Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[eTrojan]

Appreciate the insight. Thanks very much

I usually wear an A-width on TTS, but some shoes I move to an AA-width for a better fit (usually heel slip issues). These were a AA that fit like a AAA.

 

[davidVC]

One of the best vintage AE MacNeil pairs I have seen in years.

 

[friendlygoz]

Just in: vintage shoe trees. I got a pair made by Nettleton and two other pairs from Yugoslavia. The latter fill a hole in my shoe tree collection, since before these I didn’t own any Cold-War-era shoe trees made in communist Europe.

 

[dddggjj]

This week I'm wearing these c. 1950 Florsheim ventilated spectators. View attachment 1438506 View attachment 1438507 View attachment 1438508 View attachment 1438509 View attachment 1438510

I don't know of this question has been asked of you before (I don't remember seeing the question asked here) but I was wondering if you ever had any of your shoes rebuilt/renewed and how difficult it was for a cobbler to complete? Or have you done most of the work yourself? Have you mostly dealt with shoes in good condition that don't need much work? Some of your shoes are rather unique and I would think more difficult to rebuild if needed.

 

[mormonopoly]

I was just reading about pre 1957 dating code on vcleat. Except the date code doesn't match. I guess the "S" is not what I thought. Still cool but not my size.

Men's Vintage Florsheim Imperial Spectator Leather Oxfords Shoes. Size 9.5C | eBay

<p dir="ltr">Men's Vintage Florsheim Imperial Spectator Leather Oxfords Shoes. Size 9.5C. Condition is Pre-owned. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail. Nice clean shoes. No cracks, I have just brush cleaned them. New owner will polish and condition the leather as needed. Clean inside. Soles and heels...

www.ebay.com

These are actually from the 70s. The model number looks like an early model number, but I believe they also used numbers like that for custom orders. A pre-1956 shoe will have a model number, but will not have a date code.

 

[mormonopoly]

I don't know of this question has been asked of you before (I don't remember seeing the question asked here) but I was wondering if you ever had any of your shoes rebuilt/renewed and how difficult it was for a cobbler to complete? Or have you done most of the work yourself? Have you mostly dealt with shoes in good condition that don't need much work? Some of your shoes are rather unique and I would think more difficult to rebuild if needed.

I have not had any rebuilt. I want to preserve as much originality as possible in my shoes. As they say, they’re only original once.

 

[stook1]

These are some very old AEs and pretty neat shoes. Check out the welt stitching. These are not mine, by the way. Anyone have any idea how old these might be? Don't think I have ever seen this type of tag on the lining.

Allen Edmonds Vintage Pebble Leather Oxford Saddle Shoes Brown Tan Size 10 C | eBay

Photo 5 shows the leather has pulled away from the stitching.

www.ebay.com

 

[madhat]

These are some very old AEs and pretty neat shoes. Check out the welt stitching. These are not mine, by the way. Anyone have any idea how old these might be? Don't think I have ever seen this type of tag on the lining.

Allen Edmonds Vintage Pebble Leather Oxford Saddle Shoes Brown Tan Size 10 C | eBay

Photo 5 shows the leather has pulled away from the stitching.

www.ebay.com

Early 60s at the latest. They had gone to a non-script font by 64.

 

[KotaB]

What you fellas think of these Dexter's quality wise and current condition. I never seen a U-Longwing.

VINTAGE 1950's MENs DEXTER LT BROWN LEATHER GOLF SHOES 9-C PREOWNED NEW SPIKES | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VINTAGE 1950's MENs DEXTER LT BROWN LEATHER GOLF SHOES 9-C PREOWNED NEW SPIKES at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Nealjpage]

I had to look that up.

Me too.

 

[Nealjpage]

That is not the size indicated by the 9. That is the quality control number which will always be between 1 and 15. The size would have been stamped to the far left and has worn away. Best to get good measurements with these. Nice shoes.

Here is a photo I got from the seller.

And his response: "I double checked and it only has the "9", but no letter for width. I measured across the bottom at the widest section and it's 4.5 inches."

Should I ask him to measure the length, too? Or is there enough information in his picture?

 

[suitforcourt]

Here is a photo I got from the seller.

View attachment 1438920

And his response: "I double checked and it only has the "9", but no letter for width. I measured across the bottom at the widest section and it's 4.5 inches."

Should I ask him to measure the length, too? Or is there enough information in his picture?

The numbers to the left are the size. I believe I see 395.

9.5C.

 

[Hotel Cali]

Bostonian ptb today.

 

[mormonopoly]

What you fellas think of these Dexter's quality wise and current condition. I never seen a U-Longwing.

VINTAGE 1950's MENs DEXTER LT BROWN LEATHER GOLF SHOES 9-C PREOWNED NEW SPIKES | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VINTAGE 1950's MENs DEXTER LT BROWN LEATHER GOLF SHOES 9-C PREOWNED NEW SPIKES at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I may be an outlier here, but I have never thought highly of dexter. Also, these are a few decades later than 1950s.

 

[Nealjpage]

I'm pretty sure it's pirarucu.

Aren't the scales too big for that?