Show us your SHOES !!!

[flyfishark]

A pair of Johnston Murphy vents that I just picked up. They are a 7.5 D--which is good, so I can't keep them! The heels are "Wingfoot," which I seem to remember from some really old shoes. Anyway, here are the photos:

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[cookie]

Wonderful. Ventilated specs were all made by the same company as far as I know and seem to be a .5 size bigger than tagged IMO.

 

[flyfishark]

Wonderful. Ventilated specs were all made by the same company as far as I know and seem to be a .5 size bigger than tagged IMO.

Thanks, Cookie. I always thought it was Jarman that made most of the vents in the US. Is that true?

 

[Two Types]

Here are my latest acquisitions from the Joseph Cheaney factory shop:

These are their standard desert boot, made for the shop using a very light coloured suede that has recently been discontinued (hence a selection being made for the factory shop to use up the final suede). They cost £125.

These are rather a daring move for me. I haven't worn burgundy shoes for many years. They are made by Cheaney for 'Herring Shoes'. They are slight seconds and were priced at £100 (they sell for £245 on the Herring website):

 

[Two Types]

When I was buying the shoes I posted earlier, I decided to take some photographs of the Joseph Cheaney factory shop. I'm sure some of you will be interested. It shows the wide range available from the shop.

This is Barry. He's the shop manager. He also designs some of the shoes that are exclusive to the shop:

The shop:

A nice selection of boots and shoes:

Ghillies. In a few months these are going to be available with a tartan panel inset (a selection of five tartans):

For those with size 8 feet, this a real treat! All samples are made in a size 8 and a such they always have a fantastic selection (unfortunately i wear a size 11):

And finally, a couple of nice close-ups (both size 8):

If any of you are keen to know prices or get details of any shoes, give Barry a call. The number for the factory is +44 (0)1536 763 760. I know he will happily post shoes/boots overseas.

 

[Isshinryu101]

I REALLY like those pebble grain low boots.

 

[Two Types]

I REALLY like those pebble grain low boots.

Nice aren't they? I think they cost about £175. Not cheap, I'm afraid!

 

[Tomasso]

they cost about £175. Not cheap, I'm afraid!

The Northamptom outlets are getting pricey these days. A friend of mine who had been making the rounds there for over 30 years has quit going due to the prices. He shops the sales in their city stores and says he does just as well with a better selection in his size. Do you visit any of the other shops besides Cheaney?

 

[repeatclicks]

Nice aren't they? I think they cost about £175. Not cheap, I'm afraid!

If that's expensive for a pair of quality English shoes, I don't know what cheap is. Consider that a pair of Weejuns costs £90 over here, or Sebagos, which cost £150 and you get my drift.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

These didn't sell? Really?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stetson-Blue-Gray-Suede-Mesh-Vintage-Shoes-1963-/290615981658


And these? They're Stetson Saratogas! The quintessential zoot / Pachuco shoe. Expensive in their day, too!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stetson-Vintage-Saratoga-Mens-Shoes-/290617148909

 

[Two Types]

The Northamptom outlets are getting pricey these days. A friend of mine who had been making the rounds there for over 30 years has quit going due to the prices. He shops the sales in their city stores and says he does just as well with a better selection in his size. Do you visit any of the other shops besides Cheaney?

I sometimes visit Barkers. Simply because it is only a few minutes drive from my sister's house - I have never been that keen on their shoes. When my sister lived in Rushden, the Grenson shop wasn't open, and Alfred Sergeant didn't have a shop, so I never bothered with them. Cheaney are a bit more of a drive, but the selection is good and over the years I have got to know the chaps in the shop. One of them, John, is in his seventies now but still travels the world demonstrating shoe-making. To be honest, Cheaney became my favourite because I have been able to build up a good relationship and I am rather loyal.

I have never got around to visiting the factory shops in Northampton because it is always a nuisance to drive into the city centre whenever I am visiting. So I stick to the small town factories.

I agree that their prices have gone up considerably, and there are not the same good deals you could find a few years ago. Gone are the days of the £20 pair of quality shoes (more's the pity). However the shoes I bought today were still more than £100 less than buying from a shop in London. That makes a real difference when you are working to a budget. It allows you to experiement: after all, I would not have purchased burgundy brogues if I had to pay full price.

 

[Isshinryu101]

These didn't sell? Really?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stetson-Blue-Gray-Suede-Mesh-Vintage-Shoes-1963-/290615981658


And these? They're Stetson Saratogas! The quintessential zoot / Pachuco shoe. Expensive in their day, too!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stetson-Vintage-Saratoga-Mens-Shoes-/290617148909

at 4 inches wide, those saratogas weren't too narrow.

 

[cookie]

Hullo ...please to meet you...my name is COOKIE

 

[cookie]

I have never got around to visiting the factory shops in Northampton because it is always a nuisance to drive into the city centre whenever I am visiting.

It's okay ...we will forgive you that remark - once - but never say it again okay?

 

[cookie]

at 4 inches wide, those saratogas weren't too narrow.

There is something not quite right about that seller. He has a trove of Stetson shoes that seem to have odd sizes but he seems to be unaware of how to sell them.

 

[Two Types]

It's okay ...we will forgive you that remark - once - but never say it again okay?

Let me qualify my remark. In the last seventeen years, as a father with a young family, I had to take care with shoe/boot buying. I would smuggle shoes homes in the hope that my wife would not see them. I once returned to the house and denied having bought any. I evened opened up the boot of the car to prove there was nothing there .... she then asked to look inside the tool compartment - and found a pair of shoes. Another time, she asked if I had bought any shoes. Again I denied it. Then she noticed a new shoe box. She opened it and exclaimed 'You said you didn't buy any!'. I replied 'You asked about shoes, those are boots.'

Be fair to me - I have carried out a one man mission to support one factory (Cheaney) I can't be expected to support the entire footwear industry.

Now, if I had a bottomless money pit ....

 

[cookie]

Let me qualify my remark. In the last seventeen years, as a father with a young family, I had to take care with shoe/boot buying. I would smuggle shoes homes in the hope that my wife would not see them. I once returned to the house and denied having bought any. I evened opened up the boot of the car to prove there was nothing there .... she then asked to look inside the tool compartment - and found a pair of shoes. Another time, she asked if I had bought any shoes. Again I denied it. Then she noticed a new shoe box. She opened it and exclaimed 'You said you didn't buy any!'. I replied 'You asked about shoes, those are boots.'

Be fair to me - I have carried out a one man mission to support one factory (Cheaney) I can't be expected to support the entire footwear industry.

Now, if I had a bottomless money pit ....

All is forgiven after that explanation....you are a true shoe tragic with... all the wonderful traits attached to that noble tradition!:eeek:

 

[flyfishark]

Let me qualify my remark. In the last seventeen years, as a father with a young family, I had to take care with shoe/boot buying. I would smuggle shoes homes in the hope that my wife would not see them. I once returned to the house and denied having bought any. I evened opened up the boot of the car to prove there was nothing there .... she then asked to look inside the tool compartment - and found a pair of shoes. Another time, she asked if I had bought any shoes. Again I denied it. Then she noticed a new shoe box. She opened it and exclaimed 'You said you didn't buy any!'. I replied 'You asked about shoes, those are boots.'

Be fair to me - I have carried out a one man mission to support one factory (Cheaney) I can't be expected to support the entire footwear industry.

Now, if I had a bottomless money pit ....

This is a classic story. Are there any of us that could not see ourselves in that very position? Two Types...you have it bad, and as yet there is no cure for the addiction.

 

[Henry Gondorff]

Just yesterday in another thread I was complaining about me not having any suitable oxfords. Today by accident I came along a shoe store - and there they were. Of course I had to buy them. They are not vintage at all, but I find them vintage - inspired. They are dark grey, blackish Halfbrogue cap - toe oxfords. (I think on a photo I saw Louis Armstrong wearing a pair similar to these, but not sure...)

The leather sole already looks damaged, but I wanted to wear them when I walked home from the shoe store. In fact, they are brand new...

 

[cookie]

Very nice score. Lloyds new sell for around AUD400 Down Under .