Vintage John Lobb catalogue

[macaroni]

Hi, I have found those photos (drawings?) in my cobblers workshop. I wonder how did Lobb lasts changed since the photos ware taken (60s i suppose). More photos on my blog

 

[dopey]

Lobb's lasts are bespoke, so they have changed the way their customers' feet have changed.
BTW, I used the first photo as a model for shoes I order. If you go to Lobb's website, they have a link to their old black and white catalog that includes some helpful text explaining the design features.

 

[macaroni]

They don't do any RTW?

 

[macaroni]

Well... i guess those photos are not a rarity as i was assuming...

 

[dopey]

Originally Posted by macaroni

They don't do any RTW?
No. John Lobb Bootmakers, who made the shoes you showed, makes only bespoke. The John Lobb RTW operation is French and owned by Hermes, though the shoes are made in England. There is no connection between Lobb Bootmakers and John Lobb anymore.

 

[macaroni]

Thanks for clearing that out for me. I was confused here.

 

[dopey]

Originally Posted by macaroni

Well... i guess those photos are not a rarity as i was assuming...
Here is a link to the page I mentioned, showing that particular shoes. Your photos are better quality and were probably what were scanned for the online version. But here is the accompanying text:

Brown Grain Calf is used for this shoe, which is excellent for either golf or country wear. The Norwegian is a waterproof as a leather shoe can be and this is due to certain essential and unique features. There are only two vertical seams in the uppers; one of these appears at the toe, under which a stout "toe box" made of hard leather gives great protection, and the other, slightly curved, can be seen on the inside of the heel. The shoe has been photographed on the inside to show this latter seam, which is purposely not placed symmetrically at the back, where the greatest strain occurs, but at the inside where it is much stronger and less noticeable; the stitches of both these seams are made from within through half the thickness of the leather only and are therefore invisible. The sole, too, is fixed to the uppers differently from any other type of shoe. Instead of using a welt, the upper is turned outwards and stitched to the sole and this operation necessitates an extra row of stitches just above the sole, which can be seen in the photograph. The characteristic Norwegian pattern, i.e., the crescent-shaped piece of leather on the front, is today commonly used for ordinary walking shoes but the features described above, essential to the true Norwegian, are seldom to be found in any but the best quality hand-made shoes.

 

[HORNS]

Regardless, they're cool to see. Thanks for sharing.

I think it's interesting the medley of shoe trees they have photographed.

 

[macaroni]

I was quite thrilled when I've found them. I was even more thrilled when my cobbler explained to me (using those photos) what are Polish names for particular shoe styles. Most of those names are out of use in my country.

 

[CharlesAlexander]

Still beautiful after all these years...

Gotta love those shoe trees.

 

[bengal-stripe]

Originally Posted by macaroni

Hi, I have found those photos (drawings?) in my cobblers workshop. I wonder how did Lobb lasts changed since the photos ware taken (60s i suppose).

Here is the entire catalogue (presumably from the 1940s):

http://www.johnlobbltd.co.uk/history/catalogold1.htm

 

[HRoi]

wow, so little has changed...the 2nd pic is pretty much the Becketts, and the 3rd is the William, no?