Nobleprofessor
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Can anyone tell me if Johnston and Murphy Crown Aristocrats are any good? I’ve never owned J&M but love the classic North American factories. I’d love to know where they stand in comparison to Alden/AE/Footjoy etc.
Yes, I believe that was their top of the line shoe. I have a pair of shell wingtips and they are equal in quality to Alden 975s I've sold. My shoes are 35 years old according to the seller, who included a nice handwritten note telling me he bought them at the start of his career back in the mid 80's.
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My pair of Crown Aristocrafts is solid. Heavy. Built like a tank. The other J&M shoes I've handled, while attractive to one degree or another, seem a little flimsy by comparison.
I’ve had (for myself or to sell) quite a few J&M and specifically the Aristocrafts. Like many other manufacturers, the vintage are better than the more recent. They were indeed the top of the line and were high quality.
Even the mainline J&M were good when they were still made in USA.
I think they still make 2-3 Aristocraft line that are made in the USA. They are not as good as they used to be. I think they are comparable to Allen Edmonds but not as good as Alden.
Just my opinion, but I do have a couple pair of vintage Aristocrafts and they definitely rival the other high quality American manufacturers.