Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[MathMan314]

Also interesting how well the tassel loafers apparently sold according to this list. If I am not mistaken the Maxfield, Cody, and Grayson are all tassel loafers, ie. 6 of the top 25 sellers.

Agreed, that is interesting indeed. Come to think of it, though, I see those 3 models on eBay and Poshmark in abundance, so I can believe many were purchased.

 

[Thomas Crown]

I made a list of shoes I know that I wish for. A secret scavenger list. Well, there’s also a wish list for shoes I have yet known. That unknown list is long. I just don’t know what I don’t know, you know. But it brings me comfort to know that you know I know you know she knows I know you know I know at least something… Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.

Presenting AE Bancroft from 1983, the inauguration year for Bancroft and for “The hand crafted world of…” The model runs for some years, but only by MTO if I understand correctly. I am glad to finally found a pair my size. The scavenger list gets a pair shorter. The wonderful seller even included the AE trees from the 80s. I’m happy ?

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Alligator version of the Jodox with tassel laces! Wow,I’ve never seen those-super cool

 

[smfdoc]

I made a list of shoes I know that I wish for. A secret scavenger list. Well, there’s also a wish list for shoes I have yet known. That unknown list is long. I just don’t know what I don’t know, you know. But it brings me comfort to know that you know I know you know she knows I know you know I know at least something… Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.

Presenting AE Bancroft from 1983, the inauguration year for Bancroft and for “The hand crafted world of…” The model runs for some years, but only by MTO if I understand correctly. I am glad to finally found a pair my size. The scavenger list gets a pair shorter. The wonderful seller even included the AE trees from the 80s. I’m happy ?

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WOW!! Just stunning. Congrats. Glad you found them because they will not come up again. Any idea what AE charged for the alligator in 1983?

 

[smfdoc]

Meeting with accountant people this morning. It is snowing, but appearances and standards must be maintained even in inclement weather. Royal Tweed LWBs.

 

[happypebble]

Meeting with accountant people this morning. It is snowing, but appearances and standards must be maintained even in inclement weather. Royal Tweed LWBs.

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Now that's some class act shoes. Lovely.

 

[happypebble]

And quite popular it definitely was for awhile - it stayed at the top of the best sellers list for a few years running. And it's casual counterpart, The Mapleton, also made the list. As Hillcrest began to fade they propped the bicycle toe back up with a model called the Warren - a softer treatment on the VIP rubber sole with Poron-cushioned footbed. That also did quite well but my recollection is it did not last quite as long. So I think the bike toe lasted almost a decade at AE.
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Still thinking about bike toe stuff here. So, it looks like Mapletons have a black rubber sole versus the standard AE leather sole on the Hillcrest. Does that make Mapleton more casual? And, does anybody have a pair of Mapletons where they can talk about the "baseball glove leather"? Interesting, even if it is all bike toe. Funny how fashions come and go.

 

[Quantum17]

WOW!! Just stunning. Congrats. Glad you found them because they will not come up again. Any idea what AE charged for the alligator in 1983?

I have no idea tbh. Now I’m curious. Hopefully the folks at AE will be helpful. Will report back ?

 

[smfdoc]

Still thinking about bike toe stuff here. So, it looks like Mapletons have a black rubber sole versus the standard AE leather sole on the Hillcrest. Does that make Mapleton more casual? And, does anybody have a pair of Mapletons where they can talk about the "baseball glove leather"? Interesting, even if it is all bike toe. Funny how fashions come and go.

I have a pair and baseball glove leather is VERY accurate. Polish is not needed, just rub them down with Bick 4. The leather, eyelet grommets, contrast stitching on the vamp and rubber sole all make this a nice casual shoe. In no way are they dress shoes.

 

[smfdoc]

I have no idea tbh. Now I’m curious. Hopefully the folks at AE will be helpful. Will report back ?

MTO alligator shoes from AE in 2004 were $2400. 20 years can make a big difference in price but they likely still pricey.

 

[BAK]

Still thinking about bike toe stuff here. So, it looks like Mapletons have a black rubber sole versus the standard AE leather sole on the Hillcrest. Does that make Mapleton more casual? And, does anybody have a pair of Mapletons where they can talk about the "baseball glove leather"? Interesting, even if it is all bike toe. Funny how fashions come and go.

Spoiler: Also HILLCREST ALLIGATOR!

 

[smfdoc]

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Spoiler: Also HILLCREST ALLIGATOR!

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Dang, what a waste of an alligator, IMHO.

 

[mreams99]

What do I have here? Are these Johnson & Murphy?

Here are a couple of other views, if it helps.

I had never seen these before.

 

[Thomas Crown]

Vintage Violation: once the snow and ice comes to the upper midwest it’s hard to drive my vintage shoes in the salt,(plus wool socks won’t fit)-therefore today I’m flying the AE Patton in chromexcel. I love my Higgins Mill boot but the lack of a boot strap makes them hard to pull on(and hard for me to succeed in free enterprise) The Patton is a nice alternative and I love the CXL

 

[stook1]

Bit of a photobomb dump here... I picked up a new (old) pair of longwings and decided to take some group shots. As I may have mentioned in the past, I have been tightening up my longwing collection. This constitutes my entire current collection of longwings. Thought some of you guys might enjoy seeing comparative shots from similar perspectives.

Clockwise from the top left of the group shots.

1. French Shriner in black grain calf from, I think, the early 60s.
2. British Walkers custom dye job by me. From the 80s, probably. Not amazing shoes but sentimental value since they were the 1st pair I dyed.
3. 93602s
4. Nettletons in shell cordovan
5. 93605s
6. Macneils in black shell cordovan from the early 90s

Much like @smfdoc, I have been looking to pickup more pairs of 93602s for dye projects but, oddly, I have had a lot of difficultly finding more pairs in my preferred size.

 

[mreams99]

What do I have here? Are these Johnson & Murphy?
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Here are a couple of other views, if it helps.

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I had never seen these before.

Here they are from 1969: