Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[BlueSteel]

Haven’t worn these old friends in a while…

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They look soooo much darker in your first pic!?!

 

[sam67]

Good week for Florsheim. ‘The Heath’ from ‘69 catalog, 20711

 

[suitforcourt]

That triple-stitching is awesome!

Yeah, Dacks Canada was definitely one of the great vintage shoe makers. The nice thing is that I can still find them in thrift stores from time to time. The current ones (labeled as Matthew Dacks) are made by Cheaney of England, so the quality is still there and worth the sticker price.

That said, there is just something so patriotic about a pair made in Canada. And for $5 (Canadian dollars) at a thrift store? Christmas comes twice.

 

[suitforcourt]

Good week for Florsheim. ‘The Heath’ from ‘69 catalog, 20711
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I love that sleek toe box. Very English.

 

[greekgeek]

Pretty unfair of me to ask for guesses on these...a toughie! These are King-Size Shoes (Brockton, Mass.). They are on David's list of US makers - he says the company was sold in 1966 and liquidated in 1967.

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Looks like Hanover to me. Maybe they picked up the brand?

 

[BlueSteel]

Looks like Hanover to me. Maybe they picked up the brand?

Thanks! Good question - do you know when Hanover stopped making US shoes? I don't own any Hanovers to do an in-hand comparison, unfortunately!

 

[Oshare]

Vintage violation. I pulled out my pair of suede Florsheim boots for the autumn weather.
I picked them up for a song a few years ago. They are made in China, but not horribly bad. I'm not sure if that's a real welt, or just some stitching on a glued shoe to make it look more "quality". But they are actually quite comfortable. We'll see how long they hold up.

 

[JFWR]

Pretty unfair of me to ask for guesses on these...a toughie! These are King-Size Shoes (Brockton, Mass.). They are on David's list of US makers - he says the company was sold in 1966 and liquidated in 1967.

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King Size the big and tall company that still operates?

 

[BlueSteel]

King Size the big and tall company that still operates?

I believe someone bought the rights to use the name. I can't say for sure, but I believe these are different people who bought the name.

 

[friendlygoz]

Shell Alden monkstraps today…

 

[Nealjpage]

Who has had any luck stretching a toe box? I got these for free from another SF member and am finally getting around to working on them. I dig the looks and the lines but they're just too snug on my toes.

 

[sam67]

92604. Happy Friday!

 

[eTrojan]

Allen Edmonds Capri: sharkskin and calf spectator monkstraps. This specific version was found in the 1976 catalog, but likely offered for a few years in the mid 1970s.

Someone here posted a link to them when they were on sale, and I thought they were unique enough that I bought them, even though they’re not the right size (12.5D). They’re pretty loose (but usable) with thick socks. I’ll likely try a tongue pad and heel grabber to adjust the fit.

As I was trying to date these, I discovered that “Capri” has been reused several times by AE. In the late 60s/early 70s, it was a tassel loafer. By the mid 70s it was this monkstrap. And more recently, it’s been used for a woven loafer.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[ccpl14]

92604. Happy Friday!
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So damn solid

 

[friendlygoz]

Black shell AE Dundee today…