Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[ijustknow]

Oh, I had never heard of it and was wondering if it was along the lines of Bick 4. Is it a good product?

I think it goes strong for years. You can check them on Youtube.
Leather Milk is light liquid compared with Bick 4's denser condition. the nourishing is quite deep and good. The oil is not heavy, so no sticky feeling, in the meantime, if you prefer some shine, it is not as good as Saphir Renovateur.

 

[JFWR]

Hey gentlemen,

You know what might be useful? To discuss when classic shoe brands saw their decline into offshored, glued garbage, or went defunct entirely.

From what I understand, Florsheim's last year miusa was 1999.

Hanover went out of business in 1995.

What year did Bostonian, Johnston and Murphy, Nettleton, Taylor Made, Mason, Cole Haan, and others decline?

I remember trying on the crown aristocraft J and M in 2019 and they were miusa briefly again at that time. They were marketed as the type of shoes JFK wore. Am I right in assuming that's no longer the case and J and M has no nice quality? I popped into an airport store and was disgusted by glued fake leather soles with corrected grain made in India uppers for 80 dollars.

Of course, we all know that AE and Alden, even if the quality may have declined some, are still finely made miusa, gyw shoes. Plus, we still have a number of finely made English shoes. But with an aim towards the vintage shoe man, what should be the history here for what years/styles we look out for?

 

[JFWR]

Happy wingtip wednesday.... very common florsheim imperial 93605

These may be common, but they are uncommonly nice. Florsheims in their top years were some of the best shoes around. Great pair!

 

[tcbinnc]

Happy wingtip wednesday.... very common florsheim imperial 93605

Very nice. And the socks? Votta? nah.

 

[giangiobomber]

Very nice. And the socks? Votta? nah.

nope, bombas.

 

[happypebble]

Hey gentlemen,

You know what might be useful? To discuss when classic shoe brands saw their decline into offshored, glued garbage, or went defunct entirely.

From what I understand, Florsheim's last year miusa was 1999.

Hanover went out of business in 1995.

What year did Bostonian, Johnston and Murphy, Nettleton, Taylor Made, Mason, Cole Haan, and others decline?

I remember trying on the crown aristocraft J and M in 2019 and they were miusa briefly again at that time. They were marketed as the type of shoes JFK wore. Am I right in assuming that's no longer the case and J and M has no nice quality? I popped into an airport store and was disgusted by glued fake leather soles with corrected grain made in India uppers for 80 dollars.

Of course, we all know that AE and Alden, even if the quality may have declined some, are still finely made miusa, gyw shoes. Plus, we still have a number of finely made English shoes. But with an aim towards the vintage shoe man, what should be the history here for what years/styles we look out for?

I believe 2003 was the end for made in USA at Mason. Offshored to China. Shame, as my USA Masons are so!id, quality shoes.

 

[smfdoc]

Hey gentlemen,

You know what might be useful? To discuss when classic shoe brands saw their decline into offshored, glued garbage, or went defunct entirely.

From what I understand, Florsheim's last year miusa was 1999.

Hanover went out of business in 1995.

What year did Bostonian, Johnston and Murphy, Nettleton, Taylor Made, Mason, Cole Haan, and others decline?

I remember trying on the crown aristocraft J and M in 2019 and they were miusa briefly again at that time. They were marketed as the type of shoes JFK wore. Am I right in assuming that's no longer the case and J and M has no nice quality? I popped into an airport store and was disgusted by glued fake leather soles with corrected grain made in India uppers for 80 dollars.

Of course, we all know that AE and Alden, even if the quality may have declined some, are still finely made miusa, gyw shoes. Plus, we still have a number of finely made English shoes. But with an aim towards the vintage shoe man, what should be the history here for what years/styles we look out for?

@davidVC has a list of vintage USA makers and many of them include their years of operation. Link.

 

[Vincent George]

Hey gentlemen,

You know what might be useful? To discuss when classic shoe brands saw their decline into offshored, glued garbage, or went defunct entirely.

From what I understand, Florsheim's last year miusa was 1999.

Hanover went out of business in 1995.

What year did Bostonian, Johnston and Murphy, Nettleton, Taylor Made, Mason, Cole Haan, and others decline?

I remember trying on the crown aristocraft J and M in 2019 and they were miusa briefly again at that time. They were marketed as the type of shoes JFK wore. Am I right in assuming that's no longer the case and J and M has no nice quality? I popped into an airport store and was disgusted by glued fake leather soles with corrected grain made in India uppers for 80 dollars.

Of course, we all know that AE and Alden, even if the quality may have declined some, are still finely made miusa, gyw shoes. Plus, we still have a number of finely made English shoes. But with an aim towards the vintage shoe man, what should be the history here for what years/styles we look out for?

JM Conley (Wingtip Oxford) and Georgetown II (Cap Toe Oxford) were just being phased out as of 2019. Last 2 models Made in USA. Nothing even shows up on the website now.

I ended up buying the last pair of each in 10eee “in the company stock” (as the associate told me when checking their computer for inventory).

They are, oddly enough, two of my favorite pairs. Terribly said when JM dumped MIUSA. I still cruise eBay and VCLEAT daily looking for some older models in my size….

 

[kilowatts]

Hi Guys:
For a look at the decline of quality shoes, take a good look at the Allen Edmonds website followed by Church's. Two good brands taking the low road. A good reason to stick with vintage.
On another subject: Have you ever tried to explain the allure of used/vintage shoes to anyone else? Hard work, eh? They look at you as if your hygiene is slightly suspect.
kilowatts

 

[kilowatts]

After re-reading my previous post, I think it was overly judgemental. I know nothing about shoe manufacturing so I’m not really qualified to comment. Selling leather sneakers with a logo, for the same price as GW quality shoes does seem to be the way to ruin, though.
I guess that’s what the owners of buggy whip factories thought, so adapt, adopt, improve and survive, eh?
Kilowatts

 

[JFWR]

JM Conley (Wingtip Oxford) and Georgetown II (Cap Toe Oxford) were just being phased out as of 2019. Last 2 models Made in USA. Nothing even show up on the website now.

I ended up buying the last pair of each in 10eee “in the company stock” (as the associate told me when checking their computer for inventory).

They are, oddly enough, two of my favorite pairs. Terribly said when JM dumped MIUSA. I still cruise eBay and VCLEAT daily looking for some older models in my size….

What a pity. I had the chance to buy and ought to have.

They had no other models miusa from 2000-then?

 

[JFWR]

Hi Guys:
For a look at the decline of quality shoes, take a good look at the Allen Edmonds website followed by Church's. Two good brands taking the low road. A good reason to stick with vintage.
On another subject: Have you ever tried to explain the allure of used/vintage shoes to anyone else? Hard work, eh? They look at you as if your hygiene is slightly suspect.
kilowatts

The quality of aes are still quite good, their taste in non-dress shoes and some boots is questionable.

Church's was bought out by Prada and they've become trashy fashion ****.

 

[MathMan314]

What a pity. I had the chance to buy and ought to have.

They had no other models miusa from 2000-then?

The Melton is another 2000's USA made model. It's a nice looking cap-toe oxford. Goodyear welted, but corrected grain leather and more of a mid-range shoe than a high-end one.

 

[JFWR]

The Melton is another 2000's USA made model. It's a nice looking cap-toe oxford. Goodyear welted, but corrected grain leather and more of a mid-range shoe than a high-end one.

Real lame how badly J and M went down the tubes.

 

[Commisar]

I follow Steve's work on his Facebook page. He is really skilled at his art. I look forward to using his services in the future.

He's really good but you'll pay for that skill.