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madhat

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So, I have a question for you gentlemen: How do you date vintage shoes? Specifically, how would I go about finding out how old my Hanover LB Sheppherd cordovans are? I know they must predate 1995, as that is when the company went out of business, but how can I be sure when they were made besides that? Where would I find out if they are 80s, 70s, 60s, etc?
You've certainly come to the right place! If you'll post some pics, people can look at them and give you indicators based on soles, patterns, footbeds, and model numbers to help date them as best as possible.
 

eTrojan

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That is a bizarre wear pattern on the pipeing. I almost think it was done on purpose, but I can’t imagine why someone would do that.

My guess is that they saw those faux-worn Prada/Church's monstrosities and tried to emulate them.
 

eTrojan

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Griffin's Shoes?

VCleat black pebble grain LWB. Looks like pretty tight SPI all around. Extra nail work in the heel.

With 9 pairs of black pebble grain LWBs, I don't know that I need another pair. But I am interested in the maker; is this a long lost gem, or another mid-grade producer from our past?


These have continued to vex me, so I kept Googling.

It looks like Roscoe Griffin Shoes was a big chain in North Carolina in the 1970s and 1980s. They sold Florsheim, A.G., and Ambassador shoes for Men (along with lots of women's brands and Buster Brown for kids).

I did find one ad with the griffin image and font (1970) used in the shoe. By the 1980s, they'd moved to a different brand styling. See store opening ad from 1971 to see list of shoes sold.

UPDATE: Roscoe Griffin Shoes was started in 1918 and incorporated in 1947. It appears it was last incorporated in 1996. It was dissolved in 2003.


The_News_and_Observer_Fri__May_29__1970_.jpg




The_News_and_Observer_Sun__Mar_8__1987_.jpg


Rocky_Mount_Telegram_Mon__Sep_6__1971_.jpg
 
Last edited:

JFWR

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Okay gentlemen, per Mad Hat's comment, I have decided to enlist your help to see what vintage my black cordovan LB shepherds from Hanover are.

I've got two pairs I am sharing here: One is a plain toed blucher, the other a LWB.

PTB

IMG_20200807_1642548.jpg

LWB
IMG_20200807_1646047.jpg

LWB
IMG_20200807_1645017.jpg

LWB
IMG_20200807_1642211.jpg

PTB
IMG_20200807_1644155.jpg

PTB
IMG_20200807_1646422.jpg
IMG_20200807_1642097.jpg

PTB
IMG_20200807_1645174.jpg
IMG_20200807_1642165.jpg
IMG_20200807_1644501.jpg
 

Thomas Crown

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That’s amazing work with an assist by CG. Wow. You are a good friend.
Thanks,@friendlygoz -and in your honor today,the Golden Harvest exchange shoe(for those more recent to the thread,@friendlygoz and I traded one another our G-Harvests to each get his proper size 9 widths)
69E47989-0733-4155-B836-C222A9DE9CCA.jpeg
738C9120-6658-4AFA-9ABD-AC7AF682C99A.jpeg
9388D7EB-32A0-40D1-BE33-597EF48CE940.jpeg
 

friendlygoz

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friendlygoz

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What is recommenced for cleaning and deep conditioning vintage shark skin shoes (Allen Edmonds Nassau to be exact)?
They don’t dry easily. i used Bick 4 followed by a few rounds of Saphir reptan.
 

Oshare

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Been pretty swamped with work and have fallen behind here, but we're finally out of our unusually long rainy season so I figured it was time to break out the shell again.

Bostonian Crown Windsor LWBs the other day.

20200804.jpg


Stay well!
 

mormonopoly

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Okay gentlemen, per Mad Hat's comment, I have decided to enlist your help to see what vintage my black cordovan LB shepherds from Hanover are.

I've got two pairs I am sharing here: One is a plain toed blucher, the other a LWB.

PTB

View attachment 1437633
LWB
View attachment 1437634
LWB
View attachment 1437635
LWB
View attachment 1437636
PTB
View attachment 1437637
PTB
View attachment 1437638 View attachment 1437639
PTB
View attachment 1437640 View attachment 1437641 View attachment 1437642
No earlier than 80s on those.
 

Joe Wohkittel

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What is recommenced for cleaning and deep conditioning vintage shark skin shoes (Allen Edmonds Nassau to be exact)?
The last pair I bought, I used glycerin, and it softened them, but weakend the leather and they cracked up. I don't know the best treatment, but that's what not to do! Next time around, I'll try regular treatments with Bick exotic and see if they'll soften over a month or so. Let us know what you do and how it turns out.
 

meister

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