Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[woofmang]

Wearing Black Cherry Shell AE Bristols (from the early-to-mid 90s) today:

 

[stook1]

Gentlemen,
I could use a quick favor if any of you are familiar with J&M Aristocraft wingtip balmorals... I won an auction for a pair of them a little while ago. It wasn't until afterwards that I realized that the size listed was an estimate since it had been worn off. The seller is marketing them as a 10. I actually think they may be a 10.5 C but it's a total guess. I'm attaching the link to the listing as well as the two measurements that were sent me.

Men’s ARISTOCRAFT By JOHNSTON & MURPHY Shell Cordovan Wing Tip Oxfords US 10 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Men’s ARISTOCRAFT By JOHNSTON & MURPHY Shell Cordovan Wing Tip Oxfords US 10 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I compared these to my 90s era J&M park ave style cap toe balmorals which are a 10D and about 12 1/8" long and more like 4 3/8" wide. This is a highly imperfect method of sizing shoes but if, by chance, one of you gentlemen happens to have a pair of these I'd be grateful if you could let me know how the measurements line up, obviously assuming that they are in the 10-10.5 size range.

 

[suitforcourt]

Gentlemen,
I could use a quick favor if any of you are familiar with J&M Aristocraft wingtip balmorals... I won an auction for a pair of them a little while ago. It wasn't until afterwards that I realized that the size listed was an estimate since it had been worn off. The seller is marketing them as a 10. I actually think they may be a 10.5 C but it's a total guess. I'm attaching the link to the listing as well as the two measurements that were sent me.

Men’s ARISTOCRAFT By JOHNSTON & MURPHY Shell Cordovan Wing Tip Oxfords US 10 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Men’s ARISTOCRAFT By JOHNSTON & MURPHY Shell Cordovan Wing Tip Oxfords US 10 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I compared these to my 90s era J&M park ave style cap toe balmorals which are a 10D and about 12 1/8" long and more like 4 3/8" wide. This is a highly imperfect method of sizing shoes but if, by chance, one of you gentlemen happens to have a pair of these I'd be grateful if you could let me know how the measurements line up, obviously assuming that they are in the 10-10.5 size range.

View attachment 1368573

View attachment 1368574

Not trying to be difficult, but I find the best measurements are interior ones. Outsole measurements don't seem to help.

 

[stook1]

Not trying to be difficult, but I find the best measurements are interior ones. Outsole measurements don't seem to help.

Definitely not being difficult. I tend to agree, although neither measurement is that helpful and a width isnt really possible from the interior. Since the soles are original I thought it might be possible to compare.

 

[CWOyaji]

Here's how I make sure the tape measure is touching the end of the footbed inside. Camera phone lens in the shoe, flash on and make sure it's laying flat. I remove the laces then measure the interior width at the widest and it works well enough. And yes, green thread means vintage Florsheim. These are 97626 shell from a thrift for $8 (looking at you, @friendlygoz). And for what it's worth, my J&M Crown Aristocraft shell shortwings are true to size but 13 D, so can't help you with measurements on those.

 

[meister]

I keep looking at this pair on eBay. The construction is unbelievable, I’ve never seen anything like it. They look like they were made for a shoemaking competition more than for actual sale to the public. https://m.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Men-...e&pageci=8d4b53b7-a4cb-4af9-9ad7-ed1f01c53778

I agree and I think they are 1950s. They have the sort of look that you see on a lot of those Prada clodhoppers. Look like double strength storm welt with Norvegese.

 

[meister]

Yes, they're definitely on the Rex last. It's printed on the insole of my pair.

In that case you done good mate!

 

[meister]

Someone just listed a lot of interesting shoes on Yahoo Japan's auction site. It's quite literally like someone is liquidating a vintage shoe collection, and there are some pretty amazing shoes for sale.

I just thought I'd share some links and grabbed photos for anyone wants to enjoy some shoe pr0n.

First, here's a link to the seller's items for sale:

Yahoo!オークション - tataku7さんの出品リスト

Here are some of the shoes that caught my attention:

Florsheim: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t716633786
View attachment 1367393


Florsheim: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t716632160
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Florsheim: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p757082343
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French Shriner: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/s731155556
View attachment 1367402


Worthmore: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d432074944
View attachment 1367403


Weyenberg: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g417187731
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Johnston & Murphy: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u345431709
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Johnston & Murphy: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t715986153
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Florsheim: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/m396611134
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Thanks. Predominately 1950s with some 60s there. The Golden Harvest specs will bring some money. One of the actors in that film 'Crossroads' wore a pair. For mine the best are the French Shriners and the Weyenberg U shaped. Others are up there. I had a pair like those Worthmore with the fake gator.

 

[meister]

He gave her his heart, but she wanted his soles....

Too funny...I know the feeling.

 

[meister]

Wearing my Wilson and Deans today. I believe they're Gravati. View attachment 1368117

Gravati are a very well made shoe. They sit them on the last for a week before continuing the next stages of production.

 

[nikolau]

Here's how I make sure the tape measure is touching the end of the footbed inside. Camera phone lens in the shoe, flash on and make sure it's laying flat. I remove the laces then measure the interior width at the widest and it works well enough. And yes green thread means vintage Florsheim; these are 97626 shell from a thrift for $8 (looking at you, @friendlygoz). And for what it's worth, my J&M Crown Aristocraft shell shortwings are true to size but 13 D, so can't help you with measurements on those.
View attachment 1368627

On The note of Johnston & Murphy Crown Aristocrat wingtips, today I’m enjoying these bad boys.

 

[CWOyaji]

Rock on!

 

[nikolau]

Rock on! View attachment 1368667

Also, we wear the same size my guy ?. 13D/E

 

[CWOyaji]

First impressions of the Florsheim black shell LWBs: me likey!

 

[Nealjpage]

He gave her his heart, but she wanted his soles....

But don't think twice, its all right.