[HORNS]

That was fun to watch. Thanks for sharing.

The thing I found amazing were the very specialized machines that were invented to perform a task, like the "temporary lace putter inner".

 

[A Harris]

These were absolutely fascinating videos! And some very nice looking shoes. Random thoughts:

I can't imagine doing the same process over and over again, all day every day like these factory workers...

There is a super-specialized machine for literally every process. I wonder how many of these are still being used today.

It also provides some perspective on the amount of work it takes to make a shoe without any of those machines.

That pressed waist looks pretty good!

I wonder why they left such a big gap when temporarily lacing the quarters?

And most amazing of all, this was the Thom Mcan factory. It makes me sick to think that this is the same label on the disposable plastic shoes sold at Kmart.


Oh, and the guys commenting on the video's are idiots.

 

[the.chikor]

Awesome videos Janne.

 

[stickonatree]

i wonder if there were any workplace chemical safety standards back then (referring specifically to the last spray-on shine part).

that was awesome to watch. thanks!

 

[jjl5000]

Very interesting!

Thanks for posting.

 

[janne melkersson]

You are welcome guys!

I must say I was overwhelmed by seeing it. My father was working in a similar factory and I remember all the noise, heat and smell the machines generated. He was operating among other things a sole stitcher for some 25 years stitching 250 pair a day!

Anyway, Goodyear welted footwear are basically made the same way today. The machines are pretty much identical the main difference is the speed. The sole stitcher on the video was really slow. One thing though, todays gemming method is done by a strip of reinforced canvas cemented on the surface of the insole. In the "old days" they did it as shown on the video by cutting a lip on the insole which where reinforced by cloth. That said, todays method is making a short cut by using insoles of lower quality where the "lip" will be made of canvass only.

"I wonder why they left such a big gap when temporarily lacing the quarters?"

I think the reason is that when making factory shoes it is better to make the shoes with a big opening, if not the laces will not work for a client with a low instep.

 

[talldesk]

Thanks Janne, I enjoyed watching those videos, very comprehensive. Recently I watched a Youtube video on shoemaking by machines at AE factory, in a more modern setting. Here is the link if you're interested.
Allen Edmonds Factory Tour

 

[janne melkersson]

talldesk,
thank you for the link, it was interesting to see AE's factory.