Shoes that look better with age...

[AlientoyWorkmachine]

^ mine get here Monday from the same retailer. We'll see if they fit. The lower profile and the lack of toe structure were too hard to not try. I don't expect anything crazy.

[Maynard Friedman]

9 hours ago, Double 0 Soul said:

Hey @coleslawyum do you still have your ox blood Railman's?

Here are mine albeit, not worn for nearly a decade

Nice boots Neal, why don’t you wear them anymore?

[yung_flynn]

1 hour ago, AlientoyWorkmachine said:

^ mine get here Monday from the same retailer. We'll see if they fit. The lower profile and the lack of toe structure were too hard to not try. I don't expect anything crazy.

Same for me. My feet are super flat and oddly shaped so the wide toe box and lesser arch support sounded appealing. 
 

I like my 55 lasted pair of boots and find them pretty comfortable but the level of support and weight isn’t really needed for me while just walking around town. Even for distance running I prefer my less supportive Sauconys to my previous pairs of higher stability Hokas 

Edited November 3 by yung_flynn

[AlientoyWorkmachine]

Yea I still run in zero drop shoes, I converted like 12 years ago and may never go back. Though I don’t run as much as I used to. 
I really like the Quoddy Mocs I picked up recently for this same reason - they’re pretty flat and thin soled.

[Double 0 Soul]

8 hours ago, Maynard Friedman said:

Nice boots Neal, why don’t you wear them anymore?

They are arn't they..

Same reason i sold off the fancy boots collection (i've just kept my favourite pair for weddings or funerals) they just don't lend themselves to current lifestyle..  i'm getting up in the morning and cycling to work, i'm not going to do that in workboots .. i could wear them in the workshop but they'd be fked in a couple of months like what happened to my Lofgren engineers (fancy 'workboots' are better suited to office workers or Instagramers playing dress-up imo, i can't afford to destroy £1500 handmade boots every few months) if i am out after work / weekends, i'll usually be playing tennis, hiking in the Peaks or MTB.. again, not really occasions for workboots.

This is the first time i've even checked out this thread in years, it used to be one of my favourite hangouts when it was all nicely worn American / Japanese workboots or fancy English shoes.. but it seemed like every time i checked in, i would only see new boots (not better with age) or worst still Quoddys, Paraboots or Aldens worn with white socks.. or perish the thought.. no socks at all.. so i stopped wearing boots and stopped checking out the thread.

I'll wear them today, for old times sake, i've got to walk down to the hardwear shop inabit to buy a new brush

[Maynard Friedman]

Hard wearing boots for hardware. Give ‘em a good stomping as you walk!

[Double 0 Soul]

I will!

..from someone who lived in / was fully accustomed to fancy workboots.. they feel a bit weird and heavy, although.. i do like the height elevation, i'll be taller than the offspring again..

Oh.. one of the other reasons i sold off the boots collection, when my old LoneWolf Mechanics needed a resole, i couldn't find anyone in the UK who could do stitch-through, i bought them back in the days when the exchange rate was almost $2 to the pound but by the time they needed a resole, our ecconomy was fked and shipping them off to the US or JP for a resole would have cost more than buying a new pair so i had a collection of boots which could be rebuilt and noone capable of doing the job domestically.

[aho]

13 hours ago, Double 0 Soul said:

or worst still Quoddys, Paraboots or Aldens worn with white socks.. or perish the thought.. no socks at all.. so i stopped wearing boots and stopped checking out the thread.

Whoa whoa whoa, I'll have you know, I wear socks of the EGGSHELL and CREAM variety, not white!

[Double 0 Soul]

They're probably just ready for a wash @aho 

[SLAB]

it's been awhile 

Brother Bridge Henry horsehide boots; also bought a new pair with different leather, soles and stitching 😁

 

[Hopethisoneisnttaken]

Great to see you again, Henry’s are looking awesome

[cultpop 0217]

Antique Cowboy Boots

Pre 1930? 

Unknown maker. 

Seller said 1910s based on pattern, lack of toe bug stitch, construction, and rubber-less heels but I think they are probably a little later.  Something about them just says 1920s or 30s. 

Heavy vintage leather is still flexible and supple,  heels have bare leather and nail bottoms since this pair seems to predates the use of rubber on cowboy boots. 

Love the curves and last shape.  

The pattern is also a bit unique with a higher vamp like an engineer boot,  and very similar to the Clinch  cowboy boots made by @brasstokyo that I'm obsessed with.  A similar vintage pair that clearly inspired Brass  is included at the end.  

Love the evidence of the maker like crease running down the middle of the vamp where the leather was centered for lasting. 

And the best part? They are exactly my size and in perfectly wearable condition. Infrequently of course. 

Any info or educated guesses as to age or maker are very welcome and appreciated. 

 

 

[cultpop 0217]

Added homemade (and totally removable) rubber heel caps to protect both the boots and any hardwood floors from nail damage and to also protect my ass from taking a spill. 

Black Shoe Goo makes for a great temporary heel repair. 

[mlwdp]

Red Wing retroed Steve McQueen’s boots.

 

[mlwdp]

Dr. Soles holding up still.

 

[cultpop 0217]

Cleaned up my trusty Rag & Bone Indy clones.  

Did a little digging and found that Grenson had a factory in Brooklyn around the time these were made and along with a few other clues it seems my long running mystery of who made these amazing boots is finally solved.