Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[smfdoc]

But isn't that a common area for shell to break?

Yes, shell can break down there, especially if the previous owner repeatedly shoved in their heel and did not use a shoe horse. The picture in this case appears to involve more of the piping as opposed to the leather of the heel. But that is the opinion of a non-cobbler based on 2 pictures. If I wanted the pair I would not let it stop me from a purchase, but that is me.

 

[PSU John]

I finally scanned and published the 1938 Florsheim catalog that promised for @mormonopoly last month. Its a great catalog but the shoes are largely unobtainable nowadays.

See it here:

Florsheim Shoe Catalog Spring 1938 | vcleat

vcleat.com

It must have been really tough to make the "right" selection in a well-stocked 1930s Florsheim store - there were so many styles with very small differentiating features between them!

 

[mormonopoly]

I finally scanned and published the 1938 Florsheim catalog that promised for @mormonopoly last month. Its a great catalog but the shoes are largely unobtainable nowadays.

See it here:

Florsheim Shoe Catalog Spring 1938 | vcleat

vcleat.com

Heaven looks like the inside of a Florsheim store in 1938. Thanks for uploading!

 

[Oshare]

Does anyone have information on Alan McAfee shoes?

I'm looking at a pair from the seller I posted earlier. They are branded Alan McAfee with "London W.I." which I thought meant "London, Wisconsin". But everything that comes up on Google says that they were a shoe maker in London, England and many of the photos that come up are indeed stamped "Made in England".

I'm a bit confused about the brand, and also wondering if these are a US 9-1/2 or a UK 9-1/2.

 

[suitforcourt]

Does anyone have information on Alan McAfee shoes?

I'm looking at a pair from the seller I posted earlier. They are branded Alan McAfee with "London W.I." which I thought meant "London, Wisconsin". But everything that comes up on Google says that they were a shoe maker in London, England and many of the photos that come up are indeed stamped "Made in England".

I'm a bit confused about the brand, and also wondering if these are a US 9-1/2 or a UK 9-1/2.
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@mariusscott knows this brand. I see quite a few of them in Canadian thrift stores.

 

[instigateur]

Late Thursday post. The days are blending together a bit.

Vintage Nettleton tassel loafers.

The socks worked with my shirt which is not evident in these pics.

 

[CWOyaji]

Does anyone have information on Alan McAfee shoes?

I'm looking at a pair from the seller I posted earlier. They are branded Alan McAfee with "London W.I." which I thought meant "London, Wisconsin". But everything that comes up on Google says that they were a shoe maker in London, England and many of the photos that come up are indeed stamped "Made in England".

I'm a bit confused about the brand, and also wondering if these are a US 9-1/2 or a UK 9-1/2.
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W1 is a postal code for a nice part of London with lots of shops, including the Mayfair district.
As I understand it Allen McAfee was a fixture in the Austin Powers-era London fashion scene whose company was sold to Church's. They eventually retired the brand. The logos changed over time. Here's one from a pair I sold this week.

 

[Oshare]

W1 is a postal code for a nice part of London with lots of shops, including the Mayfair district.

Ah, so that could be a "1" rather than an "I". Plus it would be strange to have the periods around "WI" if it were indeed short for "Wisconsin".

Looking at the picture of the soles, I guess that's a "Made in England" stamp.
So UK sizing and thus half a size too large... not impossible to wear, but not great either.
I think I'll sleep on it for now.

 

[davidVC]

Heaven looks like the inside of a Florsheim store in 1938. Thanks for uploading!

You are welcome. I have seen so many of the styles in your posts over the years.

The 1938 catalog is the best pre-war catalog that I have found. Most older catalogs tend to be 16 to 20 pages with a limited set of colors. Probably due to the printing costs. Florsheim obviously spent significant time and money on this catalog.

 

[suitforcourt]

Day 2 of John McHale gunboats. The toe cap is pretty versatile. The triple leather soles are just a testament to the quality of yesteryear. I would love to get my hand on a catalogue or two.

A cobbler installed new rubber heels and sole protectors to make them wearable. I will never understand leather heels secured with nails. They're essentially skates.

Waiting to get my son's birthday cake. I wolfed down a few meat pastries while waiting. This Covid virus has made me gain weight. I of course take that as a blessing. Wishing you all a great weekend.

 

[Hotel Cali]

Are these Florsheim from the 2000s (theatre logo)? Is the quality good or did this era do the corrected grain?

 

[suitforcourt]

Are these Florsheim from the 2000s (theatre logo)? Is the quality good or did this era do the corrected grain?
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My understanding is that any Florsheim "assembled in USA" is the last of the great ones, and the beginning of the decline.

For the right price, buy them.

 

[mormonopoly]

You are welcome. I have seen so many of the styles in your posts over the years.

The 1938 catalog is the best pre-war catalog that I have found. Most older catalogs tend to be 16 to 20 pages with a limited set of colors. Probably due to the printing costs. Florsheim obviously spent significant time and money on this catalog.

The summer spectators and perforated shoes of the late 30s-early 40s are the vintage shoe holy grail for me. In all the time I’ve been collecting, I’ve only been able to find a couple of pairs large enough for me to wear, and they’re usually in pretty rough shape, but I count myself luck to have found even that.

 

[Hotel Cali]

The summer spectators and perforated shoes of the late 30s-early 40s are the vintage shoe holy grail for me. In all the time I’ve been collecting, I’ve only been able to find a couple of pairs large enough for me to wear, and they’re usually in pretty rough shape, but I count myself luck to have found even that.

Is there any contemporary replicas by current shoe companies? It would be nice to see even if the quality is not as high.

 

[mormonopoly]

Is there any contemporary replicas by current shoe companies? It would be nice to see even if the quality is not as high.

I haven’t seen many. Ralph Lauren did a line with a few replicas some years ago, but those are now pretty hard to find as well.