Spectator Shoes

[GHT]

In the Aloha/Hawaiian shirt thread is a picture of the burlesque shirt that I'm wearing tonight. These patent leather spectators are just perfect to finish off, the look.
Just out of curiosity, I've heard it said that a smear of petroleum jelly, keeps patent leather shoes, both in good condition and, stops them from cracking. Does anybody know if this is true, or just another myth.

 

[LuvMyMan]

I would refrain from any petroleum on any shoe for any reason. Unless of course, you can't get a foot in our out and need to grease something up! Hah! True patent leather does need some moisture from a good conditioner. If you cannot find any Cadillac or Bick1, I will see what else should work for you and post here later.

 

[Giftmacher]

What do you say? It's modern, yes, but quite nice. Price circa $37. I didn't take it yet.

 

[GHT]

What do you say? It's modern, yes, but quite nice. Price circa $37. I didn't take it yet.

So unusual, I really like them. I've never seen work boot soles on a spectator shoe before, you would be hard pushed to wear them out. And those laces, amazing. Lovely shoes.

 

[toobacat]

Does anyone have a pair of SJC spectators that could compare the fit to either Allen Edmonds or Remix shoes?

 

[PeterGunnLives]

Lately for new spectators for my jitterbugging outfits, I have gotten into a brand called Messico (they're actually too stiff compared to true dancing shoes, but I make do). The shoes are handcrafted in Mexico, and are more affordable than some other brands. Alas, they don't have black/white.

http://www.zappos.com/messico-capuchino-tan-white-leather

 

[Isshinryu101]

In the Aloha/Hawaiian shirt thread is a picture of the burlesque shirt that I'm wearing tonight. These patent leather spectators are just perfect to finish off, the look.
Just out of curiosity, I've heard it said that a smear of petroleum jelly, keeps patent leather shoes, both in good condition and, stops them from cracking. Does anybody know if this is true, or just another myth.
View attachment 49656

They are made of plastic, not leather. No product will moisturize or save them. The permanent creasing in patent is as bad as it gets.

 

[GHT]

Does anyone have a pair of SJC spectators that could compare the fit to either Allen Edmonds or Remix shoes?

What is it you want to know? I have a pair of Simon's spectators but I don't have any AE's or Remix. If it's the fit that concerns you, here's a tip. Often US & UK imperial sizes differ, for example size 10 in one country would be too big or too small in the other. Find out what your shoe size is in metric, it's the same the world over. I do the same with hats. By the way the SJC shoes fit perfectly.

 

[cookie]

Two pair of NOS Weyenberg and one pair of NOS Roblee shoes have that 130 factory stamped into the inside foot bed of the shoes. Now what happens in the shoe industry, one name brand shoe would get more orders then what they could meet, so they would "farm it out" to another approved union shop. I think the Weyenberg shoes were mostly made in Brockton, Mass. and there is a good chance those spectators are Weyenberg. But Roblee also made some spectator shoes that were the mesh and leather like yours. Cookie picked up a pair of Roblee shoes a while back on eBay, we had actually been bidding on the same shoe (I was not aware he was bidding while I was) and I think the shoes sold for a fairly hefty price, I stopped bidding when it was close to $300.00 I think?

Yeah i ended up selling them NOS after some TLC to a guy in Vegas. Isshi got me a nicer pair in an Adelaide shape so I did not need two.

 

[shadowrider]

Hey folks, what do you think about these two?
http://www.zappos.com/ben-sherman-m...81803730aa4a5_875803593919112275:kkU3yhTTB77m
http://www.ebay.com/itm/28080131930...49&var=580065025276&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
First pair is in leather/linen. Of the second one I like the burgundy option.

 

[hatsRme]

Hey folks, what do you think about these two?
http://www.zappos.com/ben-sherman-marc-linen?PID=3753296&AID=11586853&utm_source=Deborah+Sessions&splash=none&utm_medium=affiliate&cjevent=97d8a70f9ec511e682481803730aa4a5_875803593919112275:kkU3yhTTB77m
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280801319303?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&var=580065025276&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
First pair is in leather/linen. Of the second one I like the burgundy option.

They look fast!

 

[LuvMyMan]

Yeah i ended up selling them NOS after some TLC to a guy in Vegas. Isshi got me a nicer pair in an Adelaide shape so I did not need two.

Wow, those were some nice shoes, Cookie! But you did get some nice ones from Isshi as well! Your spade soles all rock!

 

[LuvMyMan]

[URL=http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/LoveMyHats2/media/IMAG4250_zpscwhbtc05.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/LoveMyHats2/media/IMAG4251_zpsustjqm08.jpg.html] [/URL]
[URL=http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/LoveMyHats2/media/IMAG4258_zpswbcw50fk.jpg.html] [/URL]

Some sky blue and cream Art Deco hand made from Italy. Not super sure how old these are, but they are in near new condition, I put some red sole protectors on the soles to help from getting too much wear on them. The color of blue just does not come out well on my cheapy cell phone!

 

[shadowrider]

They are made of plastic, not leather. No product will moisturize or save them. The permanent creasing in patent is as bad as it gets.

Not necessarily. While synthetic coating is used today, linseed oil lacquer was in the past.

 

[PeterGunnLives]

Hey folks, what do you think about these two?
http://www.zappos.com/ben-sherman-marc-linen?PID=3753296&AID=11586853&utm_source=Deborah+Sessions&splash=none&utm_medium=affiliate&cjevent=97d8a70f9ec511e682481803730aa4a5_875803593919112275:kkU3yhTTB77m
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280801319303?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&var=580065025276&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
First pair is in leather/linen. Of the second one I like the burgundy option.

I was looking at that same listing on ebay. The soles are a little thick for my taste, though.

I like the Ben Shermans. The linen probably breathes nicely. But the bottoms have a bit too much grip, as I like to use specs as dancing shoes.

 

[LuvMyMan]

Not necessarily. While synthetic coating is used today, linseed oil lacquer was in the past.

You are correct. We have two pairs of vintage patent leather. When you look real close to the surface you can actually observe where the coatings lap over one another. I do keep them conditioned and with shoe trees with a bit of over kill on pulling them tight, and I get almost all of any creasing out.

 

[fiftyforfifty]

Hey folks, what do you think about these two?
http://www.zappos.com/ben-sherman-marc-linen?PID=3753296&AID=11586853&utm_source=Deborah+Sessions&splash=none&utm_medium=affiliate&cjevent=97d8a70f9ec511e682481803730aa4a5_875803593919112275:kkU3yhTTB77m
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280801319303?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&var=580065025276&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
First pair is in leather/linen. Of the second one I like the burgundy option.

Really good shoes, thanks for sharing

 

[Isshinryu101]

Not necessarily. While synthetic coating is used today, linseed oil lacquer was in the past.

not in that pair.

 

[PeterGunnLives]

I'm not sure if I should post a new thread for this...

I have a pair of Stacy Adams black and white spectators from the nineties. Back then their stuff was nicer; these were made in Spain.
Anyway, as an adolescent back then, I didn't know much about shoe care, and for the most part I left them on shoe trees stretched out too far, causing the leather soles to flatten too much. Any ideas on getting the curvature back into the soles?

 

[cookie]