Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[friendlygoz]

Here's one of my oldest pairs. They were made by Crawford Shoes. There were shoe firms with this name in Brockton, Chicago, and someplace in Michigan. I'm not sure which made this pair. Many ads can be found for the brand between 1900 and 1910. Unfortunately, the size is 7b. Crawford also made women's shoes, but the charecture on the sole and interior label is a dapper gentleman, making me thing they are for men, as does the style, which (to me) is not at all feminine.

More unfortunately, years ago when they arrived I showed them to a former girlfriend, who overzealously tried to cram her foot into them. Before I got a word of caution out of my mouth, the collar tore all the way through ?. Distraught, I thew the in the basement.

This past week I carefully cleaned and then conditoned them. Leather 'n' Rich seemed to be the best product for the job among those that I tested.

Now I don't know what to do with them. They are certainly interesting. Are they museum worthy? If they were worn, I don't think they would last long. The leather is supple now, but being dry for nearly 100 years has to take its toll.

Those are really cool. Too bad about the tear.

 

[smfdoc]

My watch band project from the shell Hanovers continues. This side is ready for its taper and rounding off for the proper length, which will be done after the final fitting. Pardon the terrible lighting. Now on to the buckle side. By the way, the seam along the right side in the brogue is something Hanover did on all their pairs.

 

[happypebble]

Florsheim 92604. Great shoes, but they needed heel replacements, so I went up the hill in Chinatown, Las Vegas, to Mike's Shoe Repair. New leather (not rubber!) heels with the infamous v-cleat. Mike: "I get this request about once a year, if that."

 

[madhat]

Florsheim 92604. Great shoes, but they needed heel replacements, so I went up the hill in Chinatown, Las Vegas, to Mike's Shoe Repair. New leather (not rubber!) heels with the infamous v-cleat. Mike: "I get this request about once a year, if that." View attachment 1424124 View attachment 1424125 View attachment 1424126 View attachment 1424127

Sweet. I'd totally be that once a year request guy

 

[EdwardWilson]

Florsheim 92604. Great shoes, but they needed heel replacements, so I went up the hill in Chinatown, Las Vegas, to Mike's Shoe Repair. New leather (not rubber!) heels with the infamous v-cleat. Mike: "I get this request about once a year, if that." View attachment 1424124 View attachment 1424125 View attachment 1424126 View attachment 1424127

Beautiful. But we need to get you some new laces!

 

[friendlygoz]

Got my Shoe Challenge entry shoes: AE Chesters from 1977. I paid a little more than I should have ($45 shipped; I very politely talked the seller down from $59 + shipping), but these were the ones I wanted. The uppers need a ton of work, but they are structurally in good shape. Let's see how I do...

 

[friendlygoz]

Just took these out for their maiden voyage. Fit is spot on in an 11 1/2 C which is concerning as I have a pair of 12 D/B Nettletons in the mail. Patients was never one of my virtues. Took a pretty good slider on one of those yellow wheelchair ramps but I spend a lot of time walking around on ice in hard plastic ski boots so no problem.
View attachment 1209647

Those look great. Nice job bringing the welt stitching back.

 

[EdwardWilson]

Got my Shoe Challenge entry shoes: AE Chesters from 1977. I paid a little more than I should have ($45 shipped; I very politely talked the seller down from $59 + shipping), but these were the ones I wanted. The uppers need a ton of work, but they are structurally in good shape. Let's see how I do... View attachment 1424138 View attachment 1424139 View attachment 1424140

Are you having them re-soled?

Are you reviving the uppers yourself or sending them out?

 

[friendlygoz]

Are you having them re-soled?

Are you reviving the uppers yourself or sending them out?

I’m doing it myself. This is for the revival challenge that this thread hosts. I will post pix of the process.

 

[suitforcourt]

Are you having them re-soled?

Are you reviving the uppers yourself or sending them out?

I have been organizing an annual shoe revival challenge:

2020 styleforum shoe revival challenge

Dear members, The competition you've all been waiting for. Get out your wallets, polishing cloths, and gas masks. The 2020 shoe revival challenge is about to commence. The 2020 competition will amalgamate the 2018 and 2019 formats. Rules of the challenge: Shoes can only be worked on AFTER...

www.styleforum.net

Check out the 2018 and 2019 ones. The inaugural edition was electric.

2018 shoe revival challenge - submit entries HERE

Congrats @Mbaldinger @JohnAAG and @wasmisterfu. I shall continue the lab experiments... until next year.

www.styleforum.net

 

[smfdoc]

Got my Shoe Challenge entry shoes: AE Chesters from 1977. I paid a little more than I should have ($45 shipped; I very politely talked the seller down from $59 + shipping), but these were the ones I wanted. The uppers need a ton of work, but they are structurally in good shape. Let's see how I do... View attachment 1424138 View attachment 1424139 View attachment 1424140

I can't wait.

 

[CWOyaji]

Cleaning welts is laborious.

But what a difference it makes.

 

[Nealjpage]

Florsheim 92604. Great shoes, but they needed heel replacements, so I went up the hill in Chinatown, Las Vegas, to Mike's Shoe Repair. New leather (not rubber!) heels with the infamous v-cleat. Mike: "I get this request about once a year, if that." View attachment 1424124 View attachment 1424125 View attachment 1424126 View attachment 1424127

$55? That's a helluva good deal.

 

[happypebble]

$55? That's a helluva good deal.

Mike's has done a really good job with each pair I've taken there. I had taken a pair of Hanovers in for some work, and when they came back they looked so good I hardly recognized them

 

[wasmisterfu]

Alden 693 Full Strap Tassel Moccasins in Burgundy Calfskin on the Aberdeen Last. Circa 1989
View attachment 1423857

Excellent example of Best Loafers.