Johnston and Murphy

[Matt Deckard]

An internationally curiosity, they always sell their best stuff overseas.

http://www.kanda-mimatsu.com/johnston_murphy/01.html

And in the US we get, from what I have seen on the shelves and on the internet, a definitely lower end of their line of shoes.
http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/category_listing.aspx?c=636

 

[carter]

Matt, That's very interesting. I like the Crown Aristocrat LD-72T pictured on that website in Japan. Anyone know the currency conversion of 28,800 Yen to USD?

 

[Matt Deckard]

About 260 dollars

 

[Matt Deckard]

I think the same goes for Geox

Can't find this one in the US

http://www.kanda-mimatsu.com/geox/01.html

 

[carter]

These Danner Postman's are a nice-looking shoe on that site. 29,400 yen. Great color in plain toe. I can't find them on any website except a couple in Japan.

 

[WH1]

I have several pair of their shoes, the italian mades are very nice. Also the aristocat line shoes at Good will and thrift shops, if you get them cheap they are a great buy as they will rebuild them completely for around $120.00, giving you a very, very nice pair of shoes for a reasonable price. New they sell for over $350.00. Johnston & Murphy was one of the classic American makers up until a few years ago, out of Nashville, Tennessee.

 

[cookie]

An internationally curiosity, they always sell their best stuff overseas.

http://www.kanda-mimatsu.com/johnston_murphy/01.html

And in the US we get, from what I have seen on the shelves and on the internet, a definitely lower end of their line of shoes.
http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/category_listing.aspx?c=636

Matt so these Japanese ones are like the traditonal made in Tennnessee Aristocrafts?

 

[AlanC]

Are those J&M's made in the US? They apparently are making a semi-custom line in the US again. At one time J&M probably made the highest quality US made shoe with their Hand Made line that actually came in wooden shoe boxes. Many had beautiful spade soles.

Alden also has Japan-only models, some which are quite nice. Aldens apparently are quite popular in Germany as well. Allen Edmonds had a shell cordovan model called the Bancroft (I think) that was made for the European market only. It was one of the best models I'd ever seen from them, but the only ones they sold in the US were discontinued/closeouts.

It's an interesting strategy that I don't entirely understand. That so many do it there must be something to it. Americans as a whole aren't interested in supporting the higher end shoe makers, though. England has a population that's just a fraction of the US and has half a dozen quality domestic shoe makers. As many Loungers will know, the ground is littered with now defunct high quality US makers like Nettleton.

Tom Park of Leather Soul Hawaii said that a few years ago Alden was considering doing a higher end line. He saw a prototype shoe or two and said they were in a league with Edward Green, et al. They never went forward with it, though.

 

[cookie]

It is sad that the US had so many quality manufacturers at one time and now practically none. I have asked why on various forums at various times. Italy has tons of great manufacturers for instance. It must be price ...but then the USA has what?... 300 million people ...and the UK 60 and Italy 60 mill as well.

 

[Mid-fogey]

Doesn't...

...suprise me. It's consistent with what I've seen overseas.

Let's hope they aren't just a few years behind us in killing all their high end domestic shoe makers and outsourcing.

 

[Orgetorix]

Are those J&M's made in the US? They apparently are making a semi-custom line in the US again. At one time J&M probably made the highest quality US made shoe with their Hand Made line that actually came in wooden shoe boxes. Many had beautiful spade soles.

Alden also has Japan-only models, some which are quite nice. Aldens apparently are quite popular in Germany as well. Allen Edmonds had a shell cordovan model called the Bancroft (I think) that was made for the European market only. It was one of the best models I'd ever seen from them, but the only ones they sold in the US were discontinued/closeouts.

It's an interesting strategy that I don't entirely understand. That so many do it there must be something to it. Americans as a whole aren't interested in supporting the higher end shoe makers, though. England has a population that's just a fraction of the US and has half a dozen quality domestic shoe makers. As many Loungers will know, the ground is littered with now defunct high quality US makers like Nettleton.

Tom Park of Leather Soul Hawaii said that a few years ago Alden was considering doing a higher end line. He saw a prototype shoe or two and said they were in a league with Edward Green, et al. They never went forward with it, though.

I understand making a line that is primarily marketed overseas, if that's where the highest demand is. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that Americans are far less concerned with quality shoes than Japanese, Germans, et al. But I don't understand the fact that these shoes aren't even available in the US. Surely even if J&M had no US vendors for this line, they could at least sell them on their US website?

 

[MrBern]

An internationally curiosity, they always sell their best stuff overseas.

http://www.kanda-mimatsu.com/johnston_murphy/01.html

And in the US we get, from what I have seen on the shelves and on the internet, a definitely lower end of their line of shoes.
http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/category_listing.aspx?c=636

Y'know Matt, I have pair of shoes in exactly that style, but black leather. From Royal Tweed, benchmade in England. Which I believe is a line from Churchs.

 

[Matt Deckard]

It is a line from Church's... good shoes.

I have a pair of Hi-Test shoes of the same style.

It's like wearing anchors on your feet. Made to get in the elevator go to your desk and sit down.

 

[MrBern]

Yup, theyre so heavy, you feel as if you could kick down a door.

 

[arthur]

I understand making a line that is primarily marketed overseas, if that's where the highest demand is. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that Americans are far less concerned with quality shoes than Japanese, Germans, et al. But I don't understand the fact that these shoes aren't even available in the US. Surely even if J&M had no US vendors for this line, they could at least sell them on their US website?

The death of American manufacturing scares the hell of me.I literally have anxiety about where we are heading .I harken To another thread(would you go back in time if you could)and my resounding answer is yes,in a second.Everything that was quality was manufactured in this country.Textiles ,shoes,Automobiles,steel good union jobs that allowed the middle class to prosper.I as a union carpenter am in the thick of our new "sevice economy".At 45 I am just hoping to hold on to what I have until retirement in 15 years.

 

[Tomasso]

It is a line from Church's... good shoes.

Their secondary line, mostly corrected grain.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Are they still in production? or did they stop the Tweed?

 

[Tomasso]

Are they still in production? or did they stop the Tweed?

[huh] I haven't shopped at Church's since they were purchased by Prada. The Royal Tweed line was made by Cheaney (a Church's subsidiary) and was probably made to the standards of their Signature line, if that helps.

 

[bigshoe]

IMHO there are numerous causes for the demise of the U.S. shoe industry.
To be brief the first nail in the coffin was US v USMC 1955. which broke up United Shoe Machinery. The second was the 27 year capital depreciation tax structure which was responsible for the lack of inovation in the manufacturing process. The third were numerous IRS rulings which virtualy did away with piece work. The fourth were the social changes which devalued skilled labor. The fifth was the snatching up of brand names by vast holding companys run by bean counters who saw more profit in in shipping the manufacturing overseas where the tax and government structures were more friendly, i.e. subsidies such as in Italy and China. You can also throw in the EPA, law suits etc. which also drove out the tanning industry.
Tom

 

[Tomasso]

^^^^^

How about cheap foreign labor?