Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[JFWR]

He spends all his time scouring for vintage shoes. If only I had his luck.

Mormonopoly secretly owns Ebay, I believe, and therefore has set a secret algorithm so only he gets vintage shoes in a certain size, with emphasis on beauties from the 40s and 50s.

 

[JFWR]

Anyone ever hear of "Executive Imperial" shoes? Any one know anything about the brand, whether it's MIUSA, GYWed, etc?

 

[Oshare]

Anyone ever hear of "Executive Imperial" shoes? Any one know anything about the brand, whether it's MIUSA, GYWed, etc?

Is that a brand name, or a grade of shoe? I thought it was the later, and sort of a generic term for a higher grade of shoe...?

 

[stook1]

Anyone ever hear of "Executive Imperial" shoes? Any one know anything about the brand, whether it's MIUSA, GYWed, etc?

I've never owned a pair but I've checked them out. I think it's considered a 2nd tier vintage shoe. MiUSA & GYW. As with other brands quality is variable with newer ones probably not so great.

 

[friendlygoz]

Shell Grayson because tassels loafers are ... take it away, @wasmisterfu!

 

[suitforcourt]

Anyone ever hear of "Executive Imperial" shoes? Any one know anything about the brand, whether it's MIUSA, GYWed, etc?

Is that a brand name, or a grade of shoe? I thought it was the later, and sort of a generic term for a higher grade of shoe...?

I've never owned a pair but I've checked them out. I think it's considered a 2nd tier vintage shoe. MiUSA & GYW. As with other brands quality is variable with newer ones probably not so great.

Mason – Chippewa Falls Wisconsin. Founded in 1904 by August and Bert Mason. Ended USA production in 2003. Also know as B Mason. The Executive Imperial line was their premier line. Tier 2/3 and one of my better fitting pair of vintage shoes.

 

[kilowatts]

Hi Guys:
Executive Imperials are indeed a second tier brand although the ones I had were very nice. I think they made a lot of department store brands. The Italians would say, “Bruta Figura”!
Kilowatts

 

[Nealjpage]

I think I wear these GH too often.

 

[happypebble]

I've never owned a pair but I've checked them out. I think it's considered a 2nd tier vintage shoe. MiUSA & GYW. As with other brands quality is variable with newer ones probably not so great.

I really like my black Mason Executive Imperials made in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, a mere 90 minutes from my hometown (shoutouts). They're supposedly second tier, but when I compare them to my Hanover gunboats or my Florsheim 92604s, I really don't see much difference in quality. Your mileage may vary, as other non-Executive Imperials by Mason might be lesser quality, but I can't fault the EIs from my experience.

 

[stook1]

Shell Grayson because tassels loafers are ... take it away, @wasmisterfu! View attachment 1626813 View attachment 1626814

WOW! The color on that pair is incredible. I don't think I have ever seen you post a pic of them.

 

[JFWR]

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen. I think I will consider the pair, but I might pass if they aren't considered quite so nice. Bruta figura is not something I want to aspire to, especially in a style that isn't necessarily something I don't have already.

 

[smfdoc]

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen. I think I will consider the pair, but I might pass if they aren't considered quite so nice. Bruta figura is not something I want to aspire to, especially in a style that isn't necessarily something I don't have already.

Mason did have some acceptable shoes and even made two styles in shell.

 

[CWOyaji]

The Mason 301s. Sad that I only ever found them in other people's sizes

 

[friendlygoz]

WOW! The color on that pair is incredible. I don't think I have ever seen you post a pic of them.

I’ve posted pictures of these a few times. I really like the color on these too. Unlike most of the other pairs in my collection, I did almost nothing to these. I got them for a song on Poshmark and they were practically brand new. I used to think that tassel loafers should have stayed with Gordon Gekko in the 1980s. These completely changed my thinking.

 

[PSU John]

Anyone ever hear of "Executive Imperial" shoes? Any one know anything about the brand, whether it's MIUSA, GYWed, etc?

Executive Imperial was the trade mark of shoes from the Mason Shoe Co. of Wisconsin, I believe. Was Goodyear welted but often with vinyl rather than leather welting material. A second tier shoe, below Florsheim, Nettleton, etc. Sold originally through door-to-door sales reps.