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Vintage Spectator Shoes

SteveAS

Practically Family
Messages
841
Location
San Francisco
These beautiful spectators aren't mine, but they deserve a post in this thread!

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Isshinryu101

One Too Many
Messages
1,328
Location
New Jersey
NOS spades and unusual...they have got it all.

Yes! On the famous "Rex" last, which also was used for their wildly popular alligator derby saddle shoe. This is a 1950's version of the last. Stamped calf meant to have the ridges of sharkskin, but without the color variations that brown shark invariable has.
 

Isshinryu101

One Too Many
Messages
1,328
Location
New Jersey
You can use a leather cleaner on that, but there is the real danger that you will remove some of the white coloring as well... leaving the leather in that area looking "dirty".

You can give that a try, but the nature of the beast for specs is that the white is going to get scuffed and stained as you wear them. Character!~

View attachment 10926 View attachment 10926 View attachment 10927

Hi Folks

I would appreciate any cleaning tips for these spectators.
Thank you and best regards.
 
Messages
1,184
Location
NJ/phila
You can use a leather cleaner on that, but there is the real danger that you will remove some of the white coloring as well... leaving the leather in that area looking "dirty".

You can give that a try, but the nature of the beast for specs is that the white is going to get scuffed and stained as you wear them. Character!~

SO I simply clean them with character,,, to keep the character marks... I like it.. Thank you kind Sir!
Regards,
 

LoveMyHats2

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
5,196
Location
Michigan
View attachment 10926 View attachment 10926 View attachment 10927

Hi Folks

I would appreciate any cleaning tips for these spectators.
Thank you and best regards.


Perhaps you can try some saddle soap, if you use a wash clothe and damp it then apply some saddle soap. Lightly wipe it off with clean water on same wash clothe. To make the shoe white again, I would use a cream paste shoe polish, not a shine wax. Real thin coats is what I have done on my Husband's shoes.
 

Whislerm

New in Town
Messages
26
Location
North Dakota
If you can't get them to look as white as you'd like you can try Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint. I used it on a pair of old Florsheims, took some time to work around the edges with a small paint brush but they look brand new again. Not sure how good it is for the leather in the long run.
 

Isshinryu101

One Too Many
Messages
1,328
Location
New Jersey
If you can't get them to look as white as you'd like you can try Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint. I used it on a pair of old Florsheims, took some time to work around the edges with a small paint brush but they look brand new again. Not sure how good it is for the leather in the long run.

NOOOOOOOO! Never use this product. It coats the leather and cracks with time. I have passed on MANY a pair of vintage shoes because they used this product... and ruined them.
 

Tomasso

Incurably Addicted
Messages
13,719
Location
USA
NOOOOOOOO! Never use this product. It coats the leather and cracks with time. I have passed on MANY a pair of vintage shoes because they used this product... and ruined them.
I may be wrong but I don't believe CCJ's shoes are vintage or of a high quality, in which case I wouldn't hesitate using the Meltonian product.
 

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