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Show us your SHOES !!!

DharmaBum

One of the Regulars
Messages
101
Location
New York
Picked up these Ben Sherman's today for a cool $60.00. Leather upper with rubber sole. Prefer a leather sole but these are quite comfortable and a heck of a value.

b88dc07a68461527e13ebb2351c183bf.jpg
 

DharmaBum

One of the Regulars
Messages
101
Location
New York
Those look pretty nice! I'd have bit, too, for that price.

Appreciate it! It was a pretty lucky find and although I wanted to walk away I knew I would kick myself later. Throwing some polish on them this evening. One of the most relaxing ways to spend some time alone....shoe polish and Benny Goodman on vinyl!!
 

esteban68

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,107
Location
Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England
The guys a newbie well almost give him a break, I know one or two chaps on here have some outstanding shoes that we never tire of seeing maybe we could have some more of those please?....true vintage are fairly rare over here as shoes were worn to death, when you visit shows and events pre 1950 shoes aren't that common and certainly not in UK size 8+ and even more so in wide fitting.
 

Isshinryu101

One Too Many
Messages
1,328
Location
New Jersey
The guys a newbie well almost give him a break, I know one or two chaps on here have some outstanding shoes that we never tire of seeing maybe we could have some more of those please?....true vintage are fairly rare over here as shoes were worn to death, when you visit shows and events pre 1950 shoes aren't that common and certainly not in UK size 8+ and even more so in wide fitting.

Not referring to the poster. Just wondering why actual vintage shoe pics are so rare on the shoe thread on the vintage site.
 

Two Types

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,456
Location
London, UK
Not referring to the poster. Just wondering why actual vintage shoe pics are so rare on the shoe thread on the vintage site.

Here in the UK, I would assume that many people don't buy and wear vintage shoes due to their being relatively rare. On a personal basis, I don't like wearing second-hand shoes because of the way that they have shaped to the feet of the previous owner.
 

esteban68

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,107
Location
Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England
i suppose in the USA with a population of around 317 million souls then there's quite a few NOS pairs around, over here it's not the case and I guess rationing and post-war austerity means they aren't too plentiful at all. I've been collecting vintage clothing for around 6 or so years and most of my 'vintage' shoes are from the 60's with a couple of 50's possibly 40's CC41 pairs, I've had a few others go through my hands that were too big or small, also English shoes tend to be a bit more conservative so spade soles etc are super rare as are really exotic leathers.
 

LuvMyMan

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
4,558
Location
Michigan
Appreciate it! It was a pretty lucky find and although I wanted to walk away I knew I would kick myself later. Throwing some polish on them this evening. One of the most relaxing ways to spend some time alone....shoe polish and Benny Goodman on vinyl!!
Condition those rascals, please...they will last longer and then shove some shoe trees in them....you will appreciate it in the long run.
 

LuvMyMan

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
4,558
Location
Michigan
Because you and Cookie buy all the vintage shoes and there are none left for us poor folks.

It is never easy to find clean vintage, but if one is on the hunt all the time, you do find what you seek....might just take a year or more....that is how the vintage shoes go. However, everyone should know that our good expert and friend, Isshinryu101 does have two sources of which you can spend some "moolah" and of course, obtain some of the cleanest vintage shoes you can desire. Now they are not super cheap priced, but they also are not sky high, more so to think of what many higher end brands of MODERN shoes are selling price wise. And many times a real vintage shoe is going to be made much better. If you have a concern about vintage shoes, just ask. A real shoe...will always be able to be rebuilt...well most of the time! lol!
 

LuvMyMan

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
4,558
Location
Michigan
Here in the UK, I would assume that many people don't buy and wear vintage shoes due to their being relatively rare. On a personal basis, I don't like wearing second-hand shoes because of the way that they have shaped to the feet of the previous owner.

If someone buys a pair of vintage shoes and wants the inside to be like NEW it is not all that hard. If there is a molding of the prior owner's foot, there is one remedy. Have your cobbler re-sole the shoe...remove the cork the in between the foot bed and the sole, install new cork, sole, and heel. If the shoes are custom made, or some sources like Allen Edmond and the shoe maker has the "last" the shoes are made on, they can also replace the welt of the shoe.

One thing I always do when I get a pair of shoes, no matter if they are new or not, (NOS vintage or modern) I spray the inside of the shoe with some Hospiseptic surface disinfectant. This does two major good things. It gets rid of "foot funk" instantly. It also smells clean. Next I then always wash the inside of a pair of shoes, new or not, wish some saddle soap. I use a wash clothe to do this and then use the same clothe to rinse the shoes inside and do the same to the outside.....THEN....condition the living hell out of them. DROWN them inside and out with conditioner. On suede you have to be more careful and only use conditioner on the insides and not the outside and do it sparingly on the inside which would be the "back side" of any suede areas.

Shoe care is worth it's weight in gold. Daniel has shown me exactly how important this all is to the way your shoes will last and look for a real long time. And it is not something you just whiz right through...take your time....it takes a while to do them right. Older dry vintage can take a week or more to even just soak them up to being supple enough to wear but the conditioning of them is a great important factor.
 

LuvMyMan

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
4,558
Location
Michigan
i suppose in the USA with a population of around 317 million souls then there's quite a few NOS pairs around, over here it's not the case and I guess rationing and post-war austerity means they aren't too plentiful at all. I've been collecting vintage clothing for around 6 or so years and most of my 'vintage' shoes are from the 60's with a couple of 50's possibly 40's CC41 pairs, I've had a few others go through my hands that were too big or small, also English shoes tend to be a bit more conservative so spade soles etc are super rare as are really exotic leathers.

Tell me what size you wear and a budget you have. I would try to find you something that will work and not be so bad price wise. Of course, let me know the size in US so I am not going to make a mistake on it.

I do sell shoes on the classifieds here. But they are going to be US size 10 1/2 or 11D (or a bit larger)!

Another pointer....golf shoes. NOS golf shoes. If they are vintage and clean and have a real welt...for about $100.00 you can have the soles and heels replaced. Pay a $100.00 for a nice pair and have new soles and heels put on and now you have some screaming nice shoes for about $200.00 HARD to beat that anywhere. You don't find even Allen Edmond for that price new...and although Allen Edmonds are "o.k." they are not like vintage NOS..not even close. It is darn hard to find a MODERN shoe for less that $500.00 that is in the came quality zone as a well made vintage. The leather is sorry to use the word, CRAP! The workmanship is also the same... Hope I have inspired you to be creative. BUY from someone that already sells clean vintage, or hunt. HUNT like crazy and you will come up with some swell looking shoes. I have done this now for a few years and we have had an easy 175 pairs come through the door here!...(sold a few too).

Behave out there and enjoy!
 

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