Vintage Spade Sole Shoes

[Feraud]

I love the croc spades!

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

Croc's

Cookie....you're killing me.....There is drool on my keyboard..

You have some outstanding shoes....:eusa_clap

 

[Undertow]

Marcs famous Edwin Clapp Specs:

Ah man! Those are sharp!:eusa_clap

 

[cookie]

Beautiful Frank Bros 1940s Wingtip Spade Soles

http://cgi.ebay.com/Frank-Bros-vintage-wingtips-11A-/170526400130?pt=US_Men_s_Shoes

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Here are some VERY spade-soled shoes. From the '50s. Went for a good price: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360167607432&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

MARC!!! Glad to see you around again!

 

[The Shooman]

Marcs famous Edwin Clapp Specs:

Does Marc wear any of these shoos or does he keep them soley as display shoos?

 

[AlanC]

My late lamented Nettleton punchcaps had a hint of a spade:

 

[cookie]

What happened to those shoes Allan?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Does Marc wear any of these shoos or does he keep them soley as display shoos?

I wear them, and I also keep them in good condition via shoe trees, regular conditioning, edge dressing, etc.

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[Marc Chevalier]

Does Marc wear any of these shoos or does he keep them soley as display shoos?

Proof positive. These are my black calf spade sole oxfords from the 1950s.

 

[cookie]

Wonderful...and the brand is?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

The brand is Thom McAn.


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[Marc Chevalier]

Just in case The Shooman doesn't believe in my feet, here's another view of them (in 1940s spade soles, also by Thom McAn):

 

[The Shooman]

A bunch of Marc's spade shoos have the double stitching around the broguing. l've only ever seen that done on AE brogues.

Alan C: your making me jealous. Wish l had Nettletons...makes me sick.

 

[The Shooman]

l could have gotten J&M Handmade NOS black spade wingtip shoes in my exact size at Bennies once. l still cry about missing out. When l rang up to get the pair sent out l was told it had been recently sold. Someone on Style Forum told a new poster about it and he snagged it. :rage:

 

[John in Covina]

I have not heard the name Tom McAn in a long time. What a blast form the past.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

From Wikipedia, FWIW:


"Ward Melville, chairman of the Melville Corporation, released the new Thom McCann (later spelled "McAn") shoe line in 1922, opening the first Thom McCann retail store in New York. The brand was named after Scottish golfer Thomas McCann. Within five years, 300 stores were open, and by 1939 there were over 650 stores.

The brand achieved the peak of its popularity and near iconic status from the 1950s to the 1970s, due to its combination of quality leather and affordability. There were 850 Thom McAn stores in the United States in 1955, and Melville became the largest American shoe retailer by the 1970s, operating 1,400 stores."


I've heard that Thom McAn's fashion-forward styles (such as spade soles) were popular with African-American men. Thom McAnns were more affordable than Stetson shoes, which they somewhat emulated.


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[davestlouis]

I seem to recall that Thom McAn had stores in local malls, and I always assumed they were a low end shoe...these spades look very well made.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I seem to recall that Thom McAn had stores in local malls, and I always assumed they were a low end shoe...these spades look very well made.

They weren't always a low end shoe. Up until the '70s, they were a high volume retailer of quality leather shoes at very competitive prices. Something we don't see much of these days, alas.


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