1930s-40s Stetson Shoes

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Just to show you Marc Chevalier quality spectator shoes are still around on the 'Bay.

These are a mens 7A (weird size) but would fit a woman too...like size 8/9..

 

[resortes805]

Those kicks feature the oh-so-awesome 'spade' soles!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Stetson shoes (no relation to the hatmakers) were top quality. I've seen deadstock ones: fantastic leather, stitching, lasts, everything. Back in the '30s and '40s, they were pretty expensive.

.

 

[scotrace]

I'm so glad to see pics of the real thing. In old Esquire issues, Stetson shoes are usually the best looking specs to be seen.

 

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Vintage Shoes - Flaws from Age

You have to be careful with vintage shoes even deadstock ones. A beautiful pair of spade soles I bought recently and put on yesterday for the first try on tore in the same place on the top of the heels on both shoes!

I asked my cobbler what caused it and he said it was a weakness in the leather due to age. Fortunately a few discrete stitches in and outside will fix it but nevertheless it can be a problem when ostensibly the shoes are perfect.

 

[Jerekson]

That's too bad. Glad to hear you could fix it though.

 

[feltfan]

I have been buying some vintage and nearly dead stock Stetson, Wright, and Keith Highlander shoes lately.
I have a difficult size- 10.5 EEE- so they don't come around often. I'd hate to rip the leather. Any suggestion
on how to avoid tearing old leather? Treat them with Cadillac Shoe Conditioner? Pecard's? Just be careful?

 

[resortes805]

Pecards helps, but if the leather is too brittle, there is not much you can treat. Another option is to have a cobbler reinforce the shoe leather with a thick suede backing to prevent destruction!

 

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Pecards helps, but if the leather is too brittle, there is not much you can treat. Another option is to have a cobbler reinforce the shoe leather with a thick suede backing to prevent destruction!

This... and not just one application of Pecards. They have to drink it in over a week or two. I let one pair from the 20s/30s marinate in it for a year! They came out good as new though the stitching had to be oversewn as it was a little brittle in one area. peacards needs to be rubbed into the stitching as well BTW.

Resortes has the other trick right which is to have a thin strip of leather attached on the inside of the shoe to a depth of like 1/2-1 inch. I like it to go right around to the lacing part from side to side.The piece is glued in and resewn over the outside stitching that runs around at the top of the heel area so it is practically invisble. Like this pair but neater http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/V-Rare-Vt...67123?pt=UK_Vintage_Shoes&hash=item257a4a1bf3

I have been buying some vintage and nearly dead stock Stetson, Wright, and Keith Highlander shoes lately.
I have a difficult size- 10.5 EEE- so they don't come around often. I'd hate to rip the leather. Any suggestion
on how to avoid tearing old leather? Treat them with Cadillac Shoe Conditioner? Pecard's? Just be careful?

Some snaps would be nice and put in the Vintage Spade Sole Thread.

 

[Isshinryu101]

I have been buying some vintage and nearly dead stock Stetson, Wright, and Keith Highlander shoes lately.
I have a difficult size- 10.5 EEE- so they don't come around often. I'd hate to rip the leather. Any suggestion
on how to avoid tearing old leather? Treat them with Cadillac Shoe Conditioner? Pecard's? Just be careful?

I feel for ya. With those xtra wide feet, it is impossible to find the 40's shoes and very hard to find anything older that 1960's (although there are some 50's).

 

[feltfan]

I feel for ya. With those xtra wide feet, it is impossible to find the 40's shoes and very hard to find anything older that 1960's (although there are some 50's).

Yes, I am envious of your collection... and very much appreciate that you share it here.
I do plan to photograph my shoes. Meant to do "before" and "after" on the Keith Highlanders and Wright
because they were so new, so perfectly uncreased. Oh well.

So is there any difference between the Pecards product sold for leather jackets and such and the Pecards
product sold for shoes? I have a local source for the jacket product but not for the shoe product.

The Stetsons arrived today. They aren't spectacular shoes, but they are nice. Seem to be in good, not terribly
worn shape.

Thanks!