Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[smfdoc]

#wingtipwednesday

The timeless 93602.

I bought these in 2016 in NOS condition. For $185 USD. I had been negotiating with the seller for a while. His bottom line was $185. I remember reaching out to our leaders @smfdoc and @davidVC for their input and sage advice. @smfdoc was adamant I get them right away. I'm quoting based on memory: "If those were my size, I'd break my finger from hitting the BIN button so fast."

Nowadays, $185 may get you a beat up pair of 93602 that needs a rebuild quickly. How times have changed.

To give them some more face time, a cobbler added toe taps, Vibram explosion sole protectors, and rubber heels. V-cleats are simply too slippery for me. Sure, I walk with purpose and it's invigorating (quoting @davidVC about walking with v-cleats). But I've tried so many times on different surfaces. And some how, I'm just so clumsy that they make me slip. I can't wear dovetail heels. It has be solid rubber.

Wishing you all a lovely Wednesday. The weather is really warming up here, so shoes and sandals will be the norm for a while.
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Glad to know I was right, but I actually knew that at the time too.

 

[smfdoc]

Fighting the peer pressure of wingtip Wednesday, I pulled the L. B. Sheppard Hanover PTB. Being a rebel requires constant vigil.

 

[friendlygoz]

1940's Edwin Clapp Oxford Wingtips. Patina work by Greg Park (Hancore). Yes, I KNOW it's blasphemy to re-color great true-vintage shoes. And, yes, these were NOS.

But, although that "Vintage Tan" color is so very rare in today's footwear, when you have a dozen pairs in that exact shade, it's OK for a change.

those are killer. I tinker w/ my shoes a lot, so I'm not a purist. Still, it's a brave move to mess with Edwin Clapps. I think your bravery paid off. Wow.

 

[eTrojan]

#WingtipWednesday

1957 Florsheim shortwing oxford.

 

[friendlygoz]

93605s for WTW.

 

[isshinryu101]

those are killer. I tinker w/ my shoes a lot, so I'm not a purist. Still, it's a brave move to mess with Edwin Clapps. I think your bravery paid off. Wow.

thanks!

 

[ZePrez]

Hi

Maiden Voyage for my Florsheim 93606..These shoes are fine... I am pleased .

Note to self, in spite pf my admiration for the sturdiness and massive-attack approach of the V-vleats, I will have to replace the heels in those. It makes no sense to having to modify your gait, just by wearing those shoes .
Now what heels do you recommend to show respect to the shoes, and especially to my feet and health ?

Peace

 

[slimjohnil6]

I got my Alden 990 thrifted shoes back from the cobbler. He resoled them and installed metal eyelets on the inside for the laces.
I'm happy with the results!

 

[suitforcourt]

#florsheimthursday

The 96624, the younger brother of the 92604. I thrifted these and they were in near NOS condition. I usually don't find American made Florsheim in local Canadian thrift stores, but of course find many of the John McHale labelled pairs.

Given their pristine condition, I asked Pablo Hadarits to make some simple upgrades: toe taps, explosion sole protectors, and rubber heels.

I find the 96624 toe box to be slightly slimmer and tighter than the 92604. Not sure if anyone else feels the same way.

 

[jiredell]

A fortuitous Wingtip Wed for me. Found these Foot Joys at a thrift store this morning.

 

[hamercha]

#florsheimthursday

The 96624, the younger brother of the 92604. I thrifted these and they were in near NOS condition. I usually don't find American made Florsheim in local Canadian thrift stores, but of course find many of the John McHale labelled pairs.

Given their pristine condition, I asked Pablo Hadarits to make some simple upgrades: toe taps, explosion sole protectors, and rubber heels.

I find the 96624 toe box to be slightly slimmer and tighter than the 92604. Not sure if anyone else feels the same way.

View attachment 1790927 View attachment 1790928

@Suiteforcourt, for the shoes like this what kind of sole protector do you prefer? Why explosion sole protectors on these?

 

[suitforcourt]

@Suiteforcourt, for the shoes like this what kind of sole protector do you prefer? Why explosion sole protectors on these?

I don't have any real preference. The thinner ones like Explosion offer minimal traction and mostly serve to help slow down wear on the leather. Topy is a popular brand given they're very thin.

I've also had lug protectors, and even the Raptor installed. They are thicker, chunkier, and give the shoes more of a casual look. However, the thicker sole protectors offer traction in slick situations.

Why Explosion for this one? I never tried it before. It's thinner and more appropriate for dress shoes. Plus the cobbler recommended it. Would I get them again? For sure.

For pairs like boots? Nope. For boots or pairs I wear in the snow, I'd prefer Dr. Soles over leather, or say a lug or Raptor sole protector.

@friendlygoz has actually installed his own before. I'm not a handy guy and can't even assemble Ikea furniture. So I don't want to risk screwing up my footwear which are mostly vintage and discontinued.

 

[Satoman1]

Found this pair today at 2nd market for 10$ , at first sight i thought it's Heinrich Dinkeacker budapesters but after look in-sole i realize that's Apollo (pre-heinrich dinelacker) . The finish is quite bad compare with today Heinrich Dinkeacker stuffs , but not bad for 10$ , one more for my collection

 

[eTrojan]

I find the 96624 toe box to be slightly slimmer and tighter than the 92604. Not sure if anyone else feels the same way.

I think for this very reason, I prefer my 96624 to my 92604.

 

[eTrojan]

1983 Allen Edmonds Fairway.

Originally, a golf shoe, but someone had it recrafted with a standard leather sole. I consider these my rockabilly shoes. I’ll wear them with jeans as well as dressing them up. Today, it’s an Italian silk black and white houndstooth jacket with brooks brothers gabardine trousers.