Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[VintageZealot]

I never posted the cleaned up pictures of these brown ventilated Wright Arch Preservers so I figured I should do that before ventilated shoe season goes away, and also because I realized how long it's been since I last posted!

They look like they are from the 1940s to me but the red tag inside is likely 1950s, although I have seen an identical pair in black with the 40s white tag so the design likely dates back to then.

Solid brown mesh shoes don't seem to be very common, most of the ones I see are a lighter red-brown leather with beige mesh inserts instead.

Barely legible one shoe reads "MARSHAL FIELD & CO The shop for men CHICAGO" while the other has "wright arch preserver shoes" inside.

The less common red Arch Preserver tag that I think was used in the 50s after replacing the more common white tag from earlier.

I think the Amherst text on the right is possibly the name of the last? Most Wright's of this vintage I've seen say Drexel in that spot but I have seen different names there as well.

Last but not least here's an image of the black version I've seen with part of the older white tag visible in the right shoe on the left.

 

[sam67]

Hanging onto summer with a Johnston and Murphy Aristocraft. But I am ready for the fall!

 

[Oshare]

1969 Florsheim 93606s for plain toe Tuesday. I worry about what appears to be a dry spot on the vamp. I massage some Saphir in there after every wear. I also did a like get neatsfoot oil treatment a couple of years ago. Hmmm…. View attachment 2030291 View attachment 2030293 View attachment 2030295

I have that happening on a few of my shell pairs also. I go at the creases with Bick4 quite a bit and keep my fingers crossed. But if it's dry rot, then sadly there isn't a whole lot that can be done... except to enjoy them while they last.

 

[Satoman1]

On my vintage golden combo: 1973 GH with 1966 King Seiko.

 

[smfdoc]

A 93602, now in blue.

 

[suitforcourt]

97626s and John McHale tanks.

 

[eTrojan]

Hanging onto summer with a Johnston and Murphy Aristocraft. But I am ready for the fall!
View attachment 2030643

paging @wasmisterfu

"Kiltie tassel wingtip loafers are best loafers."

 

[suitforcourt]

One of the last Dacks pairs before they declared bankruptcy. In their dying days, Cheaney manufactured shoes for Dacks, after the latter closed down their Canadian factory.

I bought these at the Dacks store in Toronto during liquidation. Years later, the brand was revived as Matthew Dacks and Cheaney continues to make their footwear.

These were one of my first grown up shoes when I first joined the workforce. Ronald Nijdam , the first Canadian to win the SSIA Silver Cup title, rebuilt these with JR soles and cat paw heels. I'm sure they'll have many more kilometres to walk.

 

[smfdoc]

A rainy day prompted me to go with rugged LB Sheppard Hanovers on ugly carpet.

 

[Vincent George]

Couldn’t resist for $63.20 (plus 10 shipping).

 

[smfdoc]

Couldn’t resist for $63.20 (plus 10 shipping).


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Those are stellar. You were duty bound to buy them.

 

[CWOyaji]

Couldn’t resist for $63.20 (plus 10 shipping).

You done good.

 

[friendlygoz]

I have that happening on a few of my shell pairs also. I go at the creases with Bick4 quite a bit and keep my fingers crossed. But if it's dry rot, then sadly there isn't a whole lot that can be done... except to enjoy them while they last.

I’ve had these for years and they’ve been fine. I may hit them with a light coat of NF oil. I hope they survive. If they don’t, I just hope I have another pair of shoes to wear😉.

 

[suitforcourt]

Mason Monday.

 

[GoldenHarvestMedal]

This pair looks like shell to me. Yes?