Vintage crepe shoe soles...care???

[LoveMyHats2]

I just obtained 2 brand new never worn shoes, the soles are crepe. The crepe is stiff as a board, dry as saw dust.

I have already started to treat the entire leather part of the shoe, as it was also very dry. Cadillac conditioner inside and out of the shoe itself is working, but the soles? I can have them replaced with another sole, but can I save these from that fate? I have just now sprayed some silicon that is designed to make car seals and rubber seals around the doors and windows to be soft and preserve the rubber, but it does not appear to be sucking up into the crepe soles very well. Any known products that can cure the dried out soles?

Any help much appreciated.

 

[Fifty150]

Not much you can really do. Synthetics like that do have a limited shelf life. Even car tires start to dry, crack, and split after so many years. Just wear them and see what happens. If the rubber starts to crack & crumble, and the soles start to break apart, then you will just have to re-sole them.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Thank you, I was hopeful there would be some "treatment" made for them, but you are more than likely 100% right. I have been spraying some silicone on the bottoms and letting it soak in, seems to have some slight results, but not much. So, as the leather is very well treated and not a concern any more, tomorrow I will just wear them around the house and see what happens! Thank you!