Shoes that look better with age...

[mikecch]

^ Cheers riff!

CTB, what is the minimum number for a group MTO order? 6?

[rkusmant]

Well, if we want the William model, they might be able to accommodate using storm welt instead of true veldschoen.

Yeah Mike we need 6 ppl to get a normal price for MTO, I just submitted the Eaton group buy and (soon) Longwing shoes group buy. Thinking about longwing boots or captoe boots if there's any takers, we're limited up 2 tone for this MTO.

[Paul T]

Bad news on the boots, folks.

Personally, I'd have wanted the Tricker's if it was an actual historical model. Getting the design copied as an MTO by another manufacturer doesn't have the same appeal to me...

Back to the drawing board, eh?

Thanks for posting, this Ben.

I have to say, when David at the factory shop told me they'd do a one-off for £495 I thought it seemed too good to be true, particularly as they don't do a veldtschoen as standard. It's a lot of hassle for them compared with doing another colorway in a well-known boot.

Ben and I have discussed whether we could do something with Alfred Sargent, who have more recent history with velschoen, zug boots, but we thought there might be less enthusiasm, given that Tricker are much hipper on internet forums than AS.

[mikecch]

Yeah Mike we need 6 ppl to get a normal price for MTO, I just submitted the Eaton group buy and (soon) Longwing shoes group buy. Thinking about longwing boots or captoe boots if there's any takers, we're limited up 2 tone for this MTO.

Thanks mate - I'll be up for a pair of long-wing boots in the unlikely case you were thinking of midnight blue or turf green suede on rubber soles

Edit: You have PM!

[edmond]

When riding, do you match your jackets to your boots, or mix it up?

match my underwear to the color of my helmet sometimes i mix it up but i try to match my pubic hair color to my tyres

[drz]

Please run an MTO for this model. Do it in black brown combo or black/black different leather type combo. I'd be all over it

[mikecch]

Here's my idea for something a bit different:

...regarding MTO long-wing boots:

Toe to heel counter, facings:

Turf green repello suede

Quarters to vamp:

Gaucho repello or Marraca Janus suede

Natural inner lining

Natural storm welt and edges

Double mid-sole

Light brown/wheat commando sole

Brass eyelets with 3 speed-hooks on top

Green pull-tab

Gaucho or Marraca (as suggested by Rkusmant)?

P.S. Apparently I could be White's dealer down under

[rayw44]

match my underwear to the color of my helmet sometimes i mix it up but i try to match my pubic hair color to my tyres

Hahahaha! I tried to rep you for this, but I must spread.

[CrashTestBrummie]

Ben and I have discussed whether we could do something with Alfred Sargent, who have more recent history with velschoen, zug boots, but we thought there might be less enthusiasm, given that Tricker are much hipper on internet forums than AS.

It was telling that Richard said that, whilst he owns a lot of Tricker's, five days out of seven or thereabouts finds him wearing AS.

As I mentioned before, he rates their handgrade shoes as amongst the best. He also said that AS aren't making any more RTW and even standard boots (Kelso/Selkirk etc) would need to be ordered specially, going forward. Explains why a lot of the sites selling AS are now only showing limited sizes...

Not sure how these colour combos sit with Tricker's folk though.

Something I do want to get from Tricker's this/next year is a pair of suede brogue/u-tip boots in midnight blue or turf green. Possibility of two tone?

The colours in themselves don't matter to Tricker's, although they'll only allow a maximum of two on an MTO - same as the materials, no more than two there either.

This is a fairly recent development (maybe due to their expanding collaborative commitments elsewhere? my thoughts...), as you can see some fairly extravagent earlier MTOs elsewhere.

And yeah, six is the minimum for a group buy. Single order MTO is always possible, like my Eatons, but you'll pay a premium for this.

Whilst I like the thought of suede, they'd be ruined within a month given the amount that I walk

The U-tip/shooting boot would be a good call; I've some very specific ideas as to what I'd want from one though and this is probably a single MTO for the future - unless my piggy bank gets full faster than expected and I accidentally trip into the C&J shop and my foot falls, purely by mistake, into a Harlech in my size...

Well, if we want the William model, they might be able to accommodate using storm welt instead of true veldschoen.

Read my post - the William was just a model made for the Italian market and is basically a Burford, which has a storm welt as standard and is simply a plain toe boot built on the 4497s last, like the majority of the Country Collection. The veldt model was just a sample...

[mikecch]

^ True that with the suede.

I do think my midnight blue/turf green obsession will end up a single MTO one day, maybe with AS (?) - probably not the kind of spec that has mass appeal.

Keen to check out your U-Tip make up!

[wgmds]

here's a cool pair of mccoy's for cheap. they could be fixed up and look beautifully amazing.

http://page5.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/e112899491

[choice]

had to return the whites oxfords as they fit my foot quite uncomfortably, instead I'm looking at getting a similar pair of Vibergs. Can anyone identify some of differences in the Inventory collaboration from the regular 145s? I'm basically looking to build those with a 2021 sole instead of the vibram christy. They mentioned it didn't have the work toebox put in, any idea about the leather type or hardware used?

[onehundy]

Does anyone have any sizing advice for Buco engineer boots? Ed?

[Happy Hooligan]

well my SD are now back at Bakers getting a good stretch.... Should get them sent back after the weekend.... So next week I should be able to wear those puppies!

[mikecch]

^ Nice!

Can anyone comment on how White's SD last compares to Alden's Trubalance?

I know many folks size them the same, but just wondering about the differences between toe space and height.

[youonlyliveonce]

hello boot experts, i am graduating this coming june and as a fun way to enter a new chapter in my life, i am considering a pair of alden indys natural chromexcels. however, i am no shoe expert when it comes to quality, durability, care, etc. so i dont want to purchase such an expensive pair without any knowledge. obviously, this pair is praised throughout the boards as well as many other menswear sites, but i am still slightly skeptical, mainly because of the price. how long do these boots tend to last? would you say that these boots are as versatile as i perceive them to be, as in beater,casual, formal shoes? does the welt stitching ruin the quality by any way? and aesthetics aside, worth the money? thanks so much; will rep.

http://www.google.com/search?q=alden+indy+natural+chromexcel&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=585

are the boots im talking about.

[dr.house]

Shameless plug :eek:, please check my sig!

[fre-co]

It's quite a wait - so don't hold up on ordering!

Riff, how about some more pictures of your new White's?

[fre-co]

hello boot experts, i am graduating this coming june and as a fun way to enter a new chapter in my life, i am considering a pair of alden indys natural chromexcels. however, i am no shoe expert when it comes to quality, durability, care, etc. so i dont want to purchase such an expensive pair without any knowledge. obviously, this pair is praised throughout the boards as well as many other menswear sites, but i am still slightly skeptical, mainly because of the price. how long do these boots tend to last? would you say that these boots are as versatile as i perceive them to be, as in beater,casual, formal shoes? does the welt stitching ruin the quality by any way? and aesthetics aside, worth the money? thanks so much; will rep.

http://www.google.com/search?q=alden+indy+natural+chromexcel&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=585

are the boots im talking about.

Those are great boots indeed.

The boots will last as long as you make them last. People are wearing indies from easily 10-15 years ago and probably way longer than that.

Be aware that they will last longer and look better with some care though. A bit of nourishment and treatment of the leather. Also remember that you will have to resole them and reheel them when required which will cost you upwards of $60 for a sole depending where you go (Alden do it for $140 with a restoration too).

Also remember that if you want to look after them, it is best to rotate your footwear, ie: have at least two pairs.

I wouldn't say they are a good option for formal occasions though. The welt stitching is what holds them together - far superior to glue.

[Paul T]

Just noticed, good prices on Tricker's here, in particlar the Keswick, which they have in a pretty complete run of sizes, at £231 - about what you'd pay for factory seconds, and these are perfect.

All at the Yorkshire company, Craggs.

Remember, the Keswick is on the 444 last, bigger than the Stowe, size down by a half on these.

[denimjunky]

Shizzz...Luckily the burton acorn was not in my size. Damn my trigger happy fingers!

[mikedbt5]

Well , after treading in a big lump of dog shite today ..... no more boots or shoes with f..king dainite soles for me !!! It's a bollocks trying to get the crap out from around the dimples .

[CrashTestBrummie]

Just noticed, good prices on Tricker's here, in particlar the Keswick, which they have in a pretty complete run of sizes, at £231 - about what you'd pay for factory seconds, and these are perfect.

All at the Yorkshire company, Craggs.

Remember, the Keswick is on the 444 last, bigger than the Stowe, size down by a half on these.

They'd reduced their Tricker's instore when I was up in Leeds back in March, albeit not by as much but they had a larger selection of shoes and boots - looks as if they're not planning in keeping Tricker's in stock...

A little bit of history; I couldn't resist dropping a couple of quid on this original advert from the 40s with the Lotus veldtschoen boots on:

You can clearly see the 'turned out' construction now that the boots have been cleaned:

And a little bit of Coniston porn, now that the residue issue has been sorted and they've had some wear and care:

On a different note, some of you might be interested in these resources, the library of the Honourable Cordwainers' Company Guild. It's a collection of works, modern and ancient, to do with shoemaking - some of the books can be downloaded as whole documents, and videos can be ordered.

http://www.thehcc.org/library.htm

Plenty of stuff there for those who are interested...

[mikedbt5]

CTB , both look fantastic . The Lotus have turned out a treat , love the pic showing the veldtshoen !!

[hollowsleather]

Well , after treading in a big lump of dog shite today ..... no more boots or shoes with f..king dainite soles for me !!! It's a bollocks trying to get the crap out from around the dimples .

I would have taken a different approach and stopped stepping in dog shit, but to each their own.

[CrashTestBrummie]

CTB , both look fantastic . The Lotus have turned out a treat , love the pic showing the veldtshoen !!

Mate, I'm loving them - even if it feels like I'm wearing diving boots at time whilst breaking them in...

Unlucky with the dogshit/dainite combo - I can't imagine it would be good to remove from a commando sole, either...

[mikedbt5]

I would have taken a different approach and stopped stepping in dog shit, but to each their own.

Unfortunately , sometimes there are things in life you can't avoid , as much as you would like too !!!

[CrashTestBrummie]

Anyone a UK 8 and fancy something a little different?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260783501439&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

One of the Leather Soul Tricker's, on UK eBay, for a very reasonable price...

[mikedbt5]

Anyone a UK 8 and fancy something a little different?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260783501439&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

One of the Leather Soul Tricker's, on UK eBay, for a very reasonable price...

Noticed them myself but my next purchase , probably around autumn , will not have a brogue pattern and probably be in black. Toyng with Grasmere or an mto Burford with commando sole from Shoehealer though the pics of your Lotus have me looking at the Cheaney Penine again . At least I am not in a hurry .

[CrashTestBrummie]

We might be looking at a group MTO on a Sargent veldtschoen boot, watch this space...

If you're after a veldtschoen because of the Lotus, I'd take a Sargent over the Cheaney because of the leather - the AS uses zug whereas the Cheaney uses country grain. Plus I prefer the lines of the AS veldt, although there are some very nice pics of the Cheaney to be seen...