Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[friendlygoz]

I do not think most cobblers would do that repair. There are a few that would, but the cost would likely be higher than it is worth. I would just invest enough to get them wearable and enjoy the bargain.

+1

 

[VintageZealot]

Cross-posting some Canadian shoes for today!

Vintage Dack's black calfskin derby shoes with hand sewn vamps. These are from the late 1980s or 1990s. I've seen this same style in other colours, more exotic leathers, or without the stitched vamps but I think simple black gives it a nice elegant look combined with the stitching.

This was also the first pair of vintage shoes I bought and marked the beginning of a new obsession hobby. They certainly opened a can of worms...



The soles feature the remains of an old set of toe taps:

 

[kilowatts]

First time finding shell in the wild. French binding is in rough shape, but the shell looks good and for $3.99 I couldn't say no.

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View attachment 1669487

Very good buy?

 

[BlueSteel]

I do not think most cobblers would do that repair. There are a few that would, but the cost would likely be higher than it is worth. I would just invest enough to get them wearable and enjoy the bargain.

Thanks for that! For all my vintage shoe buys (but these were not thrift finds) I have been super-fussy about only buying ones where the French binding looks to be immaculate. But I have been tempted by some bargains where the binding was an issue. Good to have your input - I will keep being fussy about that...unless some $3.99 shell comes my way...lol!

 

[smfdoc]

Thanks for that! For all my vintage shoe buys (but these were not thrift finds) I have been super-fussy about only buying ones where the French binding looks to be immaculate. But I have been tempted by some bargains where the binding was an issue. Good to have your input - I will keep being fussy about that...unless some $3.99 shell comes my way...lol!

Bypassing vintage shoes without immaculate French binding will result in very few shoes and a happy significant other. Sadly, it is an area that usually breaks down eventually and can be seen in some otherwise great shoes.

 

[smfdoc]

I was browsing Ebay and found a pair of NOS 93605 in 11EEE. Fortunately for me, I have a better fitting pair that were also NOS as this guy wants $799. Link, not my pair. The odd thing I found in looking them over were the V cleat positions. One heel was flush with the edge, which usually means pre-1973. The other heel had the V cleat in the post 1973 position. Not really sure how that came to be. Maybe one heel was made on 12/31/72 and they finished the other heel when they returned to work 1/2/73. Just kidding.

 

[suitforcourt]

Great deal! Is French binding something a cobbler can fix well/easily? I've never explored that repair before.

I've had it done a few times. $150+ (Canadian dollars) each time. Very time consuming and must be done by hand.

Some can do a simple patch over the existing binding which would cost a lot less.

 

[suitforcourt]

Florsheim Thursday. I'm so glad these custom made 9eee fit more like 8.5eee.

In the event of divorce, I'd fight tooth and nail to keep this pair.

 

[smfdoc]

Florsheim Thursday. I'm so glad these custom made 9eee fit more like 8.5eee.

In the event of divorce, I'd fight tooth and nail to keep this pair.

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Pair? The shoes or the two children?

 

[smfdoc]

It's a Florsheim Thursday forum pals.

 

[CWOyaji]

First time finding shell in the wild. French binding is in rough shape, but the shell looks good and for $3.99 I couldn't say no.

View attachment 1669486

View attachment 1669487

I'd trim the loose bits and apply black gloss nail polish, then see how it looks.

 

[friendlygoz]

Cross-posting some Canadian shoes for today!

Vintage Dack's black calfskin derby shoes with hand sewn vamps. These are from the late 1980s or 1990s. I've seen this same style in other colours, more exotic leathers, or without the stitched vamps but I think simple black gives it a nice elegant look combined with the stitching.

This was also the first pair of vintage shoes I bought and marked the beginning of a new obsession hobby. They certainly opened a can of worms...

View attachment 1669623
View attachment 1669624
The soles feature the remains of an old set of toe taps:
View attachment 1669625
View attachment 1669627

I love me some Dack's!

 

[Hotel Cali]

Thanks David's watchlist for these ... incoming. Nettleton suede/nubuck spectators.

Based on logo, welt, and outsole, what is the estimated era of these? My wild guess would be late 60s.

What is the Nettleton Individual line? Are they lower tier than Nettleton Traditional?

 

[Shrewboy]

Florsheim Thursday. I'm so glad these custom made 9eee fit more like 8.5eee.

In the event of divorce, I'd fight tooth and nail to keep this pair.

View attachment 1669811 View attachment 1669812

I’ve seen a couple of pictures of these now but don’t have the story. Are those the original color, or did you dye them? Seems a lighter color than I’ve seen elsewhere. Looks great!

 

[eTrojan]

1977 AE Nassau.