Anyone Know This Alden Model?

This is a shoe I thrifted a while back and turned up today while cleaning under the bed. I think it's a very successful design and a very beautiful shoe. The adelaide throat really works with the shell cordovan, underscoring the casual nature of the shoe and highlighting the beauty of the leather. I've looked around and haven't been able to find any shoe like this in the on-line Alden catalogs. It would truly be a shame if this design were no longer available. Any Alden experts out there care to chime in?



Here are a couple more pictures. I think I read that vintage Hermes is now the standard background for shoe pictures. And so I bring you mallards:



And passionflowers:



Later on I'll see if I can dig out the mate.

Surely with all the eyes trained downwards on shoes around here somebody may have sometime spotted a pair of these. Don't betray your inner shoehound.

I have been a big Alden fan for nearly 40 years; have bought dozens. Never saw or heard about this one before-it is a beauty. I may print your pics and take them to Louie at Bennie's. He can still special order non-cordovan Aldens, but I think he has to order a dozen in order to have then make up a special model like this one.

I recall jcusey expressing surprise at my Alden specs because they were U-throat like the ones you picture above. Apparently this is a rare feature for Alden. Either that's an old model or else a special run for a particular store. Of course, Alden also used to do one-off custom orders for individual customers. It's possible it could be one of those.

I like your X lacing.

Originally Posted by AlanC

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I like your X lacing.

What about my mallards?
Thanks for the helpful responses, Alan and kennethpollock. As I said originally, I'm a bit surprised that this particular sort of adelaide/u-throat is not a more common feature on cordovan shoes--the thickness of the hide provides a really interesting contrast to the surrounding leather, especially when it is added on as a whole piece. The shoes are obviously not new, but are in great refurbished condition with completely new soles and heels.
Well, I'd better go look for Alan's spectators. I must have somehow missed them the first time around.

Originally Posted by pejsek

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Well, I'd better go look for Alan's spectators. I must have somehow missed them the first time around.

Everybody else is getting tired of me posting them:

Wow, Alan, looks like exactly the same shoe (only in two-tone calf/reverse calf, of course). So it makes a great-looking spectator too! Nice find.

I'm generally not a fan of wingtips and/or spectators (especially Alden's iterations). But I really enjoy both of those. It must be the U-throat.

Man they are a sweet twist on a brogue/wingtip.

Originally Posted by pejsek

Click to expand...

What about my mallards?
Thanks for the helpful responses, Alan and kennethpollock. As I said originally, I'm a bit surprised that this particular sort of adelaide/u-throat is not a more common feature on cordovan shoes--the thickness of the hide provides a really interesting contrast to the surrounding leather, especially when it is added on as a whole piece. The shoes are obviously not new, but are in great refurbished condition with completely new soles and heels.
Well, I'd better go look for Alan's spectators. I must have somehow missed them the first time around.
unfortunately, Hermes does not design as beautiful of pocket squares as they once did.