Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[CWOyaji]

@M635Guy is absolutely right, Japan has an incredible selection of pencils. And pens and mechanical pencils and everything else worth collecting. On a recent trip there I bought this pen and pencil set, with the bodies made from old whiskey barrels:

They're on US Amazon actually at very reasonable prices.
But my favorite mechanical pencil is this thrifted vintage Schaefer, the lead is wide at 1mm and it's very expressive with soft lead. The pen next to it is a thrifted vintage Cross that I use a lot, too. These were in a grab bag with a bunch of others for peanuts.

But my favorite thrifted pen is this Montblanc 220 which was tucked inside a $0.99 bison leather checkbook cover. Complete with cartridge filler and writes like a dream.

 

[wasmisterfu]

I should have mentioned that I've also been a vintage pencil collector in the not so distant past. I stopped accumulating more when I figured I had more than I would use the rest of my life (and I use them daily). The quality of 50-100 year old pencils is astounding compared to today's Chinese-made garbage pencils.

I have to ask - where does one find 100-year-old pencils and how much do they cost?

FWIW, Japan still has a healthy love of pencils, and (I'm sure you're already aware) you can find fine examples in art supply stores (real ones like Blick, etc.)

I've found stuff on eBay, at thrift stores, garage sales and quite a few at estate sales. The really old stuff (say, pre-1920) is about gone at this point, but 1930s-60s pencils are not terribly hard to find or expensive. I belong to a couple Facebook pencil collectors groups, and we trade back and forth.

Wait, this is a real thing? I though you were pulling my leg? Now I gotta search about antique and vintage pencils. I want to know more.

 

[tcbinnc]

Uh, I collect cigars. To smoke. So it's more like I purchase cigars. As I am now doing with shoes to wear.

 

[EdT]

Wait, this is a real thing? I though you were pulling my leg? Now I gotta search about antique and vintage pencils. I want to know more.

Never knew people collected mechnical pencils, I have a 1935 18K Waterman pencil which is very ornate, don't know much about it since I only collect and use fountain pens. Looks something close to this:

 

[EdT]

Uh, I collect cigars. To smoke. So it's more like I purchase cigars. Like I am now doing with shoes to wear.

Same here, I am trying to keep it down to one a day ...pretty hard for the summer months ! ...LoL

 

[davidVC]

Steve does a full rebuild of a Yuma:

 

[Timeless-guy]

Does anyone know where to get Dainite soles put on in Canada? If so, how much is it?

I carry Dainite soles in stock. Red, black, and brown.
Timeless Shoe Repair-Thunder Bay

 

[friendlygoz]

Steve does a full rebuild of a Yuma:

Watched it. Amazing. $800 job.

 

[right_hook]

Btw, usually I'm the one who doesn't like offtopic chats in the forum threads. But this one is a rare example when people can discuss different topics and it feels natural and engaging. It feels more like a group of internet pals of different ages who share very interesting and valuable info information, sometimes on really unexpected topics.

 

[Oshare]

Steve does a full rebuild of a Yuma:

I watched the whole thing. Very interesting.

I hadn't realized that on the Yumas, like moccasins, the piece of cordovan went all the way around the bottom of the shoe.

I think I'll get mine out and fondle brush them a bit.

 

[John_Barleycorn]

Good morning, can anyone help me identify these shoes I purchased yesterday? These are easily my most beautiful thrift find in the past year. I can’t wait to flex on my coworkers come
Monday. Thanks.

 

[instigateur]

Good morning, can anyone help me identify these shoes I purchased yesterday? These are easily my most beautiful thrift find in the past year. I can’t wait to flex on my coworkers come
Monday. Thanks. View attachment 1202805 View attachment 1202806 View attachment 1202807 View attachment 1202808

Nice pickup. Those are really nice.

That looks like an aftermarket insole. Can you check underneath for a logo? Just a guess but I'm thinking Nettleton.

 

[John_Barleycorn]

Thank you for the lead! There’s nothing under the insole unfortunately, or on the tongue.

 

[tocohillsguy]

Wow. I missed these from the catalog. Need to protect those soles with a Topy.

Allan Edmonds, Wing Tips, size 10 1/2, Full-grain leather, four inch platform | eBay

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[mormonopoly]

Good morning, can anyone help me identify these shoes I purchased yesterday? These are easily my most beautiful thrift find in the past year. I can’t wait to flex on my coworkers come
Monday. Thanks. View attachment 1202805 View attachment 1202806 View attachment 1202807 View attachment 1202808

Looks more like a Stafford/JCPenney tier wingtip to me.