Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[Nealjpage]

I just picked up this pair of alligator Edwin Clapps, complete with their original box and dust bags. They are 10.5D so they should fit perfectly, and they are in very good lightly used condition. I have been searching for an early pair of vintage alligator shoes for quite awhile, but finding a pair decent shape and in my size has been a challenge. I am pretty stoked. I will be posting better photos when they arrive.

This model was called the Italio, which is stamped on the insole near the waist. They were offered through the 1960's. The advert is from 1965.

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Those were some expensive shoes.

 

[MathMan314]

I have a few pairs of brown LWBs that will be dyed to other colours.

One will become a midnight blue. A second will become purple. The third pair will become spectators.

Loake boots might become green.

If I get more tan/walnut coloured LWBs, then more colours will be added to the arsenal.

Do you plan to do the dye jobs yourself, or rather have a cobbler do them?

I am thinking about finding some PTBs and dying them dark blue so I can call them "plain toe blue-chers".

 

[Quantum17]

It’s getting closer to Lunar New Year, or Vietnamese Tet. Red envelopes ? water melon ? red lanterns, red firecrackers ?, red cherry blossoms ? … I adore red. It’s more than just a color of good luck, but a color of memories, love and comfort.

Presenting mid 50s John Richie in their Bradford last with my favorite shoe color. This pair set off a wonderful friendship. So many reasons to wear them next week.

 

[Quantum17]

My one pair of gators from 2004. These are Allen Edmonds Chesters and were made to order in those days. $2400 freakin dollars!! The guy who bought these took them home, put them in the closet and never wore them. They were sold NOS in Ebay about 12-13 years later. No, they did not get their money back out of them. Far from it. Wish I had more.


View attachment 1741891

OMG the legend is true. Turn out they belong to you. I am not jello at all... not one bit... (crying myself to sleep tonight most likely)

 

[kilowatts]

Hi guys:
I’ve always thought vintage shoe sizes were simply suggestions!

 

[Lmrjfud]

Not my listing.
8 1/2 D NOS.
Bring bags of money.

NOS | VINTAGE FLORSHEIM 93605 8.5D SHELL CORDOVAN KENMOOR IMPERIAL LONGWING SHOE | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NOS | VINTAGE FLORSHEIM 93605 8.5D SHELL CORDOVAN KENMOOR IMPERIAL LONGWING SHOE at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Jiqea]

It’s getting closer to Lunar New Year, or Vietnamese Tet. Red envelopes ? water melon ? red lanterns, red firecrackers ?, red cherry blossoms ? … I adore red. It’s more than just a color of good luck, but a color of memories, love and comfort.

Presenting mid 50s John Richie in their Bradford last with my favorite shoe color. This pair set off a wonderful friendship. So many reasons to wear them next week.
View attachment 1742304 View attachment 1742305 View attachment 1742306

The John Ritchie Co. dates back to 1875 and was located in Quebec City. They were one of Canada's premier shoe-makers right up until the 1950's. They continued production into the early 70's but their quality declined rapidly through the 60's. Your pair dates to the last of the glory years in the mid 50's. The attached advert is from 1955. The 305 model was advertised in 1955 and 1956, and the $20 price point puts them on par with the Dack's Custom Grade shoes from the 50's.

.

 

[Quantum17]

The John Ritchie Co. dates back to 1875 and was located in Quebec City. They were one of Canada's premier shoe-makers right up until the 1950's. They continued production into the early 70's but their quality declined rapidly through the 60's. Your pair dates to the last of the glory years in the mid 50's. The attached advert is from 1955. The 305 model was advertised in 1955 and 1956, and the $20 price point puts them on par with the Dack's Custom Grade shoes from the 50's.

View attachment 1742432 .

Thank you, kind sir! GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[smfdoc]

Do you plan to do the dye jobs yourself, or rather have a cobbler do them?

I am thinking about finding some PTBs and dying them dark blue so I can call them "plain toe blue-chers".

God that is a terrible pun. I love it.

 

[suitforcourt]

Do you plan to do the dye jobs yourself, or rather have a cobbler do them?

I am thinking about finding some PTBs and dying them dark blue so I can call them "plain toe blue-chers".

I'm sending them to patina artists. One is Alberto Suastez

Do you plan to do the dye jobs yourself, or rather have a cobbler do them?

I am thinking about finding some PTBs and dying them dark blue so I can call them "plain toe blue-chers".

I'm sending to two different patina artists. This gent in Montreal

MSH PATINA men dress shoes

Msh patina offers Goodyear Welted shoes made in Spain and hand painted in Canada by patina artists.

www.mshpatina.com

And Alberto Suastez from the Facebook group.

 

[Vincent George]

I have an interesting dilemma. I already have two pairs of brown Florsheim LWBs, one of which is NOS. So, the smart thing to do is buy another pair, right? These are from November 83. My original intention was to strip and dye them to look like the Forest model. But now that they are here, they are so soft and such a nice shade of brown that I really hate to mess with them. I guess time will tell and we will see what happens.

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The pair from my last strip and dye job to make the Golden Harvest were more of a basket case and it was easier to pull the trigger on the stripping. They really needed some help.

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I’m a fan of redundancies

 

[Lmrjfud]

my “grail” pair getting some cleanup time.
These were NOS that I paid a pretty penny for, but oh so worth it.
Florsheim 97626.

 

[EdwardWilson]

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my “grail” pair getting some cleanup time.
These were NOS that I paid a pretty penny for, but oh so worth it.
Florsheim 97626.

How are the areas around the lacing? It is my understanding that with vintage shell there is often dry rot in the smaller strips of cordovan.

 

[Jiqea]

Dare I say I will be trying my hand at some edging this evening.

On the shoe stand are (top) a pair of NOS black "Escort" oxfords built by Scott-McHale in 1941 for sale by Eatons ; (middle) a pair of mid 1950's Tyrol spectators made in Montreal (hand welted Norwegian); and below a pair of NOS ventilated spectators made by Scott-McHale in 1936/37 at their Tillsonburg factory.

The Escort Oxfords were made 81 years ago today. Happy birthday my darlings!!

 

[smfdoc]

Dare I say I will be trying my hand at some edging this evening.

On the shoe stand are (top) a pair of NOS black "Escort" oxfords built by Scott-McHale in 1941 for sale by Eatons ; (middle) a pair of mid 1950's Tyrol spectators made in Montreal (hand welted Norwegian); and below a pair of NOS ventilated spectators made by Scott-McHale in 1936/37 at their Tillsonburg factory.

The Escort Oxfords were made 81 years ago today. Happy birthday my darlings!!

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Born in the early days of WWII. A pair of survivors.