Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[Oshare]

I know this has been discussed in the past, but has anyone actually tried to directly convince the Florsheim family to at least do a limited run of USA made shell Kenmoor?

I doubt they have any domestic manufacturing anymore, so perhaps a Florsheim X Alden collab?

I mean the family blew $45M to buy the brand back. I know they have pride in the family business. Every iconic brand needs a "statement line". Why not bring back a run REAL Kenmoor, V cleats and all?

I don't know that anyone has made direct contact. There has been discussion and an open letter on this thread, but sending a letter to Florsheim would be the next step.

A GMTO run might work. I've seen makers do those for as few as 6 people.

Sorry to be a downer, but the problem would likely be the price. If they could do a limited run of miUSA Horween shell Kenmoors, what would the price be? Say it was $1,200 per shoe, and the quality is slightly inferior to what we might find from a shoe in good condition on eBay for $200 or less...

If they offshore it (India or China) and maybe use shell from another manufacturer and do a direct sale, they might be able to do it for $500? (wild guess)

I wonder at what price point, and for what quality would people here be willing to pay for a newly minted shell Kenmoor?

 

[suitforcourt]

I don't know that anyone has made direct contact. There has been discussion and an open letter on this thread, but sending a letter to Florsheim would be the next step.

A GMTO run might work. I've seen makers do those for as few as 6 people.

Sorry to be a downer, but the problem would likely be the price. If they could do a limited run of miUSA Horween shell Kenmoors, what would the price be? Say it was $1,200 per shoe, and the quality is slightly inferior to what we might find from a shoe in good condition on eBay for $200 or less...

If they offshore it (India or China) and maybe use shell from another manufacturer and do a direct sale, they might be able to do it for $500? (wild guess)

I wonder at what price point, and for what quality would people here be willing to pay for a newly minted shell Kenmoor?

If at the quality of the Duckie Brown line, I would pay 6-700 a pair.

Maybe as a group, we should draft an official letter to Florsheim.

 

[Oshare]

If at the quality of the Duckie Brown line, I would pay 6-700 a pair.

Maybe as a group, we should draft an official letter to Florsheim.

If we could get a few people to commit, perhaps Florsheim would consider a small GMTO run. Going on what I see from other GTMO offers, probably the model, leather, perhaps even the color and sizing (size is a challenge with our small group being all over the map) might all need to be determined in advance for them to consider it seriously.

Of course, this is all sort of moot for me since I don't think I could bring myself to pay that kind of money just to have the Florsheim name on it. $6-700 a pair opens up a LOT of other options.

 

[suitforcourt]

If we could get a few people to commit, perhaps Florsheim would consider a small GMTO run. Going on what I see from other GTMO offers, probably the model, leather, perhaps even the color and sizing (size is a challenge with our small group being all over the map) might all need to be determined in advance for them to consider it seriously.

Of course, this is all sort of moot for me since I don't think I could bring myself to pay that kind of money just to have the Florsheim name on it. $6-700 a pair opens up a LOT of other options.

Your lack of faith and dedication is extremely disturbing. Perhaps I should reconsider my will where I have named you to take over the revival challenge.

 

[Oshare]

Your lack of faith and dedication is extremely disturbing. Perhaps I should reconsider my will where I have named you to take over the revival challenge.

This is the "vintage" thread after all. That is where my dedication remains.

 

[eTrojan]

Vintage violation, but one of my favorite finds on eBay. Nick’s Handmade Boots from Spokane, Wash. Imagine my surprise to find a pair in 13A. Nicks is one of the companies that makes the boots smokejumpers use to fight fires. These are the bomb.

I beat the hell out of these working on the yard. Today I saddle soaped them and hit them with some lexol neatsfoot oil.

 

[suitforcourt]

Vintage violation, but one of my favorite finds on eBay. Nick’s Handmade Boots from Spokane, Wash. Imagine my surprise to find a pair in 13A. Nicks is one of the companies that makes the boots smokejumpers use to fight fires. These are the bomb.

I beat the hell out of these working on the yard. Today I saddle soaped them and hit them with some lexol neatsfoot oil.

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Are they heavy? Say relative to Red Wing?

I have been reading about this brand. Would love to have a pair!

 

[Nealjpage]

Vintage violation, but one of my favorite finds on eBay. Nick’s Handmade Boots from Spokane, Wash. Imagine my surprise to find a pair in 13A. Nicks is one of the companies that makes the boots smokejumpers use to fight fires. These are the bomb.

I beat the hell out of these working on the yard. Today I saddle soaped them and hit them with some lexol neatsfoot oil.

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Sweet boots, man. Any idea how old they are?

Are they heavy? Say relative to Red Wing?

I have been reading about this brand. Would love to have a pair!

They look heavier than **** to me. My FIL wears a pair of Whites that weigh in at 8 pounds each.

 

[kilowatts]

Hi guys:
I think the guys most likely to do a limited edition GMTO would be John Doe shoes.
kilowatts

 

[Centaurus3200]

I'm thinking the number would be $1200 for usa made shell with the correct soles and V cleats. Florsheim can tout them as "Lobb Killers". And they better be for that kinda money.

Or less money but simpler heels (no 69 nails and V cleats). But part of the magic is the heels.

And alternate, but much less desirable outcome are Indian made ones for $500...but they better be equal in quality to their vintage counterparts.

I think it's viable in the same vein as Dr. Martens MIE line. It's there for brand street cred.

If we could get a few people to commit, perhaps Florsheim would consider a small GMTO run. Going on what I see from other GTMO offers, probably the model, leather, perhaps even the color and sizing (size is a challenge with our small group being all over the map) might all need to be determined in advance for them to consider it seriously.

Of course, this is all sort of moot for me since I don't think I could bring myself to pay that kind of money just to have the Florsheim name on it. $6-700 a pair opens up a LOT of other options.

 

[Centaurus3200]

Plus the family takes pride in its GEN Y design team. They could also do a full out assault new design in the vein of Gaziano and Girling. Give those kids a blank check and tell them to make grandpapy Milton proud. Lol!

I'm thinking the number would be $1200 for usa made shell with the correct soles and V cleats. Florsheim can tout them as "Lobb Killers". And they better be for that kinda money.

Or less money but simpler heels (no 69 nails and V cleats). But part of the magic is the heels.

And alternate, but much less desirable outcome are Indian made ones for $500...but they better be equal in quality to their vintage counterparts.

I think it's viable in the same vein as Dr. Martens MIE line. It's there for brand street cred.

 

[eTrojan]

Are they heavy? Say relative to Red Wing?

I have been reading about this brand. Would love to have a pair!

Yes. Heaviest boots I’ve ever owned. They have an arched Vibram sole that you can’t feel a shovel through. You can dig up the entire backyard and your back will give out before your feet.

 

[eTrojan]

Sweet boots, man. Any idea how old they are?



They look heavier than **** to me. My FIL wears a pair of Whites that weigh in at 8 pounds each.

White’s and Nick’s are comparable. I believe both companies make a wild land firefighter version with fire-resistant stitching and adhesives. As I understand it, you’re either a White’s guy or a Nick’s guy.

 

[davidVC]

Vintage violation, but one of my favorite finds on eBay. Nick’s Handmade Boots from Spokane, Wash. Imagine my surprise to find a pair in 13A. Nicks is one of the companies that makes the boots smokejumpers use to fight fires. These are the bomb.

I beat the hell out of these working on the yard. Today I saddle soaped them and hit them with some lexol neatsfoot oil.

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Nick's are the real deal.

Not sure about a SoCal swimming pool backdrop for them. Maybe there is a nearby utility poll.

 

[Nealjpage]

A few projects that I picked up recently. Left to right: Worthmore saddles, Mezlan split toes, and pre-war US Army boots. The boots are in decent shape, other than the fact that someone tried to shave down the heels. Kids, huh?