Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[friendlygoz]

They're not polished cobbler, so they'd be a well built shoe! (I know the PC of that era is still actually nicer than most)

They aren't polished cobbler, which is a good thing, I think. See the screenshot from the catalog above.

 

[madhat]

They aren't polished cobbler, which is a good thing, I think. See the screenshot from the catalog above.

Yup. I didn't think there was, but I did double check the catalog before posting they weren't

 

[kilowatts]

Black vintage AE Strands from 1988: yea or nay? Phat or whack? Bad or bad? I only own two pairs of black shoes. I could spice these up by sanding the edges and slapping some colored laces on them (like I did with my 92604s). View attachment 1432091 View attachment 1432094

Hey Friendly:

I have those too. Like them a lot. Quite formal but well made and comfortable. Not so sure about colored (coloured) laces and sanded soles though.

kilowatts

 

[mormonopoly]

Here is a vintage violation that I've been wearing lately. This is the only pair in my collection that I bought new, as opposed to new old stock. They're probably my favorite post-1960s Allen Edmonds. I love the design, and I think this is the nicest looking leather I've seen on an Allen Edmonds made in the last several decades (I know '80s AE leather has its fans here, but I am not one of them).

 

[happypebble]

Yes they did. Hanover must have had a lot of unused shoemaking capacity at various times. Here's a pair; there's no diminution in quality from some mainline Hanover or Bostonian-branded pairs that I own. Thrifted these at a store run by a small local charity, and it was the best $6 I ever spent. Even managed to stretch them from the 12 D they're marked as to 13 D. Will wonders never cease?
View attachment 1431683 View attachment 1431684 View attachment 1431685

the pair I bought is the burgundy version of these. Is that a storm welt I see?

 

[CWOyaji]

the pair I bought is the burgundy version of these. Is that a storm welt I see?

Yep. Those things are built like tanks. Came with the original double oak soles and vcleats in place. Still a long way to go on those.

 

[friendlygoz]

Early 90s Florsheim PTBs

 

[Nealjpage]

Can we talk about storm welts a little bit? How do you guys condition and treat them? Let's use these 93602 Imperials for example. Here they are as found.

I used a toothbrush, Lexol, saddle soap, and a **** load (an industry term) of elbow grease to scrub pounds of polish off the welt and stitching. Here they are after a polish and some sole edge dressing.

Better, right? But while I was scrubbing that polish off the stitching, I was also scrubbing it off the storm welt. As a result they look worn and faded.

So, what's a fellow to do? Do you guys treat your welts with a conditioner like Bick 4? Paint it with neatsfoot oil? Paint the welt with edge dressing and a very small paintbrush? Eventually that leather and stitching will need hydration. What's a good tip?

 

[suitforcourt]

@mariusscott steps up again. This time with Dacks wholecuts in bison. Plus I found some Florsheim shoe bags and trees.

 

[Guccinski L.V.]

I have two pairs for sale for someone with a small size foot. Size 7 to 7.5 US
Both shoes have no issues , no dry leather, no cracks or stains. Soles are barely started. Inner linings are in perfect condition. All that is required is a bit of conditioner.
One is impeccable lizard split toe blucher and second is heavy Budapester shitkicker re-imagined by Italian shoe maker.
Make an offer if interestd

 

[jpm1]

Happy Wednesday guys! 92604 Imperials from 1974 today.

 

[friendlygoz]

@mariusscott steps up again. This time with Dacks wholecuts in bison. Plus I found some Florsheim shoe bags and trees. View attachment 1432418 View attachment 1432419 View attachment 1432420 View attachment 1432421 View attachment 1432422 View attachment 1432423 View attachment 1432424 View attachment 1432425 View attachment 1432426 View attachment 1432427

I have black Dack’s kudu wholecuts. I love them. They are my mom’s favorite shoes in my collection. I want some in brown. @mariusscott seems to find them in sizes that dance around my 9D size. I want him to make my size appear the way my sons used to want me to make fire trucks drive by our house again after they had passed by.

 

[friendlygoz]

Can we talk about storm welts a little bit? How do you guys condition and treat them? Let's use these 93602 Imperials for example. Here they are as found.

View attachment 1432312

I used a toothbrush, Lexol, saddle soap, and a **** load (an industry term) of elbow grease to scrub pounds of polish off the welt and stitching. Here they are after a polish and some sole edge dressing.

View attachment 1432313

Better, right? But while I was scrubbing that polish off the stitching, I was also scrubbing it off the storm welt. As a result they look worn and faded.

View attachment 1432316

So, what's a fellow to do? Do you guys treat your welts with a conditioner like Bick 4? Paint it with neatsfoot oil? Paint the welt with edge dressing and a very small paintbrush? Eventually that leather and stitching will need hydration. What's a good tip?

You did a nice job cleaning up the welt. The discoloration is hardly noticeable. I had to compare the picture several times to detect what appears to me to be a minor difference. I would imagine no one else would notice but you. But, if you are like me, the fact that you notice makes leaving it alone downright intolerable. I would think that using a fine paintbrush to apply brown edge dressing or cream polish would do the trick. You could also try brown leather dye, but you have to have a surgeon’s steady hand to go that route.

 

[smfdoc]

Happy Wednesday guys! 92604 Imperials from 1974 today.
View attachment 1432478 View attachment 1432479

Such a great shoe, sock, slack combo and well turned-out look all around. It says a lot that a man surrounded by fine Alden footwear also chooses to wear some classic Florsheims on occasion. It speaks to their quality back in the day.

 

[jpm1]

Such a great shoe, sock, slack combo and well turned-out look all around. It says a lot that a man surrounded by fine Alden footwear also chooses to wear some classic Florsheims on occasion. It speaks to their quality back in the day.

Much appreciated! Love Alden and vintage and there’s always room in the closet for both.

Although there is less and less room as time goes on. Going to need a bigger closet