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Show us your SHOES !!!

Tomasso

Incurably Addicted
Messages
13,719
Location
USA
I got me a pair of EGs recently.....antiquing/burnishing is excellent
I remember first seeing EG at Paul Stuart in the early 90s and thinking that they did a shoddy polishing job. Who knew from antiquing......:p

Back then at Paul Stuart EG could be had for well under $300 at their semi-annual sales. I recall buying eight pairs at one sale; over twenty in all before PS dropped EG.
 

HungaryTom

One Too Many
Messages
1,204
Location
Hungary
Dear Gentlemen, what about CARE for those GREAT shoes. Beeswax leather balsam. For the soles too. Especially the front part where all the secondhand shoes display that ghastly greyzone. To where either you order the rubber anti-slipping unit or properly take care of the leather. Which screams, that it was never taken care of!
Wash off the soil. Wipe dry. Take the wax out of the tube. A little bit. Do it w. bare hands. It is leather balsam, no poison. Repeat it initially. And than rub it in the leather. It is not dirtier than planting in the garden or collecting leafs or building sandcastles wit Jr. :) The soles, heels swallow it like desert sand. Not only the uppers. All shoemaker "pro" videos on youtube for example focus on the uppers. And neglect the soles. Which must take the lion's share of the stress. Salt. Rain. Asphalt etc. And are always neglected. even with such upscale goodyear welted shoes. Leather soles love it. Really. This beeswax balsam is neutral. ( In Hungary they merchandise Renapur of UK or Boston or Briston of Germany).
Afterwards you can do the make-up w. toothbrush and brown or black shoe paste like Kiwi. To get the upper leather, the edges of the soles and heels in the right colour. I sometimes remove the laces too. The shoe tree can be basically the simplest one just the stretching counts and the rotation. Shoes pampered this way look the same fine after YEARS of wear. Nice ceremony (of a true leather fetishist) to be done on strictly separate occasion from ironing and handling your shirts ties, pocket handkerchiefs and suits or hats. For the next few sessions of wear the simple wiping with a cloth and spit shining is sufficient, over-smearing does not make sense. Be your own butler- nobody else will love your own shoes this much :D
 
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HungaryTom

One Too Many
Messages
1,204
Location
Hungary
I think that the use of shoe trees is the single most important component of shoe care and probably the most neglected (by the general public).
Yeah it mustn't be always caviar, with those armatic perfumey US red cedar shoetree systems http://www.torquato.net/mall/1/pic/it626900196.jpg of stretching to the sides and back and forth or the handmade shoetrees that are done for the specfic last http://www.crispinians.com/storage/....jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1338332769166 indicating links und rechts Lef Right in case you get lost :D
. It must be only shoe TREES ie wood (beech is also ok:)) http://dhimgs.com/bnplm1q6yu1u/beech-spring-shoe-tree.jpg
 
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The Shooman

Practically Family
Messages
565
Location
AUSTRALIA
I remember first seeing EG at Paul Stuart in the early 90s and thinking that they did a shoddy polishing job. Who knew from antiquing......:p

Back then at Paul Stuart EG could be had for well under $300 at their semi-annual sales. I recall buying eight pairs at one sale; over twenty in all before PS dropped EG.

Lucky. They were selling in Australia for $2,000 for a few years before they ended up dropping the prices.
 

Flash

Familiar Face
Messages
55
Location
Czech republic
US Service shoes Type II

My almost new US service M1939 Type II service shoes. I like them for everyday walking in autumn and spring. When the leather surrender and become soft the shoes start to be comfortable.
SB39T2_640.jpg
 

randooch

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,869
Location
Ukiah, California
Those look very well-made and securely comfortable, Flash.

I just picked these AE Hillcrests up for 40 bucks:

imageccv.jpg

They fit beautifully, and the soles are next to new.
:)
 

Talbot

One Too Many
Messages
1,855
Location
Melbourne Australia
I bought a pair of shoes at aretail store yesterday - something I have not done in a looong time.

The shoes are unremarkeable so I wont bore you with them - coarse grain black Florsheim gunboats.

The 75% markdown got me in.

The shoes are marked 'Florsheim by Duckie Brown'.

Who or what is 'Duckie Brown'? I sure hope its not the nag that surrendered the glue...
 
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Short Balding Guy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,871
Location
Minnesota, USA
I just picked these AE Hillcrests up for 40 bucks:
They fit beautifully, and the soles are next to new.
:)

Randall; I think they are casual classy. AE shoes are my go to everyday shoes. I have some pairs that are 30 years old and still going strong. I am not a shoe collector, but a wearer and to me these are very wearable.

I am certain forum members treat their shoes with care. To the best of my knowledge I do also. I frequently treat the AE's with their brand leather conditioner and then use clear polish and appropriate edging treatment. The shoes get treated to new lasses often. IMHO, the AE's are a quality shoe and they will last.

Do you have several pair of AE's? Fav pair?

Nothing like having a pair of shoes on that you can comfortable as well as glance down and be proud of. Now you need to head out for a stroll. Best, Eric -
 

randooch

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,869
Location
Ukiah, California
Thanks, Eric. That's only my second pair of AEs, the other being a pair of burgundy wing tips that Dinerman middlemanned for me. They seem a bit too dressy for everyday wear, so I haven't even broken them in yet.

I'm trying get used to the fact that one can't be stealthy in dress shoes. People definitely know you're coming: clop clop clop! So much for moonlighting as a gumshoe.

Best,
Randall
 

Short Balding Guy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,871
Location
Minnesota, USA
Thanks, Eric.......
I'm trying get used to the fact that one can't be stealthy in dress shoes. People definitely know you're coming: clop clop clop! So much for moonlighting as a gumshoe.

Randall; Clop, clop and clop....I recognize the sound of the new leather bottoms on our wood floors. As you know, a few days of walking about and the leather bottoms get sanded from the street, pavement and the paths we take. I find that after a month or so of break-in my shoes are very comfortable. Good thing we have sport shoes for sport, detective shoes for detecting, adventure shoes for adventuring and the like.

The AE shoes have fit trumping WAY OVER my running shoes w/custom orthotics, my everyday coaching shoes and the shoes that US athletic sponsers provide coaches/athletes. The only thing that fit better, are my couple thousand dollar custom foamed ski boots. Boy do they make a TON of noise on floors.

As for dressy, everybody is different. I am currently wearing casual kahki slacks (iron of course), wool shirt and some AE Wilberts. My shoes are the class of the outfit.

Walking without clop, clop for today. Eric -
 
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LoveMyHats2

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
5,196
Location
Michigan
Thanks, Eric. That's only my second pair of AEs, the other being a pair of burgundy wing tips that Dinerman middlemanned for me. They seem a bit too dressy for everyday wear, so I haven't even broken them in yet.

I'm trying get used to the fact that one can't be stealthy in dress shoes. People definitely know you're coming: clop clop clop! So much for moonlighting as a gumshoe.

Best,
Randall

Am I correct you wear a size 14, Randall? Geez, there was a great pair of spectator in a 14 on ebay, should have snagged them for you, not sure they are still on auction....I like AE shoes for the most part. One thing about most of them can be rebuilt when they are all done on the bottom side of things.......I have found however some of the AE shoes that are light weight made, seem to break down faster than the heavier made shoes. Not something you will have a problem with as you have already let everyone know you have some heavy tractor made ones....clop...clop...clop.....weeeeeee haaaaaw! They are nice, I have one pair of shoes somewhere just like those. I love wearing them with jeans or pleated dress pants with a sweater/dress shirt.
 

LoveMyHats2

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
5,196
Location
Michigan
I bought a pair of shoes at aretail store yesterday - something I have not done in a looong time.

The shoes are unremarkeable so I wont bore you with them - coarse grain black Florsheim gunboats.

The 75% markdown got me in.

The shoes are marked 'Florsheim by Duckie Brown'.

Who or what is 'Duckie Brown'? I sure hope its not the nag that surrendered the glue...

There are a few new gunboats for sale (Florsheim) on ebay right now, some with the tumbled leather/pebble grain for cheapo prices. I think the duckie brown deal is a fancy model line up with different color finishes and soles that may match or be contrast in color. Nothing wrong with them at all, decent quality in my opinion, but they normally make those shoes (the duckie brown ones) higher in price than the other florsheims. They all remind me of the kenmore florsheim which to me is they way to go today if buying a new pair of them. They are being made I think for the most part in India. I'd buy a pair if the price was right!
 

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