Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[suitforcourt]

Nice eyelets.

Thanks! For all my shell pairs (all are vintage so far) I have cobblers install eyelets/grommets to prevent/slow down tear to the eyelets. I recognize it's only preventing the inevitable.

 

[smfdoc]

I found these last week and they were very reasonably priced. I was watching them then they ended. I got an offer Tom the seller that was even better and snatched them up for about half the going rate of average 93605. They are from 1970. I conditioned them a little with some Venetian Shoe cream. They were a little dry so I put on generously. Unfortunately some of it settled in the brogue perforations and I can’t get it out. Maybe a stiffer brush?

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Beauties. To avoid your VSC issue, I apply the VSC and then take a brush to the accumulation spots. These are usually in the brogue holes or along a pinked edge. Rather than brushing, I slap or pat the area with the brush straight into the accumulation. The bristles go inside the hole and the VSC accumulation is removed easily as it is still wet. Then allow the shoe to continue drying and clean up as usual.

 

[smfdoc]

Happy WTW vintage pals. Hanovers.

 

[Nobleprofessor]

Here is a very unusual pair. 1960 Florsheim MTO Shark Skin. They are similar to the Regency of the same time period except they are a derby rather than a blucher. I know they are MTO because they have handwritten style, size, and date code.

Wyatt and Dad did a minor repair for me and replaced the heels with JR combo heels. I’m still amazing that 60 year old shoes have held up this long.

 

[Bopper]

A beautiful WW to all. Nunn Bush.

 

[Bopper]

Happy WTW vintage pals. Hanovers.

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I NEED some 6 eyelet LWBs

 

[manowar]

A beautiful WW to all. Nunn Bush.

What an impressive gunboat. How the mighty have fallen. All I see in stores now are Nunn Bush rubber & gel monstrosities. Though, to be fair, there are even worse looking shoes.

 

[2Deuce2]

93602’s for WW. When I got these, I did the whole clean up and glycerin process. Outstanding gunboats.

 

[MathMan314]

In reference to "Mean Girls", our teaching staff wears pink on Wednesdays.

 

[suitforcourt]

Some trusty Dacks rebuilt with a brown welt to make things a little different.

 

[friendlygoz]

93602s yesterday…

 

[smfdoc]

93602s yesterday… View attachment 1947677 View attachment 1947679

Many, if not most of the people on this thread have some Florsheim LWBs. There are many more people who do not understand why we "don't just go to the mall or online and order a pair of new shoes?" Why are we interested in some pair of used shoes that are 30, 40 or 50 years old? This pair provides the answer to the question. The exact color tone, the contrasts in laces and welt stitching, the tip shine, the medallion pattern and the beautiful details of the brogue and double stitched pinking. Nothing is out of balance. They look substantial and masculine. They look like they will still be beautiful in another 20 years. One does not realize how tremendous they were until, like many things 30, 40 or 50 years ago, are gone.

 

[memoriastoica]

Vintage violation: Allen Edmonds Hampstead.

 

[Bopper]

Would it not be possible for a good cobbler/cordwainer/craftsman to duplicate the lace stays on any given shell cordovan wingtip by busting the stitches on the heel counter and the lace stays all the way around, removing the original piece, making a template, cutting and broguing a new identical piece, and install? I'm sure there would be complications, but it was done once, why not again?

 

[VintageZealot]

Weyenberg Massagic Silk Label wingtips I got for very cheap in a poor eBay listing awhile ago.

The listing lacked the age, brand, size, and most details but with the cheap price I figured they were worth the risk. When they arrived I found a faint 295 code for 9.5 B which is normally too small for me. However the toe is extended a bit for the point so they fit more like a 10.5 A which I can wear somewhat. I haven't decided if they're comfortable enough to keep yet.

The colour is an unusual almost mossy green tinted brown, accented with subtle contrast welt stitching. I think they are from the very late 1950s, they appear to be older than the other Silk Label Weyenbergs from the 60s that I've seen.

The writing on the sole is very faint but reads "Imported calf hand waxed finish".

The faint 295 size code can be seen here.