DEADSTOCK

VINTAGE RED WING FIND

I'LL BE HONEST I NEVER WAS A HARDCORE RED WING GUY. WELL, LET'S SAY BEFORE I FOUND THESE IRISH SETTERS. I THINK THE PROPORTIONS ARE GREAT AND THE PATINA CAN'T BE BEAT. I ALSO LOVE THAT I DON'T HAVE TO BREAK IN A NEW PAIR OF BOOTS, AS THESE WERE WELL WORN FOR A FEW DECADES.

STOLEN RICHES

STOLEN RICHES IS A TORONTO BASED COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOE LACE BUSINESS SINCE 1915. THEY HAVE RECENTLY UPDATED THEIR LINE WITH COLORED LACES AND THEY HAVE MADE A GREAT ADDITION TO A COUPLE OLD VINTAGE WORK HORSES.

BOOT FIND

THESE WERE FOUND IN AN UNEXPECTED THRIFT AND I COULD NOT LEAVE THEM BEHIND. THE PERIOD, PATINA AND SHAPE ARE PERFECT. THEY ARE DEFINITELY AMERICAN MADE BUT THERE IS REALLY NO SIGN OF BRAND EXCEPT ON THE INSOLE. REGARDLESS, I AM VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THEM.

MY SHOE MAKER DATES THIS VIBRAM SOLE 

TO BE ABOUT 40 OR 50 YEARS OLD

ONLY SIGN OF BRAND:

PEN-TAN

PERFECT SHINE

MY BUDDY DEWEY SAID THIS PLACE SHOULD BE CHECKED OUT AND HE WAS RIGHT. LOUIS SHOE REBUILDERS IS IN THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING ON THE 33RD ST. SIDE.

WINGS AND LACES

FIRST OF ALL I HATE (!) BREAKING IN NEW SHOES AND OFTEN THINK OF THE STEVE MARTIN SHORT STORY "CRUEL SHOES" (ABOUT A PARTICULARLY HORRIFIC PAIR) WHEN SPORTING SOME BLISTER FAR FROM HOME IN THE FIRST STAGES OF THE BREAK IN. SO, IN THE PAST YEAR I STARTED BUYING USED SHOES, MOSTLY WING TIPS. A COUPLE THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT BUYING USED SHOES IS OFTEN YOU CAN FIND INCREDIBLE DEALS ON WHAT WOULD NORMALLY BE VERY EXPENSIVE SHOES AND THEY HAVE BEEN BROKEN IN FOR YOU, SOMETIMES FOR DECADES.
BRING IT ON.

FLORSHEIM IMPERIALS CIRCA 60'S

NO NAME W/ GLOVE LEATHER INTERIOR

DEXTER CIRCA 70'S 

(RESOLED WITH DEAD STOCK CAT'S PAW)

PS. WANT TO GUARANTEE THESE BEAUTIES STAY TIED. CHANGE ALL YOUR LACES OVER TO WAX COTTON. A VERY GOOD $2.00 INVESTMENT. THIS IS MY FAVORITE BRAND FROM MY BROOKLYN LOCAL.