Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[madhat]

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/21/entertainment/michael-jackson-moonwalk-shoes-auction-trnd/index.html

Would any of you guys buy MJ’s Florsheims? Cool history nonetheless

I'd rather have his specators, but no, I wouldn't compete with the fanbois for those even if they were my size

 

[suitforcourt]

I'd rather have his specators, but no, I wouldn't compete with the fanbois for those even if they were my size

Not worth the aggravation to compete with crazy people.

 

[mormonopoly]

Maybe you are right, I am not the super expert of spectator shoes and my intention was to share my general impression of Nettleton vintage shoes.

If the shoes have 6 digits number inside then that's more likely to be 50s. If they do have 6+1 digits and they would be early 60s.

Interesting thing of David's shoes is that logo inside and outsole have different styles and from that I think they are produced during the transaction period(?)
Also about the 5 eyelet, they could be typical of 50s design but comes back again 60-70s...

Above several reasons, that's where my 60-70s conclusion came from.

It's very nice and happy to talk about vintage shoes.

Very interesting, I did not know that about the Nettleton model numbers. The thing that really looks 50s to me is the last shape. All of the spectators I generally see from the 60s-70s have the sort of square toe that was popular at the time. These are sleeker and pointier, which was common in the 50s. I have no proof either way, so you could be right, but those are my observations.

 

[OmBom]

Good weather so wore my 93602’s to work.

 

[instigateur]

Headed to a vendor seminar today.

Barrie LTD LWB seemed right.

 

[suitforcourt]

Headed to a vendor seminar today.

Barrie LTD LWB seemed right. View attachment 963094

I was about to criticize the group for the lack of shoe Appreciation. But then @instigateur and @OmBom totally stepped up. And with LWBs. It's like I channeled my feelings and thoughts and they responded in kind.

My faith in humanity has been restored. Balance has been recovered.

I hope to post some shoe Appreciation in the next while. Recrafted a pair of English made Dacks and Royal Tweed by Cheaney recently.

 

[M.Photog]

I got these Alden long wings a few days ago. I believe they are shell but I am anxious to hear the thoughts of the experts. They are a bit scuffed up and the soles and heals are bad but I think they have potential. So far I have wiped them with a damp cloth and gave them about 5 minutes of brushing. They fit nicely.

 

[smfdoc]

I got these Alden long wings a few days ago. I believe they are shell but I am anxious to hear the thoughts of the experts. They are a bit scuffed up and the soles and heals are bad but I think they have potential. So far I have wiped them with a damp cloth and gave them about 5 minutes of brushing. They fit nicely.

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Yes, they look like shell to me. Nice score. I would not hesitate to send them in to alden for new heels or a recraft if they need it. It will also get a new finish on the whole shoe if that is what you want.

 

[M.Photog]

This my first pair of Aldens so i need to investigate their recraft service.

 

[CWOyaji]

Worked a trade with one of my friends in the Thrift Brag Thread for some 1965 vintage shell 93606 Florsheim PTB's in my size. Shout out to @StanleyWingtip!

The uppers were miraculously intact although they'd been stained black for some reason by a previous owner. And they needed new soles and heels. Also, the scalloped tips of the tongues had dried out and looked like they had been eaten by weevils.

Brushing on 1/5 bottle of Saphir Renomat pulled an alarming amount of black pigment up to the surface.

Then a lot of rubbing with water, elbow grease, water and more rubbing got them down to a surface I could add pigment to. Took a whole bath towel worth of rags to pull the gunk off them.

Then two applications of AE Cordovan Shoe cream

Now they're off to my cobbler for JR soles and rubber heels, plus tongue repairs. Stay tuned!

 

[suitforcourt]

This my first pair of Aldens so i need to investigate their recraft service.

I recommend a reputable cobbler instead.

 

[smfdoc]

Well, the Delwood shoes from @CWOyaji arrived and they just needed some TLC. Unforunately, TLC does not make the shoes larger or my feet smaller. Such is the shoe game. Nevertheless, I cleaned them up, gave them the UV treatment, and sent them on to another SF member to recover my modest investment. I have the feeling that they may show up on the threads soon rather than later.

 

[eTrojan]

Yes, they look like shell to me. Nice score. I would not hesitate to send them in to alden for new heels or a recraft if they need it. It will also get a new finish on the whole shoe if that is what you want.

Is there a general consensus on the Alden recraft service? I have a pair of black NST that need heels and are close to needing soles. Deliberating local cobbler v. Alden recraft.

 

[Oshare]

I’m in Tokyo this week and had a chance to visit Super8shoes this afternoon. It’s a small, but incredible, shop with shelves of vintage Florsheims, Nettletons, Hanovers, etc... The owner - nickname Gucci - could not have been nicer. He took the time to talk about his passion and work with me, and to show me a few of his older and rarer models.

Apologies for the quick photos that don’t do justice to the shop and the shoes.

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They also offer amazing customized recrafting with shell and other materials.

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I’ve been to a ton of vintage shops over the years, but most had very modest shoe collections. This is the first standalone vintage shoe store I think I’ve ever seen.

AHS

Thanks to the recommendation of @Kazoo8, I had a great afternoon today shopping the vintage stores (and other sites) of Koenji.

There are dozens of vintage shops, and I saw amazing workwear and other items. As he wrote, however, Whistler (and their next-door partner shop, Craft) were the highlights.

Here are a few photos.

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I’m not sure what the Japanese word is for “longwing”, but I certainly had no issue being understood.

@davidVC, let me know if vcleat.com ever needs a Tokyo Bureau Chief!

AHS

Wow! And Wow!

I know where I'm going this weekend!

 

[M.Photog]

I recommend a reputable cobbler instead.

Since I got seriously interested I have not had any shoes completely recrafted. I have had repairs done locally while I continue to find new prospects for recrafting. I have talked briefly with a couple respected cobblers. These shoes are high on my prospect list.