Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[stook1]

No, I have four of these brushes but use them for things like cleaning the dashboard in my car, and flicking dust off shoes before I take pictures of them for listing. Badger brushes are expensive if bought alone, but mine cost me about $5 as part of those kits. Plus they came with shaving cream and other balms and whatnot.

Badger brushes can be exceptionally expensive. The hand knotted ones with nice handles are easily $150+ but they are at a different level than the AoS brushes that you have. Having fiddled with the expensive ones, although I like them, they aren't really better than the newer, really good synthetic brushes which cost about $10. High end razors, on the other hand, are something to behold and very enjoyable.

Apologies for the OT.

 

[Oshare]

The premium goat hair shoe shine brushes by artisan shops like Edoya and made for brands like BootBlack or Brift go for close to $150 even here in Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/ブートブラック-FINISHING-BRUSH-BBフィニッシングブラシ-ナチュラル/dp/B07HZKCQTF

Reviews by professional shoe polishers and bloggers in Japan say these brushes are worth it. But that's like a whole other level of fanatical that I'm not ready to step into yet.

But I'd be lying if I said my curiosity wasn't piqued.

I was looking at this brush which has a longer handle than the shaving brush @CWOyaji showed, but I'm wondering if I can use it to brush the toes for a higher, streak-free shine than I can get with my horse hair brushes.

 

[stook1]

These look very nice. Unfortunately not my size (and not mine).

Vintage Freeman Bootmaker Guild Mens Cordovan Leather Shoes Wingtip V-Cleat 13 B | eBay

Shoes are a size 13 B and are in excellent condition. Style: Wingtip Shoes. Size: 13 B.

www.ebay.com

 

[CWOyaji]

The original tassel loafer.

Coincidentally, this year is the 70th anniversary of Alden's introduction of this model.
Alden Burnished Calf - the original tassel loafer

 

[smfdoc]

The original tassel loafer.
View attachment 1399310 View attachment 1399311 View attachment 1399312
View attachment 1399262

Alden Burnished Calf - the original tassel loafer

So nice to see what a,little TLC can accomplish on a fine shoe. Great job.

 

[eTrojan]

Please post pics of Giraffe and Rino shoes... that sounds freakin’ spectacular.

 

[kilowatts]

E for Dacks is more like D or C for US brands like Florsheim.

I will check this pair for last size. Just bbqing some meats right now.

The other pair is at the office, so I may never be able to tell you if WFH becomes indefinite. Which is more likely as the days pass.

Hey suit:

Dack’s used a combination of the British system and a hybrid American system for sizing. I think the designation “F” is the equivalent to a US “D”. So that would make the old Dack’s “E” the same as a current US “C”. Hence the snug fit. I think that’s right.

kilowatts

 

[nikolau]

Can anyone comment on the sizing AE’s loafers, particularly the Manchester?

The premium goat hair shoe shine brushes by artisan shops like Edoya and made for brands like BootBlack or Brift go for close to $150 even here in Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/ブートブラック-FINISHING-BRUSH-BBフィニッシングブラシ-ナチュラル/dp/B07HZKCQTF

Reviews by professional shoe polishers and bloggers in Japan say these brushes are worth it. But that's like a whole other level of fanatical that I'm not ready to step into yet.

But I'd be lying if I said my curiosity wasn't piqued.

I was looking at this brush which has a longer handle than the shaving brush @CWOyaji showed, but I'm wondering if I can use it to brush the toes for a higher, streak-free shine than I can get with my horse hair brushes.

View attachment 1399241

Personally, I just put down incredibly thin layers of mirror gloss using the vodka & ice method with old shirting.

The original tassel loafer.
View attachment 1399310 View attachment 1399311 View attachment 1399312
View attachment 1399262

Alden Burnished Calf - the original tassel loafer

If you ever decide to part with one of your tassel loafers, lmk. I'm not on the lookout for one from the usual marketplace suspects.

 

[suitforcourt]

Hey suit:

Dack’s used a combination of the British system and a hybrid American system for sizing. I think the designation “F” is the equivalent to a US “D”. So that would make the old Dack’s “E” the same as a current US “C”. Hence the snug fit. I think that’s right.

kilowatts

I am told it's not quite a science. But yes, combo of UK and US sizing. Heaven forbid we forge our own path.

I can fit into some 9F shoes. Not all, but some.

 

[kilowatts]

Hi guys:

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! I have a pair of AE Macneils incoming in black. They seem little used but dirty so wish me luck. I’ll post pics whenever I can pick them up from my US PO Box. $31 delivered!

kilowatts

 

[kilowatts]

I am told it's not quite a science. But yes, combo of UK and US sizing. Heaven forbid we forge our own path.

I can fit into some 9F shoes. Not all, but some.

Hey, we’re Canadians, entirely hybrid race! We’re always examining our navels to see who we really are. We take the best from everywhere, even in shoes ?.

 

[Jiqea]

Hey suit:

Dack’s used a combination of the British system and a hybrid American system for sizing. I think the designation “F” is the equivalent to a US “D”. So that would make the old Dack’s “E” the same as a current US “C”. Hence the snug fit. I think that’s right.

kilowatts

I have to respectfully disagree on this point. Dacks and all the historic Canadian shoe manufacturers used the US sizing system without exception. The re-opened Dacks did sell some Spanish and English made shoes using the English sizing, and that can be a bit confusing. Historically even Dacks and Hartt's imported Bond street and Gold Bond lines were sized using the US system.

 

[right_hook]

Speaking of a high shine.

I was reading some older posts on another thread and they were talking about super soft goat hair finishing brushes to get a high shine on your shoes. Apparently super soft goat hair brushes are much better for this than horse hair brushes.

The problem is that I don't want to spend over $150 on a shoe shine brush where I may or may not be able to see any appreciable difference.

Now the cheapo question: Have any of you ever used a super soft cosmetic brush (with or without your wife's permission, but we don't need to go there) to finish off your shoes?

I'm wondering if I can get away with a small cosmetic brush for the same effect at a fraction of the cost. I guess it would mean using your wrist when brushing, versus using your elbow to go back and forth with the brush over the shoe.

I just can't imagine situation where I'm buying shoe brush for $150. It's ridiculous.
When I want something other than horsehair brush then I just use old cashmere rags (you can buy sweater in a thriftstore) or women's stockings.

 

[eTrojan]

I just can't imagine situation where I'm buying shoe brush for $150. It's ridiculous.
When I want something other than horsehair brush then I just use old cashmere rags (you can buy sweater in a thriftstore) or women's stockings.

For my purposes, I've been pleased with a traditional flannel buffing cloth for the final pass after the product application and brushing is done.

 

[suitforcourt]

I just can't imagine situation where I'm buying shoe brush for $150. It's ridiculous.
When I want something other than horsehair brush then I just use old cashmere rags (you can buy sweater in a thriftstore) or women's stockings.

$150 is a lot for a shoe brush. I wouldn't pay that much to comb my hair. Unless it helps with my thinning centre. I figure it will be cheaper just to shave my head.