Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[ccpl14]

That’s pretty crappy. It looks like he or she didn’t cut a channel for the stitching. I’d go with one of the many reputable cobblers who allow you to send them your shoes in the mail. @suitforcourt knows if several in the US and Canada.

EDIT: Here are some other US-based cobblers who have very good reputations:

Shoe Repair - McFarland's Shoe Repair

McFarland's Shoe Repair provides expert shoe and leather repair services to Lakeland, FL and the surrounding area. We also offer mail-order services.

mcfarlandsshoerepair.com

Potter & Sons

We are Nashville's premier shoe repair shop! Top rated by locals and across the country, contact us to heal your tired soles.

www.potterandsons.com

Metro Cobbler & Co Shoe Repair

Award winning Shoe repair shop

metro-cobbler.business.site

To look for qualified local cobblers, SSIA members are generally reliable.

SSIA Member Shop Locator - Shoe Service Institute of America

Find an SSIA Member Near You Use the locator below to find the SSIA member repair shops nearest you. If…

www.ssia.info

I have no experience with Cobblers Plus in Denver.

But their work looks really good.

For a US cobbler that I have used, and recommend, go with Brian Gavigan in Bufalo. His shop is called Sole Man. I have a review of him here on SF.

A little pricier but skilled and detail orientated.

Gene Harstock in St. Paul Minnesota is also good but slow. Hartland Shoe repair.

Here are some other US-based cobblers who have very good reputations:

Shoe Repair - McFarland's Shoe Repair

McFarland's Shoe Repair provides expert shoe and leather repair services to Lakeland, FL and the surrounding area. We also offer mail-order services.

mcfarlandsshoerepair.com

Potter & Sons

We are Nashville's premier shoe repair shop! Top rated by locals and across the country, contact us to heal your tired soles.

www.potterandsons.com

Online Shoe Repair | Cobblerco | United States | CobblerSunny

CobblerSunny renders Shoe Repair Services with excellent work and craftsmanship. Shoe stitching and glue, leather restoration, sole and heels repair, shoe shine

www.cobblersunny.com

Bedo's Leatherworks LLC

"Quality Craftsmanship For 4 Generations"

www.leatherrepair.com

Cobblers Plus - Quality Footwear Repair and Shoe Care Products

Quality Repairs and Customization on Shoes, Boots and Leather Goods with Dainite Soles, Vibram and JR Leather. Leather Care and Shoe Shine Products from Saphir Medaille d'Or, Saphir Beaute du Cuir, Angelus, Feibing's and more.

www.cobblersplus.com

Thanks for the messages and recommendations all. I’ve used Steve at Bedo’s before, I just figured that a city the size of Chicago should have one decent cobbler. I was also really looking forward to my first JR resole. I’m assuming the soles are unsightly, but not structurally compromised?

That particular cobbler came highly recommended from someone on another thread, so¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’m also never going back to argue or for a refund. In addition to refusing to wear a mask when interacting with customers, you can also be treated to a screed or two on “personal freedoms”

Just a disaster on so many levels...

 

[Oshare]

@wasmisterfu - saw these, and reminded me of you.

David Eden Handcrafted Exotic Alligator and Ostrich Skins Dress Shoes Size US 9 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for David Eden Handcrafted Exotic Alligator and Ostrich Skins Dress Shoes Size US 9 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

So disappointed. I expected the shoes to have eyes...

 

[Hotel Cali]

It was 105F degree today so I thought why not go into the garage for some sauna and boot maintenance.

Here's my vintage boot collection.

My first vintage shoe gateway:

NOS 70s Jodhpurs from 'The Last Footwear Company' of New Zealand.

The other boots:

1930-40s Florsheim Kangaroo boots.

70-80s Hartts' Chelsea

70-80s Allen Edmonds Johdpurs:

70s? Wright Arch Preserver Johdpurs:

 

[wasmisterfu]

So disappointed. I expected the shoes to have eyes...

I have to agree, without eyes, they lack personality.

 

[wasmisterfu]

Thanks for the messages and recommendations all. I’ve used Steve at Bedo’s before, I just figured that a city the size of Chicago should have one decent cobbler. I was also really looking forward to my first JR resole. I’m assuming the soles are unsightly, but not structurally compromised?

That particular cobbler came highly recommended from someone on another thread, so¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’m also never going back to argue or for a refund. In addition to refusing to wear a mask when interacting with customers, you can also be treated to a screed or two on “personal freedoms”

Just a disaster on so many levels...

Structurally they’re probably fine. Next time, send them to Bedo’s, he’ll make’em like factory for you.

 

[ccpl14]

Structurally they’re probably fine. Next time, send them to Bedo’s, he’ll make’em like factory for you.

Ironically, this particular pair has already been to Bedo’s - had heels replaced by Steve when I first got them about 2 years ago. Soles were still solid, so I thought.

Then one day I stepped in dog ****. Got a little overzealous scraping it off with a putty knife and a divot went down to cork, precipitating the need for a full resole.

I wish I was making this up.

 

[Joe Wohkittel]

Gene Harstock in Minnesota

St. Paul Minnesota cobbler - Gene Harstock - Hartland shoe repair

Any idea if he can/will do a closed channel stitch? Another cobbler I know of in St. Paul refused to do it after initially looking at me like I was an idiot and suggesting my shoes with closed channels are just glued and he could glue new soles on to keep the same look so it would be great to...

www.styleforum.net

How fortuitous, his shop is 20 minutes from my house!

 

[davidVC]

There was some discussion on Friday about Banister Shoes. A few years ago, a Banister decident, Eva Banister, put together a fairly exhaustive history of the brand. This is the site:

https://www.banistershoes.org/welcome/index.html

I have a couple Banister shoes from the Stetson era. High quality.

 

[davidVC]

How fortuitous, his shop is 20 minutes from my house!

I haven't had Gene work on any of my shoes but I have conversed with him many times. He is a good guy with a passion for shoes.

 

[friendlygoz]

It was 105F degree today so I thought why not go into the garage for some sauna and boot maintenance.

Here's my vintage boot collection.

My first vintage shoe gateway:

NOS 70s Jodhpurs from 'The Last Footwear Company' of New Zealand.
View attachment 1423107 View attachment 1423108 View attachment 1423109


View attachment 1423110



The other boots:

View attachment 1423111

1930-40s Florsheim Kangaroo boots.
View attachment 1423112

70-80s Hartts' Chelsea
View attachment 1423113 View attachment 1423114

70-80s Allen Edmonds Johdpurs:
View attachment 1423115

70s? Wright Arch Preserver Johdpurs:
View attachment 1423116 View attachment 1423117

Those jodhpurs are outstanding. I have the AE St. George jodhpurs too. Mine are "aninline brown" (i.e., chili). I really like them. Now I'm on the hunt for some Wright Arch Preservers. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Hotel Cali]

Those jodhpurs are outstanding. I have the AE St. George jodhpurs too. Mine are "aninline brown" (i.e., chili). I really like them. Now I'm on the hunt for some Wright Arch Preservers. Thanks for sharing.

Yeah, I knew you would like those jodhpurs and was going to tag you. The leather of all those vintage boots are awesome. The leather on the AE St. George is so nice (as Mr. Fu established). I was ebay watching the brown AE St. George with beat up sole for $100 for 2 months, I thought no one would buy at that price but someone did snatch it.

 

[meister]

Went out into the world and braved the virus to pick up a new phone and pick up a few pairs from the cobbler, including my beloved Florsheim shell PTB with my first JR some conversion.

My excitement faded when I got the shoes home and checked them out closely.
View attachment 1422562 View attachment 1422563

My disappointment knows no bounds.
First world probalems for sure, but one cobbler to strike from the books.

At least the phone is nice.

off to Bedos next time

 

[suitforcourt]

How fortuitous, his shop is 20 minutes from my house!

I haven't had Gene work on any of my shoes but I have conversed with him many times. He is a good guy with a passion for shoes.

If you ever use him, let him know it's a recommendation from this website. He is not tech savvy.

A few months ago, he asked me to proxy a pair of shoes on eBay because he doesn't know how to set up en eBay account.

He also doesn't know how to send e-transfer, and doesn't have PayPal account.

I decided to gift him the shoes in lieu of trying to figure out payment.

Great guy but talkative.

 

[suitforcourt]

Ironically, this particular pair has already been to Bedo’s - had heels replaced by Steve when I first got them about 2 years ago. Soles were still solid, so I thought.

Then one day I stepped in dog ****. Got a little overzealous scraping it off with a putty knife and a divot went down to cork, precipitating the need for a full resole.

I wish I was making this up.

Sorry this happened. It's only funny because it did happen to me, and I was purposely using light effort to remove the dog crap I stepped in.

I used multi wet wipes, and finally dish soap applications to get it off. The dish soap was used because the smell was lingering.

After about 15 washes, the smell went away.

Can you name the cobbler so we can avoid him? I am always happy to debate personal freedoms as it's both part of my work and personal beliefs. That said, I do buy into wearing masks. But that debate is for another thread.

 

[jpm1]

Alden 928 “Campus Bal” Circa 1988 on the Aberdeen Last