Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[suitforcourt]

Can anybody confirm that it’s shell cordovan? The model number is 373031.
Thank you.

I only have 1 other pair of shell (AE MacNeil). As the Florsheim are NOS, I can only compare by touch and visual inspection. The Florsheim feel like shell to me.

@davidVC commented previously on this pair. They were part of a custom order. David would doubt someone would make such an order and not go for shell.

To be clear, there are no other markings on the original box, or shoe, to indicate shell.

My opinion is just that.

Wishing you all a new year filled with peace, health, and new vintage shoes.

 

[davec737]

Thoughts on Freeman Flex shoes? bought a pair of wingtips from ebay, the sole is amazing soft (and flexible) but feels fragile (I get that this is how they can bend) leather is decent and has an interesting grain but shoe has nothing on the tanklike gunboats.

 

[JohnAAG]

Thoughts on Freeman Flex shoes? bought a pair of wingtips from ebay, the sole is amazing soft (and flexible) but feels fragile (I get that this is how they can bend) leather is decent and has an interesting grain but shoe has nothing on the tanklike gunboats.

I've found 4 or 5 pairs of Freeman shoes in the thrift stores. The uppers have generally been in good condition but in all cases the forefoot of the soles had big soft spots so I left them. I'm sure that has something to do with the lighter more flexible sole.

 

[tenfingers]

Anyone have any idea who the maker on these shoes is? I picked them up at a consignment shop in Maine a while back. The Brooks Bros. shoe trees came with them but were added by the shop and don't necessarily mean anything. The only markings inside are "Bench Made in England" and a very faded code/size stamp...

 

[JohnAAG]

Anyone have any idea who the maker on these shoes is? I picked them up at a consignment shop in Maine a while back. The Brooks Bros. shoe trees came with them but were added by the shop and don't necessarily mean anything. The only markings inside are "Bench Made in England" and a very faded code/size stamp...

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Do you have a photo of the sole and heel?

 

[tenfingers]

Do you have a photo of the sole and heel?

Sure thing!

 

[suitforcourt]

Sure thing!

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Whatever they are, great condition. Love the abacus as well! My parents tried to teach me. But I decided that learning about vintage shoes would be more interesting.

 

[mormonopoly]

Thoughts on Freeman Flex shoes? bought a pair of wingtips from ebay, the sole is amazing soft (and flexible) but feels fragile (I get that this is how they can bend) leather is decent and has an interesting grain but shoe has nothing on the tanklike gunboats.

All of the Freeflex line shoes I’ve seen have been from after Freeman’s quality was declining. I believe they started using it in the 1970s

 

[smfdoc]

It's time for a shoe reshaping follow up! As you may recall, I received a pair of Florsheims I intend to use in a resole project to add white wlet stitching and natural edge. They arrived with more than their fair share of creases. Apparently this Florsheim owner had never heard of shoe trees. I cleaned them a bit and put them through the water reshaping process described in the vcleat.com blog.

The uppers were in otherwise good condition. But after starting the water reshaping I found a short crack (cut?) about 1/2 inch in length. I bought a pair of those magnifying lenses that come in a hood to wear on your head and after close inspection I determined it did not go all the way through the leather. I eventually sealed it with Feiberg's leather glue after several rounds of leather lotion and Bick 4. Finally I polished with AE black polish in the tube and some black Collonil. Here is the final result without shoe trees.

A final note: David describes using a heat gun in the blog post and mentions to use it 18 inches away from the shoes. I now can second that recommendation. Heat guns are really hot and it can damage the leather if held too closely.

 

[suitforcourt]

It's time for a shoe reshaping follow up! As you may recall, I received a pair of Florsheims I intend to use in a resole project to add white wlet stitching and natural edge. They arrived with more than their fair share of creases. Apparently this Florsheim owner had never heard of shoe trees. I cleaned them a bit and put them through the water reshaping process described in the vcleat.com blog.

View attachment 899755

The uppers were in otherwise good condition. But after starting the water reshaping I found a short crack (cut?) about 1/2 inch in length. I bought a pair of those magnifying lenses that come in a hood to wear on your head and after close inspection I determined it did not go all the way through the leather. I eventually sealed it with Feiberg's leather glue after several rounds of leather lotion and Bick 4. Finally I polished with AE black polish in the tube and some black Collonil. Here is the final result without shoe trees.

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A final note: David describes using a heat gun in the blog post and mentions to use it 18 inches away from the shoes. I now can second that recommendation. Heat guns are really hot and it can damage the leather if held too closely.

You and David are magicians with shoes. Question, why not just let Steve at Bedos do all the work? Granted, this is fun and good way to avoid spending time with annoying family during holiday season. Hope everyone enjoys 2018.

 

[JohnAAG]

Sure thing!

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Sorry, I can't confirrm 100%. But that narrow, tappered "waist" on the sole remindss me a lot of Lobbs.

 

[tenfingers]

Sorry, I can't confirrm 100%. But that narrow, tappered "waist" on the sole remindss me a lot of Lobbs.

Well, comparing them to a pair of Lobb loafers I have I do see the similarity for sure. They would have had to have been made for a US Client to resell though, since they're marked with a US size.

In any event, well worth the $50 I paid for them, no matter who bench made them in England.

 

[smfdoc]

You and David are magicians with shoes. Question, why not just let Steve at Bedos do all the work? Granted, this is fun and good way to avoid spending time with annoying family during holiday season. Hope everyone enjoys 2018.

Thanks. Frankly, I do not know what Steve would do or not do in addition to the resole job. (Or what it would cost). I also wanted to give him the best possible shoes as a starting point.

I always want to learn and was waiting for a pair of shoes to reshape after reading the blog post on the procedure. I learned a lot in the process and now this opens up my level of acceptance of other vintage shoes I may purchase. I would pass on some that needed reshaping and now those can also be considered. And importantly, it is fun to see the changes. I think those turned out very well for the $50 I spent on the pair, which includes shipping. So, for $35 shoes, they are a good bargain and could have been worn without any additional changes.

 

[Lmrjfud]

8.5 D in great shape. Price is right.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/vtg-ROYAL-...030223?hash=item1ed619be4f:g:nQsAAOSwldRaOp3q

Not my shoe.

 

[right_hook]

Not-so-vintage restore of AE Leeds I found on ebay. I also redyed these pair.
Happy New Year in advance!

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I'm absolutely amazed with your results!.. I've never thought about redyeing shell cordovan shoes.
I have black Brooks Brothers tassel loafers. Wonder if I can convert them to navy or green.