Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[stook1]

Yes on shell, but not MacNeil. I think Florsheim. A quick reference point on MacNeil is the way that the eyelet portion goes all of the way down to the long wing.

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Alden and black Florsheim for comparison.

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As per the norm, @smfdoc brings receipts.

They are Florsheim 93605s and very nearly NOS. This is, I think, just my 2nd wear and in the first I was outdoors for all of 5 minutes.

 

[mormonopoly]

I picked up these interesting Nunn Bush 'lazyman' loafers. (Thanks David's watchlist.)

Vintage 'lazyman' seems rare.

Are these from the 60s?

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Those are sweet! Probably 1950s, I think that’s when the style was biggest.

 

[friendlygoz]

Going to have to disagree with you guys. Some of what we are discussing has nothing to do with the pandemic and, at least in my view, has more sinister origins that are both economic and political. Honestly, I couldn't really care less if my 50th pair of shoes takes an extra week or two to arrive but there are people who rely on USPS for time critical deliveries.

To a certain extent, it's correct to call this a "first world problem" but those of us in the US theoretically are supposed to live in the first world and it would be great if our postal service could deliver prescription meds to Grandma on time (just as an example). I realize that this may come across as entitlement. I'll just say that the USPS has a LONG history of high quality service. What has been happening for the last 6 months is not normal. If I thought it was primarily a function of the pandemic, I would not be biyatching about it.

Back to shoes! I will recompense the victims of this off topic diatribe with some vintage beauties post haste (no pun intended).

Let me just add that the people who deliver the mail are wonderful. Our mail carrier, Alberto, knows each member of my family by name, stop for a short chat if we are outside, and he brought us chocolates for Christmas. He’s also very good at what he does. The same is true for the people at our local post offices. It’s not like we live in Mayberry either. We live in a major metro area. So, hurray for postal workers.

 

[eTrojan]

While posting, I did think of the various political reasons in the US Postal system could have been in such dire state, they are real and issues that must be addressed. It remains however that things should be put in perspective.
Pictures of my now sanitized, cleaned treated shone shoes coming up. They didn't come with shoetrees, I have put vintage shoetrees in them to straighten them and give the conditioners time to seep in before wearing them.
Lighting conditions are the same.

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I love my COPEGs. Rock solid shoe, and the arch support is unique among dress shoes.

 

[Hotel Cali]

Those are sweet! Probably 1950s, I think that’s when the style was biggest.

How was Nunn Bush quality up to the 60s? Did quality start to dip from the 70s or 80s?

I also picked up these Nunn Bush(es?). Looks like from the same era.

 

[kilowatts]

How was Nunn Bush quality up to the 60s? Did quality start to dip from the 70s or 80s?

I also picked up these Nunn Bush(es?). Looks like from the same era.

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Hi guys:
I’m lucky enough to have a pair of Nunn Bush (Always thought that was an unfortunate name) autograph captoe bluchers. Very nice shoes and the heels are made of an almost indestructible rubber. My guess is that they come from the 60’s.
kilowatts

 

[mormonopoly]

How was Nunn Bush quality up to the 60s? Did quality start to dip from the 70s or 80s?

I also picked up these Nunn Bush(es?). Looks like from the same era.

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Great scores! These all look 50s to me. In my opinion, Nunn Bush quality in this era was outstanding. These have closed channel soles, super tight stitching, and beautiful leather quality. The quality started to dip in the 60s. I believe they stopped doing closed channel soles in the 50s, followed by the usual decline in construction and materials.

 

[JFWR]

Hi guys:
I’m lucky enough to have a pair of Nunn Bush (Always thought that was an unfortunate name) autograph captoe bluchers. Very nice shoes and the heels are made of an almost indestructible rubber. My guess is that they come from the 60’s.
kilowatts

Its a holy name. They're good girls!

 

[right_hook]

How was Nunn Bush quality up to the 60s? Did quality start to dip from the 70s or 80s?

I also picked up these Nunn Bush(es?). Looks like from the same era.

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Just wow!
Those shoes look like top quality! Great designs as well

 

[stook1]

I picked up these interesting Nunn Bush 'lazyman' loafers. (Thanks David's watchlist.)

Vintage 'lazyman' seems rare.

Are these from the 60s?

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That's an awesome pair of shoes. Really like them a lot.

 

[Raimar]

Like the look of these Florsheim "Comfort Cushion" shoes. They still need some work but wanted to enjoy the sunny day.

 

[Raimar]

Found Cisco Continentals before. I think these are newer since Made in Slovakia. They were decent but no AE quality. I guess quality has gone down the world over

Here's a new one for you fine gentlemen. Any soviet bloc enthusiasts? I'm kinda interested in these myself but am going to pass. These are presumably from 1992 or earlier. I haven't the slightest idea how to date them or if they are any good but I am guessing they are new-ish given the insole. Not my listing.

ETA: looking at them more closely they look maybe in line with current AE quality, more or less.

ETA2: hadnt even bothered to read the seller's description. coincidentally, he compared them to the macneil. I'd say the macneil is a better shoe just judging the stitching and details, etc. Still an interesting shoe. Added the listing for the brown ones too.

 

[Nobleprofessor]

We are lucky enough to have several really great eBay sellers on here. I want to take this chance to remind you of another one. @drlivingston. I bought a pair of shoes on eBay and then realized he was the seller. I got them today. I bought them yesterday! ONE DAY shipping. And they were packed so well. He’s a great member here. His eBay seller name is mensaman-us. Highly recommended!
Plus, he’s a good guy!

 

[sam67]

Great scores! These all look 50s to me. In my opinion, Nunn Bush quality in this era was outstanding. These have closed channel soles, super tight stitching, and beautiful leather quality. The quality started to dip in the 60s. I believe they stopped doing closed channel soles in the 50s, followed by the usual decline in construction and materials.

I jumped on the Nunn Bush bandwagon. Have a date estimation? Seems like a closed channel sole there but I'm in no way an authority. Either way looks like some age, decent shape, and a good rehab challenge.

 

[mormonopoly]

I jumped on the Nunn Bush bandwagon. Have a date estimation? Seems like a closed channel sole there but I'm in no way an authority. Either way looks like some age, decent shape, and a good rehab challenge.

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Yep, I would put these c. 1950. Great score!