Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[MJMcRibb]

Snagged these today for less than the cost of a medium, 1-topping pizza. Looks like @Jiqea found some ads in a previous post of the Copeg's advertised from the 40s to the 70s. I'd guess these are from the later period, but if someone has some better insight, feel free to chime in.

 

[Buckeye20012001]

Amazing pair of shoes. Beautiful.

 

[Oshare]

Here's an example of some new Aldens that exhibit similar "stains." View attachment 1336683 View attachment 1336684

Agreed. I went a bit too aggressive on trying to remove some “water stains” and ended up taking off the glaze and some color on a pair of 93605s. ?

 

[Nealjpage]

The heel on my right shoe is starting to disintegrate. What's happening?

 

[kilowatts]

The heel on my right shoe is starting to disintegrate. What's happening?
View attachment 1336741

View attachment 1336742

View attachment 1336743

i think it’s simply age related leather deterioration ☹️.

kilowatts

 

[Nealjpage]

i think it’s simply age related leather deterioration ☹.

kilowatts

Kinda like my face, huh?

 

[kilowatts]

Hi Neal:

I’ve often thought a better use of Lexol conditioner would be on my face instead of my shoes. Maybe we should add that to the shoe challenge as a separate category. Perhaps “ Most improved visage using standard leather products”?

kilowatts

 

[Paul902]

Probably start March and run until September

That's a nice pair! You pulling the trigger?

I am if it is still there when @suitforcourt says, "Go" to the contest. However they have been there a few weeks already so they might get tossed. They had golf ball sized dust balls in them, which are now gone along with the trees. I had hoped to preserve that for my "before" photos.

 

[suitforcourt]

The heel on my right shoe is starting to disintegrate. What's happening?
View attachment 1336741

View attachment 1336742

View attachment 1336743

i think it’s simply age related leather deterioration ☹.

kilowatts

This happened to one of my pairs. I don't know the cause, but I suspect excessive humidity or dryness contributed.

I had a cobbler replace the heels with a rubber toplift.

 

[eTrojan]

Snagged these today for less than the cost of a medium, 1-topping pizza. Looks like @Jiqea found some ads in a previous post of the Copeg's advertised from the 40s to the 70s. I'd guess these are from the later period, but if someone has some better insight, feel free to chime in. View attachment 1336717 View attachment 1336718 View attachment 1336719 View attachment 1336720
View attachment 1336717 View attachment 1336718 View attachment 1336719 View attachment 1336720

I love my COPEGs. Really well made shoes.

 

[Nealjpage]

This happened to one of my pairs. I don't know the cause, but I suspect excessive humidity or dryness contributed.

I had a cobbler replace the heels with a rubber toplift.

Just right over the top of the original heel? Or did you replace the whole heel stack?

 

[Jiqea]

I picked up a small 1920-1930's shoe store window display stand today. I loaded it up with three pairs of NOS John McHale signature shoes. Perhaps this is a tad eccentric, but I like it.

 

[friendlygoz]

Just got these 93605s (new to me) conditioned and ready for prime time when I noticed this.

’

They are not that deep. But am I screwed? Should I have my cobbler put grommets on them? They are otherwise is amazing shape. This is heartbreaking. I can’t tell if this is means these are doomed or if they will hold as long as I keep them conditioned

 

[suitforcourt]

Just right over the top of the original heel? Or did you replace the whole heel stack?

Top lift and heel stack were replaced

 

[suitforcourt]

Just got these 93605s (new to me) conditioned and ready for prime time when I noticed this. View attachment 1337064 ’ View attachment 1337079 View attachment 1337080
They are not that deep. But am I screwed? Should I have my cobbler put grommets on them? They are otherwise is amazing shape. This is heartbreaking. I can’t tell if this is means these are doomed or if they will hold as long as I keep them conditioned View attachment 1337066

This happened to me. A cobbler installed grommets. The cracks should not go any deeper, but nothing more you can do.

I had a pair crack in the vamps. And I used to condition shell before each wear.