Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[happypebble]

Question: what's the best way to deal with scuffs? Is there a product to cover them, or what do I do?

 

[actionjbone]

But then I'd need to get a new pair of jeans!

I don't wear jeans. I wear 'em to work with dress slacks.

 

[HalfHuskyBite]

Question: what's the best way to deal with scuffs? Is there a product to cover them, or what do I do?

I like to use shoe cream and waxes to cover them. If they are deep, you may be to wet sand them with conditioner and high grit sandpaper. Another option would be to use Saphir's Renovating Cream and then add cream polish.

 

[eTrojan]

Florsheim 93603 today for church, along with Banana Republic selvedge. They need some cleanup — Renomat or acetone to clean up old polish and some spots. Hard to date these PTBs as it appears to have a replacement heel. If I had a source, I might put Cats Paws on these.

Another learning is that if I treat an A-width Kenmoor as a casual shoe, it fits just fine with thick, cushy socks. That is good news that I may be able to actually wear my 1963 NOS 93602s, not just pull them out and admire them from time to time.

 

[Nealjpage]

What do you fellas do about the flaking off of a shoes finish? I bought these Bostonian wholecut Oxfords, and the finish was a bit flaky. I scrubbed them with saddle soap, and gave them a few doses of Bick 4 before two coats of cream polish. When I took the shoe trees out to lace them up, the shoes flexed and the finish cracked again and, while not as bad as they were originally, they were not satisfactory. Any hope for these?

Before

After

 

[suitforcourt]

What do you fellas do about the flaking off of a shoes finish? I bought these Bostonian wholecut Oxfords, and the finish was a bit flaky. I scrubbed them with saddle soap, and gave them a few doses of Bick 4 before two coats of cream polish. When I took the shoe trees out to lace them up, the shoes flexed and the finish cracked again and, while not as bad as they were originally, they were not satisfactory. Any hope for these?

Before
View attachment 1315874

After
View attachment 1315875

You may need to strip the finish. @Shoonoob is the master at that.

 

[MJMcRibb]

These golden harvests need a good clean up, but look pretty solid: https://poshmark.com/listing/Florsheim-size-8-5e1bf619abe1cea2ff4813a5

 

[Nobleprofessor]

I managed to find a NOS pair of Florsheim LWB (in my odd size). They are 93602 — which I already have. But, I couldn’t pass up new old stock.

When they arrive this week I am going to have the serious dilemma whether to wear them or keep them NOS.

For today, it isn’t Wednesday. But, I still decided to wear my Alden Shell LWB. I bought some Cordovan cream the other day. I decided to wear these another time before I polish them a little.

 

[Nobleprofessor]

Today's haul. Florsheim 92611 Imperial, AE Lexington, and Tony Lama in what looks like sharkskin. Boots aren't my thing, but for $14.99, I figure I can find them a good home
View attachment 1315815

Pretty sure those boots are elephant not Sharkskin.

 

[Nealjpage]

Pretty sure those boots are elephant not Sharkskin.

Elephant?! That's a thing? If so, I'd better not tell my wife. She loves elephants.

 

[Nobleprofessor]

Elephant?! That's a thing? If so, I'd better not tell my wife. She loves elephants.

Isn’t the pattern more like this?

I had a pair of elephant boots 20 years ago that looked like yours.

 

[The Apostle]

I managed to find a NOS pair of Florsheim LWB (in my odd size). They are 93602 — which I already have. But, I couldn’t pass up new old stock.

When they arrive this week I am going to have the serious dilemma whether to wear them or keep them NOS.

For today, it isn’t Wednesday. But, I still decided to wear my Alden Shell LWB. I bought some Cordovan cream the other day. I decided to wear these another time before I polish them a little.

View attachment 1316067 View attachment 1316068

Too bad we're not the same size.

 

[mreams99]

I’m wearing shark today, and the grain on those boots looks nothing like these.

 

[suitforcourt]

Elephant?! That's a thing? If so, I'd better not tell my wife. She loves elephants.

Elephant is definitely a thing for shoes. Dacks, Hartt, and John McHale used them for their footwear.

 

[Nobleprofessor]

A few subjects:

Im thinking about sending a couple AE in for Recrafting. I have tried a couple of recommended cobblers for resole/resto on Alden and a few others. I Remember years ago I had a local cobbler. He would do a whole replacement sole and heels. And it was about 90 bucks. that was years ago. It seems like every place I have checked for Recrafting or restoration, it is around $130-$175. With most about $150

I was surprised that Allen Edmonds prestige package still $155 And that includes new bags and shoe trees. Seems like that would be pretty hard to beat.

Has anyone ever tried the $50 refinishing service? I’m wondering if it is just a really good clean and shine?

New subject: I think the group wisdom on cracking leather is there is pretty much not much to do. I bought a pair of Aldens shoes n eBay and the previous owner must not have treated them. The creasing turned into cracking. I should have taken some pictures.
but once the leather has been stressed and dried out that much isn’t it just a matter of time?

Finally, somebody who can wear an 11 D in Alden Barrie last, needs to buy these.

they are spectacular shell Cordovan saddle shoes. I bought them thinking I could lease them up tight enough to fit my narrow foot. But I forgot how wide the Barrie last is.

They keep tempting me. But they have only been worn a couple of times I would hate to put additional wear on them when I know I don’t work for me.

$350 shipped. Or make me a reasonable offer. If I can’t sell them, I’m putting them on eBay for $475 or best offer.