Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[friendlygoz]

Feels like spring in the Bay Area so why not go with the Golden Harvests? The left shoe is darker than the right. The right shoe won’t take shoe cream for anything. I’m tempted to try a light coat of dye but it’s probably not worth it.

 

[Nealjpage]

Did one of you fine gentlemen win this auction?

Allen Edmonds Polo Brown Leather Cap Toe Oxfords Shoes Men's size 8D | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Allen Edmonds Polo Brown Leather Cap Toe Oxfords Shoes Men's size 8D at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

rover.ebay.com

 

[ecworks]

Found a pair of early '70's Royal Imperial 93631 in Golden Harvest in excellent shape on ebay last year, wore them occasionally and finally sent them off to McFarlands Shoe Repair (thru Kirby Allison) for a recraft using their Imperial Resoling and Restoration. They use JR soles, heel blocks and re-creat the heel nail pattern and the classic 5 nail pattern at the mid-sole. New cork, new midsole.
He just called me from his shop in Florida to let me know he was finished with them. Took a little longer as he had to order the XL soles from JR but they came out beautifully. Take a look:

 

[wakazuki]

TLDR: Thrift store situation in Japan is horrible.

Salvation Army runs a bazaar every once in a while, but they are practically unknown here (tiny, tiny Christian presence in Japan). And Goodwill does not exist as far as I know. Not much of a 'donating' culture here either. Most things are just thrown away.

There are a few sort of thrift store-like places around, but I would say they are a bit closer to pawn shops that buy unwanted stuff in bulk and flip it... but mostly junk. And almost no men's shoes.

Used goods shops also exist, but they check prices and it's rare to find bargains. I see lots of beat up Johnston & Murphy shoes going for $100 to $200 at these shops. Never seen a Florsheim, Nettleton, Hannover, Alden, or other good vintage brand at these shops.

And the vintage shop pair in Koenji that were recently mentioned here (Whistler and Chart) are more about vintage American fashion than actually about vintage shoes. They just get whatever they can find in the US on buying trips, maaaaaybe brush them a little, and then flip them for about 4x or more. Most of what I've seen in those shops is just nasty.

The only good shop, IMO, is Super 8. But his prices are typical for Japan, which is still about 3x what you'd expect on eBay. I'd like to support him with my business, but it's a bit tough unless he ever gets a super rare shoe in my size that I just can't find elsewhere.

I love going thrifting when I'm back in the US, even if I never get lucky like CWOyaji.

How about Yahoo oku? Prices might still.not be as good as eBay but I found the choice to be wide for shoes (with all the brands you mentioned).

Too bad Japan is not as much a thrift heaven for vintage shoes as it is for clothes... Also too bad discerning shop buyers/consumers over there make prices higher...

 

[Nealjpage]

Feels like spring in the Bay Area so why not go with the Golden Harvests? The left shoe is darker than the right. The right shoe won’t take shoe cream for anything. I’m tempted to try a light coat of dye but it’s probably not worth it. View attachment 1339479 View attachment 1339480

It won't take shoe cream? Like it's on the wagon?

 

[obc28.5]

How about Yahoo oku? Prices might still.not be as good as eBay but I found the choice to be wide for shoes (with all the brands you mentioned).

There is also Mercari. You don't have the prices you find in the U.S. because in Japan the kind of shoes which find favor here on this forum just weren't available or affordable to the common citizen until the 1970's- and then those shoes (like Red Wings) were bought for fashion. So the used stuff here is from enthusiasts, not like in the U.S. where they are cast offs from estate sales and old folks getting rid of their stuff bought back in the 1960's or earlier. Anyway. I sometimes find good stuff on individual websites (vintage clothing stores, etc.), but typically the prices will be 20 to 30 dollars more than the equivalent in the states.

 

[suitforcourt]

Anyone here 9.5D? Looking to sell a pair of Barrie by Hanover shell PTBs. No rips, cracks, or tears.

Asking $150 USD. I will cover shipping in Canada and continental US.

 

[Hotel Cali]

De-cleated Florsheim today. Money was paid to remove the $$$ dollar heels.

 

[Patrologia]

De-cleated Florsheim today. Money was paid to remove the $$$ dollar heels.

View attachment 1339641

Dude, if you’re gonna say that, you’ve gotta show us the heels. (Tops look good though.)

 

[Hotel Cali]

Dude, if you’re gonna say that, you’ve gotta show us the heels. (Tops look good though.)

Which would you take?

Before:

After:

 

[Nealjpage]

Anyone here 9.5D? Looking to sell a pair of Barrie by Hanover shell PTBs. No rips, cracks, or tears.

Asking $150 USD. I will cover shipping in Canada and continental US. View attachment 1339631 View attachment 1339632 View attachment 1339633 View attachment 1339634

Killer deal. Damn me and my little feet!

 

[CWOyaji]

Aesthetically, Before. For safety, After.

 

[Patrologia]

Which would you take?

Before:
View attachment 1339662

After:
View attachment 1339663

Aesthetically, Before. For safety, After.

Yeah, what he said. Those were beautiful, but I wore v-cleats in winter once. Once.

 

[Nealjpage]

Shell?

J Crew Ludlow Brown Leather Shoes Oxfords Sz 8.5 Tie | eBay

<p>J Crew Ludlow Brown Leather Shoes Oxfords Sz 8.5 Tie. Condition is Pre-owned. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail. Preowned. Very good condition. Size 8.5 D. Brown leather. Thanks for looking.</p>

rover.ebay.com

 

[tocohillsguy]

Shell?

View attachment 1339675

J Crew Ludlow Brown Leather Shoes Oxfords Sz 8.5 Tie | eBay

<p>J Crew Ludlow Brown Leather Shoes Oxfords Sz 8.5 Tie. Condition is Pre-owned. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail. Preowned. Very good condition. Size 8.5 D. Brown leather. Thanks for looking.</p>

rover.ebay.com

I would say "no."