Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[meister]

Whoever recommended Collonil 1909 for shell, thanks.

View attachment 1477496

Collonil has some oil in it that probably works some magic

 

[Nealjpage]

I’ve asked isshi to comment.

Isshi?

 

[meister]

Isshi?

isshinryu101

 

[ashynastyclassy]

A bit late to show but, speaking of kangaroo here’s a pair of Gold Bond by Sears boots I think dates from the 50s/60s. Wouldn’t mind being double checked

Footbed read:
Sold only by Sears
Gold Bond Cushioned
Like walking on Air
Cellulose Insole
* can’t read diamond symbol

 

[mormonopoly]

A bit late to show but, speaking of kangaroo here’s a pair of Gold Bond by Sears boots I think dates from the 50s/60s. Wouldn’t mind being double checked

Footbed read:
Sold only by Sears
Gold Bond Cushioned
Like walking on Air
Cellulose Insole
* can’t read diamond symbol
View attachment 1477537 View attachment 1477538 View attachment 1477539 View attachment 1477540 View attachment 1477541

Those look pretty 50s to me as well, especially with a cellulose insole.

 

[meister]

A bit late to show but, speaking of kangaroo here’s a pair of Gold Bond by Sears boots I think dates from the 50s/60s. Wouldn’t mind being double checked

Footbed read:
Sold only by Sears
Gold Bond Cushioned
Like walking on Air
Cellulose Insole
* can’t read diamond symbol
View attachment 1477537 View attachment 1477538 View attachment 1477539 View attachment 1477540 View attachment 1477541

Early 30s. I have a similar pair. The half round multi deep nail holes in the heels are the giveaway and the 20s/30s unique shape of the sole. Mine are being rewelted.

 

[Jiqea]

Those look pretty 50s to me as well, especially with a cellulose insole.

I made a quick perusal of the online adverts. The Sears Gold Bond line extends well back to at least the early 30's, but the earliest I could find a Kangaroo Gold Bond ad was 1947 (First ad below). Certainly not conclusive, but suggestive.

EDIT: I have found a Gold Bond Kangaroo ad dating to 1932 (Below)

1947 ad

1932 Ad

t

 

[Nealjpage]

For the gentleman interested in more obscure brands. Not my listing.

RARE Vtg Campton's Taylor Made Imperials Wing Tip Cleat Heel Dress Shoes size 11 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for RARE Vtg Campton's Taylor Made Imperials Wing Tip Cleat Heel Dress Shoes size 11 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Nealjpage]

Early 30s. I have a similar pair. The half round multi deep nail holes in the heels are the giveaway and the 20s/30s unique shape of the sole. Mine are being rewelted. View attachment 1477634

"Like walking on air." Isn't that a Knapp slogan?

 

[suitforcourt]

The one thing I've always enjoyed about this group is the camaraderie. @ccpl14 proxyed this pair when I didn't have a US mailing address.

These Florsheims were originally double v-cleats. A cobbler installed Vibram Western soles to make them wearable.

The perfect rainy day shoe.

 

[woofmang]

The one thing I've always enjoyed about this group is the camaraderie. @ccpl14 proxyed this pair when I didn't have a US mailing address.

These Florsheims were originally double v-cleats. A cobbler installed Vibram Western soles to make them wearable.

The perfect rainy day shoe.

View attachment 1477743 View attachment 1477744

At first glance, I thought the water spots were medallions...

 

[ashynastyclassy]

Early 30s. I have a similar pair. The half round multi deep nail holes in the heels are the giveaway and the 20s/30s unique shape of the sole. Mine are being rewelted. View attachment 1477634

My thoughts on them being 50s is based on two things, the cellulose insole and the fact that the tongue is not stitched to one side. Along with the fact that also I didn’t realized the Gold Bond line was that old, lol



Thanks @ Jiqea that was fast ?



The odds of them being early 30s does increase with the wingfoot like top lift, the fact the the breast of the heel is not curved but straight or in this case slanted, arch support seem to have been a thing in the 30s, the thread on the welt are are thinner than usual 50/60s threads I’m used to. While these do fit, the profile is quite slimming, especially around the leg and don’t even feel like boots but more of a tight low cut oxford so I passed these on to the misses. Also, the word “cushion/cushioned” is a buzz word like JR and Saphire and was being tossed around in the 30s and 40s for sure

 

[happypebble]

Question: does anyone know off the top of your head when the Charles Chester shoe company went under? I really like my pair.

 

[Jiqea]

Question: does anyone know off the top of your head when the Charles Chester shoe company went under? I really like my pair.

The very last ads I could find were from 1971. Direct from factory via door-to-door sales staff.

 

[kilowatts]

Just a thought; I wonder why it was mentioned in the Sears ad "Australian kangaroo"? I didn't think there were any other kinds!