Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[MJMcRibb]

LOL. I like how we have been trading shoes.

I like to think of it as a mutual confirmation of good taste!

 

[davidVC]

This is a pair of 1968 Florsheim 93602 that I fixed up this past weekend. I know I have told this story before but it is a different pair.

The leather quality in the 1960s Imperials is very high. Its thick and with minimal creasing. If you can find one in your size and in good condition, buy a pair even if you have a later model.

I wore the pair around on Monday. They fit great.

 

[Thomas Crown]

View attachment 964179

Today, with Hanover LB Sheppard cordovan LWB.
I love how they are aging, partially colour is fading and looks a bit like antique finish.

They look great! The Hanover LB Sheppard shell has such great patina,so rich-awesome

 

[hms056]

Excited to finally be joining you all with my first pair of vintage + shell shoes.

Grabbed these 90s 97626 longwings from ebay. They look to be in excellent condition!

I've read through a few of the care tips but I'm neurotic and worried about ruining these. My understanding of the steps required are as follows:
hit the insides with an isopropyl-soaked rag- how much pressure should I be using?
damp microfiber cloth to wipe down the uppers and welt
I've seen VSC and Bick4 recommended for conditioning old shell- is there any particular preference here?
Finally, do I need to grab some cordovan creme from AE or will conditioning the leather be enough?

Included picture tax (please excuse the lackluster photos/setting):

 

[Thomas Crown]

I tried scouring Vcleat for any info on this pair, but I came up short.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/292522034661?rmvSB=true

NOS Florsheim pennys for $60 OBO-looks good to me

 

[Thomas Crown]

I'm thinking about it, I don't typically take EEE width so that is honestly whats holding me back. They appear to be calf, burgundy, loafers, and a great price. But, the numbers don't tell me (know that I know anything) about vintage.

Judging by the logo I’d place them before 1992 for sure-with NOS it could be much older

 

[Thomas Crown]

This is a pair of 1968 Florsheim 93602 that I fixed up this past weekend. I know I have told this story before but it is a different pair.

The leather quality in the 1960s Imperials is very high. Its thick and with minimal creasing. If you can find one in your size and in good condition, buy a pair even if you have a later model.

I wore the pair around on Monday. They fit great.

View attachment 964319 View attachment 964320

If I made a list of the greatest shoes of the postwar world the 93602 would be in the top 3 as representative of the classic American Longwing—the “desert island” shoe along with Ray Price’s Night Life album and a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle

 

[smfdoc]

Excited to finally be joining you all with my first pair of vintage + shell shoes.

Grabbed these 90s 97626 longwings from ebay. They look to be in excellent condition!

I've read through a few of the care tips but I'm neurotic and worried about ruining these. My understanding of the steps required are as follows:
hit the insides with an isopropyl-soaked rag- how much pressure should I be using?
damp microfiber cloth to wipe down the uppers and welt
I've seen VSC and Bick4 recommended for conditioning old shell- is there any particular preference here?
Finally, do I need to grab some cordovan creme from AE or will conditioning the leather be enough?

Included picture tax (please excuse the lackluster photos/setting):
View attachment 964353 View attachment 964355

I agree, it does appear they are in great condition. Great pick up. For now, I think the brushing and wipe down that you did is a great start and the only thing I would add to it is either the big four or the VSC. They look so good now I think that you can slow down and take your time to judge the effect of the conditioner. Get a few wears in them and brush each time and you can decide if you want to apply more conditioner later. I don’t know that the Cordovan shoe cream is necessary yet.

 

[Thomas Crown]

I agree, it does appear they are in great condition. Great pick up. For now, I think the brushing and wipe down that you did is a great start and the only thing I would add to it is either the big four or the VSC. They look so good now I think that you can slow down and take your time to judge the effect of the conditioner. Get a few wears in them and brush each time and you can decide if you want to apply more conditioner later. I don’t know that the Cordovan shoe cream is necessary yet.

+1-I agree with Doc-brush,wipe,brush,condition,brush-wear in good health!

 

[suitforcourt]

Excited to finally be joining you all with my first pair of vintage + shell shoes.

Grabbed these 90s 97626 longwings from ebay. They look to be in excellent condition!

I've read through a few of the care tips but I'm neurotic and worried about ruining these. My understanding of the steps required are as follows:
hit the insides with an isopropyl-soaked rag- how much pressure should I be using?
damp microfiber cloth to wipe down the uppers and welt
I've seen VSC and Bick4 recommended for conditioning old shell- is there any particular preference here?
Finally, do I need to grab some cordovan creme from AE or will conditioning the leather be enough?

Included picture tax (please excuse the lackluster photos/setting):
View attachment 964353 View attachment 964355

I learn from the masters here. I simply do a few rounds of Bick 4 and then Saphir Renovateur to condition.

For colour, I use Collonil 1909.

VSC is applied later prior to wearings.

But lots of brushing no matter what.

 

[Lmrjfud]

Excited to finally be joining you all with my first pair of vintage + shell shoes.

Grabbed these 90s 97626 longwings from ebay. They look to be in excellent condition!

I've read through a few of the care tips but I'm neurotic and worried about ruining these. My understanding of the steps required are as follows:
hit the insides with an isopropyl-soaked rag- how much pressure should I be using?
damp microfiber cloth to wipe down the uppers and welt
I've seen VSC and Bick4 recommended for conditioning old shell- is there any particular preference here?
Finally, do I need to grab some cordovan creme from AE or will conditioning the leather be enough?

Included picture tax (please excuse the lackluster photos/setting):
View attachment 964353 View attachment 964355

Great looking pair!
Just to add to what others have already said, don't go crazy with "soaking" the inside with alcohol. A rag, damp with alcohol, is more like it. Saturating the shell from the inside could dry it out.

 

[hms056]

Thank you all for the guidance, much appreciated. I'll be sure to throw up a picture or two once I get them on my feet!

 

[smfdoc]

Thank you all for the guidance, much appreciated. I'll be sure to throw up a picture or two once I get them on my feet!

Welcome to the thread. Now that you have the shell Florsheims squared away, on to some of the 93602s.

 

[M635Guy]

This is a pair of 1968 Florsheim 93602 that I fixed up this past weekend. I know I have told this story before but it is a different pair.

The leather quality in the 1960s Imperials is very high. Its thick and with minimal creasing. If you can find one in your size and in good condition, buy a pair even if you have a later model.

I wore the pair around on Monday. They fit great.

View attachment 964319 View attachment 964320

Those look fantastic!

 

[M635Guy]

View attachment 964179

Today, with Hanover LB Sheppard cordovan LWB.
I love how they are aging, partially colour is fading and looks a bit like antique finish.

They look great - just make sure those areas aren't dry.