digups

This pair went from RnS (too small) to 123OK (too big) to myself (perfect fit).

Thanks K.

be carefull with leather though, it can crack and shrink!

Word... don't bake them too hard, like I said, use the oven only at the lowest heat.

Nice pairs Eccles.

Has anyone ever had a problem with crepe soles getting really hard?

WD40.

It softens up rubber.

Forget about the WD40.

After hearing about softening crepe using heat, I decided to put a pair in the oven.

Wrapped them in aluminum foil, and let them sit for half an hour at the lowest heat.

Job done. Much quicker and easier than the WD40 method.

Would you look at that fine set.

'kin amazing K.

I see you sneaked in the 'farewell pair' as well.

Great stuff man.

i really like the look of those youkinorn

Seconded. Those Dessies can take a beating and still look good.

Fantastic Gnar.

Sahara boots have an amazing silhouette, I think could use some.

Yeah upload those pics 123, I'd love to see the update.

http://www.slamxhype.com/blogs/d/Frank/2008/04/19/the-wally-champ

Nice.

Although sir Nathan in my avatar is holding them, I keep passing on the sand Dessies. Probably because they're always around so the rarer pairs get priority. Need to pick some up.

Anyone play golf?

(Not mine)

There we go, I had read that before and I guess it answers some of my questions, thanks. Come to think of it my pair might just be a another model, because the Kenmoors I've seen all have different panelling.

Anyone else think this thread is a bit boot-heavy? While I enjoy seeing them I wouldn't mind if people posted more shoe-shoes. Keep it up.

^ They're one beast of a shoe sir.

Could you take some shots of the shoes themselves, the sole, heel and other stuff?

Yeah in fact I was just doing that.

I must say the picture doesn't do their patina justice.

Been looking at vintage longwings for a minute and these seem to be a rare beast.

First of all, after I decided I wanted some dark brown pebbled leather ones it took me a while to find a pair. Lots of black and tan, some cordovan but not these. Also, every US made Florsheim longwing I've seen had the eyestay panel stitched onto the vamp rather than tucked under the brogued panel. And most have 5 nails in the waist. These don't, although they're marked "union made", in the US that is. Finally, they have a blue label inside instead of the usual green one I keep seeing.

I'm by no means an expert on these, so like I said earlier I'd love it if someone could tell me more about them (or US made longwings in general).

Cheers.

^ You decide.

I think they are unvaluable (and that seller would probably agree).

Vintage Clarks can be found for much less though...

Cheers folks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-CLARKS-DESERT-BOOTS-MINT_W0QQitemZ180173232093QQihZ008QQcategoryZ63850QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

anyone ever heard of these before??? Like desert boots and uggs had a retarded child.

Those are fantastic. They've been on ebay for months now by the way. I'd have made an offer if they were my size.

^ Pebbled Calf aka Scotch Grain.

Just got these vintage Florsheim Imperials and I love them.

They have the metal v-cleat in the heels but to my surprise the signature 5 nails in the waist aren't there... they could of course have been resoled but I doubt that.

If anyone can enlighten me about the finer details on vintage Florsheim I'd be chuffed.

All Wallabees made in the Republic of Ireland.

All Desert Boots made in Asia, except for the purple ones which are made in England.

Yep, overdyed factory purple.

Not in a shade I could wear though, so I shifted the colour. They're less electric now, more of a burgundy purple.

*Edit*

Forgot I had these pics.

Gear:

Before and after:

(Did the right shoe as well after taking this pic).

OK last rarity... purple Dessies made in England.

This is is technically a "before" pic, next time you see these they'll be a redder shade of purple, I customised them with tinted suede renovators.

The rest of my Clarks are regular old models and colours, promise.

They were marked 9C, and that might as well have been a women's US 9 because they were silly tight (I wear a UK 8).

Sold them to a lucky Japanese buyer for a meagre $57.58 + shipping. Got them for less myself though.

Might as well post these rare Clarks since they're gone already. Deadstock made in England from 1955 (!)

Sold them recently because they didn't fit.

Looks like someone at Ipath studied the Sport model doesn't it.

I think gum soles on Wallabees a la the Wallabee Sport is pretty dope, but I wish the upper was just like regular Wallabees.

To me it's the circular "medallion" that nearly spoils them. Highly unneccessary addition that.

They look fantastic on though, nice and sleek silhouette.

Cheers folks.

Here's two of my "other" Irish made Wallabees.

I'll post the whole bunch as soon as the latest pickups have arrived.

First up, Sport.

And Lites..

^ Will do sir, cheers.

Great thread.

I'm a newbie when it comes to posting on Superfuture, not when it comes to Clarks.

Anyway.

Has anyone ever had a problem with crepe soles getting really hard? I have some pretty old wallabees and the sole is like a rock (well almost like a rock, just harder than usual)

WD40.

It softens up rubber.

After ruining two of my Irish pairs, both had hardened crepe soles and cracked under the balls of the feet, I decided to do some research on softening rubber. Using Google, I found quite a few suggestions, including this:

WD-40 will soften rubber up like nobodies business...

Take a rock hard piece of rubber... put it in a zip-lock back with some WD-40... and let it sit for a day or three... check it daily... too much will make ti balloon up like, well... a balloon!

So I decided to try the stuff.

First, I packed the suede uppers in cling film and taped them so they wouldn't get stained. Then I laid the shoes bottoms up and sprayed the soles with a generous amount of the stuff. Next step was to pack the whole shoe in cling film so the WD40 wouldn't evaporate. Left them sit for 24 hours and unpacked them.

The soles had softened considerably. The stuff seems to have worked its way through the first 1/4 inch of the rubber. Hope it will gradually sink in further though and soften the whole block.

Anyway, it seems to have done the job sufficiently. The sole units can be flexed now, and especially the outsole part feels soft and bouncy. Minor downside was they smelled of WD40 for a day or two, but no biggie. Already wore this pair 3 times, and I get the feeling the softened crepe doesn't wear as fast as hardened rubber would.