Allen Edmond Recrafting

[Tomasso]

Are they only used on specific types of soles, or could they be added to any leather sole?

They are called toe plates and they can be added to most any sole by a competent cobbler. That said, they are usually a bespoke/MTO feature installed at the time of manufacture. I know of one cobbler in NYC who has the plates and the expertise though I'm sure there are others around the country.

 

[cptjeff]

They are called toe plates and they can be added to most any sole by a competent cobbler. That said, they are usually a bespoke/MTO feature installed at the time of manufacture. I know of one cobbler in NYC who has the plates and the expertise though I'm sure there are others around the country.

And if you have questions about the process, the guy who runs B nelson posts over on Styleforum.

 

[Fifty150]

.... I'd cut to the chase and use Topy.

I think that Vibram is a better product. But I guess there isn't that much difference when it comes to soling sheets. It's just a layer of rubber.

I have to think about how I would run, if needed, in my dress shoes. Sure footing is a must. Every new pair of leather soles gets a Vibram soling sheet applied before I even go out in them. Not that I don't love the luxury of slipping and sliding in leather soles. It just that Gene Kelly never had to chase after a bad guy, and I can't dance circles around a fleeing felon.

 

[Fifty150]

I have to admit that when I watched AE's video, it amused me that boxing the shoes for shipping counts as one of their 38 steps...

[video=youtube;1cT5VJmmgVM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cT5VJmmgVM[/video][video=youtube;6HeE_eYOvjg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HeE_eYOvjg[/video]