Posts made by Paddy Ofurniture

Made to order boot/shoes from Franks Boots. They are quite sturdy.

@Chris:

Thank you all for adding to this post! The pictures look great thus far. I have some I snapped to share….just for ideas on builds:)!

Love the looks!  I work in a hardware store and today, a Really Big guy came in wearing a pair of size 14 Horsehide WESCO Axe Breakers. He seemed very surprised that someone would notice and ask about them! They are beautiful cap-toe boots. We ended up talking for half an hour about boots and bootcare. I think my next pair needs to be a pair of WESCO's.

Waiting for these to arrive next week.

Not sure if these should be called shoes or boots, but they are finally finished and currently in the mail to me.

@neph93:

@Paddy Ofurniture that is the kind of Viberg last I love. I know the more tapered refined profiles are very popular these days but for me their work boot lasts are perfect. What leather are they made from?

Thanks, Neph. Yeah, I'm with you on the lasts. I like boots that look like boots and not hightop dress shoes. The leather on these is 8oz. Oil Tanned Mocha. I wanted a 6' steel toe workboot that was overbuilt, very functional and straightforward. I will maintain these, but I sure won't have to baby them! I think they'll age nicely.

Not wearing them quite yet. I just pulled them out of the box.

Russell Moccasin Triple Vamp PH boot on Munson last.

I was wondering if any of you have boots/hoes made by now-defunct bootmakers or if the collective experience here can help identify old brands?  I have a pair of boots made by the "American Footwear Co."  I bought two pair in the early 1980's when Gore-Tex was a brand new thing. I wore out the old pair, but still have the second pair.  I'd also love to see some other folks pictures of footwear from "orphan"  or defunct brands.

Here is a photo of the American Footwear Co. boots. You can see the logo in one photo. Anybody have any information about this brand or what happened to them? Maybe they were a private label bootmaker for other brands?

Wow. With that patina, Those look better than new to me.

@Giles:

Oh my. These are just perfect. All steak (leather) with just the right amount of sizzle (those speed hooks!).

Thanks, guys.  In retrospect, I think I was too impatient when I bought these. I oiled them once with neats foot and started wearing them immediately. I should have considered how long they had gone without any conditioning and taken the reconditioning of the leather more seriously  & slowly in a few steps. I think the leather needed more oils to fully penetrate. On the bright side, this cracking has led me here and gotten me purchase new boots in which to do the heavy work. I have promoted these old friends to "emeritus" boot status and they won't see much more rain, snow, dirt or salt of the Wisconsin winters. They'll be mostly worn as coffee house boots now. That way, I can make them live longer and keep them original without a resole. 

My first pair of Russell Moccasin boots just arrived this past week. Triple vamp PH boots on a Munson last. Looking forward to wearing them on a business trip to NYC.

These are Dunham's Tyroleans circa 1968. I found them almost unused about 10 years ago. I've worn the hell out of them and the build quality and fit is simply fantastic, but unfortunately, they've developed some cracks  in the creases.

The boots are cut from one piece of leather and I really like the speed lacing all the way to the toe. One of the reasons I registered is because you folks seem like you would understand the desire to "save" a pair of 50-year-old boots.  I have plenty of boots, but these are special to me.

Hello Folks. Long-time reader. First-time poster.