Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[Bopper]

So, black shoes with black rubber soles and heels is a no-brainer.

But my brown shoes. I much prefer a better-than-new, tanned leather look. I generally clean, strip, smooth, dye, and sometimes wax the edges in order to approximate or compliment the uppers. Yes, I wax my edges while using no wax on the uppers. It’s “my thing” (for now). The problem is, I am hard on heels. I burn through steel cleats in no time. So, what’s my solution? I’m considering going to a machine shop to have maybe a dozen, larger-sized v-cleats made up. Like, say, maybe triple the length of the arc on the radius, and screw them on to some new leather heals. What do y’all think?

 

[PSU John]

Just guard against slip-falls with such oversized cleats!

 

[actionjbone]

So, black shoes with black rubber soles and heels is a no-brainer.

But my brown shoes. I much prefer a better-than-new, tanned leather look. I generally clean, strip, smooth, dye, and sometimes wax the edges in order to approximate or compliment the uppers. Yes, I wax my edges while using no wax on the uppers. It’s “my thing” (for now). The problem is, I am hard on heels. I burn through steel cleats in no time. So, what’s my solution? I’m considering going to a machine shop to have maybe a dozen, larger-sized v-cleats made up. Like, say, maybe triple the length of the arc on the radius, and screw them on to some new leather heals. What do y’all think?

People who own floors are going to hate you! 🤣

 

[friendlygoz]

AE Chester in suede yesterday…

 

[eTrojan]

Almost 5 years ago, @Jiqea reached out to me because he’d found a pair of RCMP boots in my size. I bought them, because “why not?”.

In the ensuing years, I have been slowly accumulating other RCMP gear. The Sam Browne. A campaign hat. A dress shirt. But it all came together a few months ago when I found a red serge tunic in my size. So today — for Halloween — I came to work a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman.

I arranged a deal with the tunic owner to also acquire 4 dress jackets, one pair of dress pants and one pair of cavalry pants, but I haven’t made my way through that box yet, so I just subbed in some regular navy pants today. But there are the vintage RCMP boots in action.

 

[mormonopoly]

I've been wearing these 1940s Footjoys recently. The last shape on these is just gorgeous.

 

[mormonopoly]

Here is another unworn pair from the collection. These are Florsheim Varsity, model 30679 from 1969.

 

[friendlygoz]

Shell Alden NSTs today…

 

[friendlygoz]

So, black shoes with black rubber soles and heels is a no-brainer.

But my brown shoes. I much prefer a better-than-new, tanned leather look. I generally clean, strip, smooth, dye, and sometimes wax the edges in order to approximate or compliment the uppers. Yes, I wax my edges while using no wax on the uppers. It’s “my thing” (for now). The problem is, I am hard on heels. I burn through steel cleats in no time. So, what’s my solution? I’m considering going to a machine shop to have maybe a dozen, larger-sized v-cleats made up. Like, say, maybe triple the length of the arc on the radius, and screw them on to some new leather heals. What do y’all think?

I would stick with rubber soles.

 

[tuna roll]

I need tips on removing mold smell from a pair of 986’s.

A fried of mine thrifted a pair and installed topys. I bough this pair from him and only later noticed the mold smell (maybe it’s mildew, definitely one or both).

I wiped it (inside and out) with Lysol and diluted vinegar probably about 10 times at this point, leaving it to dry well between each application. Left it on the sun for an hour or so, also a few times. All of this time it was kept on a corner of my living room to ventilate.

The smell is still there and I haven’t noticed any significant improvement. Which makes me think the culprit could be trapped in the sole/cork.

Any ideas?

 

[Bopper]

So, black shoes with black rubber soles and heels is a no-brainer.

But my brown shoes. I much prefer a better-than-new, tanned leather look. I generally clean, strip, smooth, dye, and sometimes wax the edges in order to approximate or compliment the uppers. Yes, I wax my edges while using no wax on the uppers. It’s “my thing” (for now). The problem is, I am hard on heels. I burn through steel cleats in no time. So, what’s my solution? I’m considering going to a machine shop to have maybe a dozen, larger-sized v-cleats made up. Like, say, maybe triple the length of the arc on the radius, and screw them on to some new leather heals. What do y’all think?

On second thought, perhaps it would be best to double v-cleat all my brown pairs. A very good cobbler gave me a set of new cleats a few years ago. Is this something good cobblers might have sitting around? I haven't found any since. I'll check supply house websites. Anyway, it wouldn't be difficult at all for a machinist to duplicate.

 

[suitforcourt]

I need tips on removing mold smell from a pair of 986’s.

A fried of mine thrifted a pair and installed topys. I bough this pair from him and only later noticed the mold smell (maybe it’s mildew, definitely one or both).

I wiped it (inside and out) with Lysol and diluted vinegar probably about 10 times at this point, leaving it to dry well between each application. Left it on the sun for an hour or so, also a few times. All of this time it was kept on a corner of my living room to ventilate.

The smell is still there and I haven’t noticed any significant improvement. Which makes me think the culprit could be trapped in the sole/cork.

Any ideas?

Try putting them in a sealed bag with dry coffee ground, for a fee days

Don't use the coffee ground afterwards.

 

[suitforcourt]

Hartt PTBs in Prairie oxhide. I really dig this look.

 

[tuna roll]

Try putting them in a sealed bag with dry coffee ground, for a fee days

Interesting, I'll try that!

Don't use the coffee ground afterwards.

I actually almost spit my coffee reading that

 

[sam67]

I believe I found some Nettleton shell.