Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[sam67]

Just reading that gave me a headache. People from Saskatchewan never cease to amaze me. This story doesn't surprise me for one second.

Corner Gas!

 

[friendlygoz]

I took the camels out for a walk today -- Hartt camel leather PTDs.

View attachment 1568404

I also went to pick up a pair of black shell MacNeils that I had put in for some work at the cobbler.

This is the pair I got in a trade with @suitforcourt late last year. These were not his shoes, but just a pair that he had picked up.

They were probably significantly too large for their previous owner, so he put in thick pads under the tongues and had sewn in thick spongy liners at the back of the heel.

View attachment 1568405

View attachment 1568406

The tongue pads were easy enough to pull off. I just had to use a lot of nail polish remover to get rid of the leftover adhesive.

The heel pads were more problematic. They had been stuck on and sewn in, so I used a seam ripper to carefully remove the stitching and then pulled out the pads... but chunks of the original soft leather liner came out with them.

View attachment 1568407

I ended up taking them to my cobbler for some work. They somehow patched up the gouged out parts to make the back of the heel cup smooth again, and then applied and sewed in a thin leather liner. The color doesn't match, but was all they had to choose from. Overall, as usual, their work is nicely done.

View attachment 1568408

Time to get some good use out of these puppies!

View attachment 1568409

Those are fantastic. I love the MacNeil. Enjoy those.

 

[suitforcourt]

I took the camels out for a walk today -- Hartt camel leather PTDs.

View attachment 1568404

I also went to pick up a pair of black shell MacNeils that I had put in for some work at the cobbler.

This is the pair I got in a trade with @suitforcourt late last year. These were not his shoes, but just a pair that he had picked up.

They were probably significantly too large for their previous owner, so he put in thick pads under the tongues and had sewn in thick spongy liners at the back of the heel.

View attachment 1568405

View attachment 1568406

The tongue pads were easy enough to pull off. I just had to use a lot of nail polish remover to get rid of the leftover adhesive.

The heel pads were more problematic. They had been stuck on and sewn in, so I used a seam ripper to carefully remove the stitching and then pulled out the pads... but chunks of the original soft leather liner came out with them.

View attachment 1568407

I ended up taking them to my cobbler for some work. They somehow patched up the gouged out parts to make the back of the heel cup smooth again, and then applied and sewed in a thin leather liner. The color doesn't match, but was all they had to choose from. Overall, as usual, their work is nicely done.

View attachment 1568408

Time to get some good use out of these puppies!

View attachment 1568409

Both pairs are classics, but the MacNeils are just glowing.

I'm really glad a brother can make use of this pair. Get grommets as well. Preventative measure.

 

[stook1]

I took the camels out for a walk today -- Hartt camel leather PTDs.

View attachment 1568404

I also went to pick up a pair of black shell MacNeils that I had put in for some work at the cobbler.

This is the pair I got in a trade with @suitforcourt late last year. These were not his shoes, but just a pair that he had picked up.

They were probably significantly too large for their previous owner, so he put in thick pads under the tongues and had sewn in thick spongy liners at the back of the heel.

View attachment 1568405

View attachment 1568406

The tongue pads were easy enough to pull off. I just had to use a lot of nail polish remover to get rid of the leftover adhesive.

The heel pads were more problematic. They had been stuck on and sewn in, so I used a seam ripper to carefully remove the stitching and then pulled out the pads... but chunks of the original soft leather liner came out with them.

View attachment 1568407

I ended up taking them to my cobbler for some work. They somehow patched up the gouged out parts to make the back of the heel cup smooth again, and then applied and sewed in a thin leather liner. The color doesn't match, but was all they had to choose from. Overall, as usual, their work is nicely done.

View attachment 1568408

Time to get some good use out of these puppies!

View attachment 1568409

Good save. I have the same pair and like them a lot. That might be the most fit adjustment I have ever seen on a pair of shoes but it looks like your cobbler did a very nice job on the heel lining. Enjoy them.

 

[Quantum17]

I took the camels out for a walk today -- Hartt camel leather PTDs.

View attachment 1568404

I also went to pick up a pair of black shell MacNeils that I had put in for some work at the cobbler.

This is the pair I got in a trade with @suitforcourt late last year. These were not his shoes, but just a pair that he had picked up.

They were probably significantly too large for their previous owner, so he put in thick pads under the tongues and had sewn in thick spongy liners at the back of the heel.

View attachment 1568405

View attachment 1568406

The tongue pads were easy enough to pull off. I just had to use a lot of nail polish remover to get rid of the leftover adhesive.

The heel pads were more problematic. They had been stuck on and sewn in, so I used a seam ripper to carefully remove the stitching and then pulled out the pads... but chunks of the original soft leather liner came out with them.

View attachment 1568407

I ended up taking them to my cobbler for some work. They somehow patched up the gouged out parts to make the back of the heel cup smooth again, and then applied and sewed in a thin leather liner. The color doesn't match, but was all they had to choose from. Overall, as usual, their work is nicely done.

View attachment 1568408

Time to get some good use out of these puppies!

View attachment 1568409

You changed means of travel from camel to horse midway ? Hardly anyone can do that nowadays ?

 

[Hotel Cali]

Like all posters here I don’t have a shoe problem. But somehow whenever I find some NOS or almost new mid grade shoes in my exact size they end up in my car to be added to a once a year rotation. These are some JC Penney Stafford MiUSA. Possibly Hanover’s from my inexperienced eye. So far just added some Lexol and brushing.

Likewise, I have three well fitting mid-tier NOS from Stuart McGuire (2x wear), Jarman (0x wear), Knapp (0x wear) in 2 years.

 

[Hotel Cali]

I bought this pair recently. A women in Saskatchewan contacted me about them. They were owned by her uncle. My guess is that they were made in the 1940s. Pretty amazing. Museum quality. They are small though. Size 8B.

View attachment 1567785 View attachment 1567784 View attachment 1567786 View attachment 1567787

Perhaps your daughter may love these one day and will wear them.

 

[suitforcourt]

You changed means of travel from camel to horse midway ? Hardly anyone can do that nowadays ?

This is awesome.

 

[Hotel Cali]

Do these AE loafers look "non-alligator" to me?

Mens Allen Edmonds Randolph 9.5 B Brown Rare Alligator Penny Loafers Vtg? | eBay

Material - Alligator. Style - Slip On Penny Loafer.

www.ebay.com

 

[suitforcourt]

Like all posters here I don’t have a shoe problem. But somehow whenever I find some NOS or almost new mid grade shoes in my exact size they end up in my car to be added to a once a year rotation. These are some JC Penney Stafford MiUSA. Possibly Hanover’s from my inexperienced eye. So far just added some Lexol and brushing.

Likewise, I have three well fitting mid-tier NOS from Stuart McGuire (2x wear), Jarman (0x wear), Knapp (0x wear) in 2 years.

Honestly, I prefer the mid tier or tier 2ish vintage brands. Don't get me wrong, Florsheim, Hanover, Dacks, etc, are no doubt in a completely different league in terms of quality and finish.

But there is something compelling about the B Mason, Dexter, and Stuart McGuire of the shoe world. I guess their price point (even in NOS condition) is always a great deal. Compared to the modern day shoes, the tier 2 of yesteryears stand mountains apart.

Plus, other than the fellow addicts in this group, few know the brands. So usually I can milk a good price.

Happy weekend, shoe brothers.

 

[Nealjpage]

Do these AE loafers look "non-alligator" to me?

View attachment 1568526

Mens Allen Edmonds Randolph 9.5 B Brown Rare Alligator Penny Loafers Vtg? | eBay

Material - Alligator. Style - Slip On Penny Loafer.

www.ebay.com

They almost look like turtle but they're a modern shoe, so I'm stumped.

 

[eTrojan]

They almost look like turtle but they're a modern shoe, so I'm stumped.

I think that may be belly scale.

 

[smfdoc]

Do these AE loafers look "non-alligator" to me?

View attachment 1568526

Mens Allen Edmonds Randolph 9.5 B Brown Rare Alligator Penny Loafers Vtg? | eBay

Material - Alligator. Style - Slip On Penny Loafer.

www.ebay.com

The 4809 style was listed in the catalog as black calf. I think those are likely an MTO pair in alligator and they used the calf number. I would "snap" them up. (You see what I did there?) AE did that back then, such as my Chesters.

 

[CWOyaji]

May all your harvests be golden.

 

[sam67]

Finally got these Weyenbergs serviceable. Can’t find my original picture. Tons of acetone, fiebings chocolate dye, Bicks 4, Parisian brown shoe polish and Havana brown wax (saphir)