Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[ZePrez]

Hi

Maiden voyage for those Hart Zébu U-Wings. I acquired these a bit over a year. Great looking shoes I wanted these in a lighter burgundy so that the Zebu skin would be better in display I tried, Renomat, I wasn't able to lighten the shade. it is a dark browning Burgundy...
So I am wearing it today. Built like a tank, very heavy, yet soft like a glove, very comfortable; the inside is luxurious, the pair wasn't much worn... Pleased.
Next I will clean it up more, Lexol, then Bick 4 , followed by Saphir BDC cream, then Saphir Renovateur, then Collonil 1909 neutral.
I waited so long to wear them, I was going to send them to Wyatt and Sons or some good cobbler to have them clear them out. It would have cost me substantially for two-way international shipping plus actual cost of work ... So they are to remain in their dark-brownish Burgundy. They will be promoted ,when properly cleaned-up, to the rotation..

Thanks People for your guidance.

Peace.

 

[JFWR]

The tie is psychedelic, and yet the whole vibe is totally establishment. Right on, man!

Thanks dude!

 

[Bopper]

Hi

Maiden voyage for those Hart Zébu U-Wings. I acquired these a bit over a year. Great looking shoes I wanted these in a lighter burgundy so that the Zebu skin would be better in display I tried, Renomat, I wasn't able to lighten the shade. it is a dark browning Burgundy...
So I am wearing it today. Built like a tank, very heavy, yet soft like a glove, very comfortable; the inside is luxurious, the pair wasn't much worn... Pleased.
Next I will clean it up more, Lexol, then Bick 4 , followed by Saphir BDC cream, then Saphir Renovateur, then Collonil 1909 neutral.
I waited so long to wear them, I was going to send them to Wyatt and Sons or some good cobbler to have them clear them out. It would have cost me substantially for two-way international shipping plus actual cost of work ... So they are to remain in their dark-brownish Burgundy. They will be promoted ,when properly cleaned-up, to the rotation..

View attachment 1955289

View attachment 1955291 View attachment 1955293

Thanks People for your guidance.

Peace.

Cool. I NEED a pair

 

[Bopper]

Golden Harvests got the call today… View attachment 1955067 View attachment 1955069

Love em! I have a pair. No way they'll ever be "golden" in color, so they're a project. Care to share your resto tech on this pair?

 

[friendlygoz]

C&J plain toe blucher in whiskey shell…

 

[memoriastoica]

Several companies made two tone shell saddles back in the day. Some would use shell for both sections and others would use calf for the saddle. I think these J&M used shell on both.

Not a fan of saddle shoes, not sure why.

 

[jiredell]

I had the worst thrifting experience of my life today @goodwill: found a solitary Florsheim Royal Imperial 97626 in my size (10.5-11, depending) sitting next to an Allen Edmonds brogued captoe, as if it was it’s partner (but the AE was a size 12). No partner for the Florsheim to be found 😂, and—as you might guess—the employees just kind of looked at me and shrugged. My consolation was that at the next Goodwill I found a pristine cashmere v-neck. But that shoe score would’ve been epic. Bummer.

 

[sam67]

Not a fan of saddle shoes, not sure why.

oh well.

 

[smfdoc]

Not a fan of saddle shoes, not sure why.

Just combine the saddle with another element, like a Norwegian split toe.

 

[ZePrez]

Not a fan of saddle shoes, not sure why.

+1

 

[Oshare]

Happy Wingtip Wednesday.
I had to head out for a meeting, so my pair of black shell MacNeills that I traded with @suitforcourt a couple years ago got the call.

 

[CWOyaji]

Johnston & Murphy Bellwoods in Dark Cherry shell for Wingtip Wednesday.

 

[sam67]

What is J&M Whitehouse and Hardy? I’ve not seen or heard of this before.

 

[eTrojan]

Black shell MacNeils today.

 

[smfdoc]

What is J&M Whitehouse and Hardy? I’ve not seen or heard of this before.
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Here is what I found. Whitehouse & Hardy was a brand dating back to the early part of the 1900s as indicated by this photo of a storefront in 1916. They sold multiple items for men, including shoes ties, and clothes.

It appears W&H was a regional menswear store on the east coast. W&H carried various shoes branded for them, some of which were made by J&M. I like the 6 eyelets on this pair.

General Shoe Company began buying different stores and suppliers, eventually changing their name to Genesco as they diversified their lines. From 1953 to 1978, Whitehouse & Hardy was a subsidiary of Genesco, Inc (at that time a conglomerate) which then owned Johnston & Murphy, having purchased them in 1951. In those days many stores in mid-sized US cities wanted to have the "exclusive" rights to sell certain brands in the city. J&M accommodated them. For example, in Atlanta at one time, only Muses' could sell J&M labelled shoes. A smaller shop, John Jarrell, carried the same shoes, but sold them with the "Frank Brothers" name. I assume that if a third store wanted to carry the line, it would have had to carry them with the "Whitehouse & Hardy" name." The name branding on the shoe will vary, depending on when they were made. Sometimes the shoes only carried the Whitehouse & Hardy name.