Tom Rath wrote:

yea, well, your father is a hamster

Tom, thanks for the defence. I have yet to purchase a pair of Alden/BB Shell Cordovans brand new, others coming from Ebay etc. and wanted to take the opportunity to ask those who own several pair how they feel about the style and sizing of several styles.

Beleive me, I would buy all if I had the chance. I have wanted the Chukka for quite some time, and fit would be similar to the Longwing being the Barrie last. As would the BB plain toe. Unlike some, I do love the antiquing of the metal eyelets over time. And, to purchase during the current sale, before another price increase seems wise.

Also, my wider foot and high instep seem to appreciate the steel shank in the Aldens I have worn, vs the Allen Edmonds 360 welting.

I cant stomach the RL/ CJ prices, or I would jump on the Darlton Plain toe immediately.

Does anyone own both the Alden Longwing and the Chukka, who can compare the fit. I know they are both Barrie, but the different lacing may effect fit. Guess I have to try them on to be sure.

Thanks.

Tom Rath wrote:

The brooks PTB dont have a single leather sole, they have a double leather sole. What they dont have is an extended sole and storm welt, which the Alden PTB has.

In addition, and I don't think anyone's noted this, the two shoos are on different lasts.  I have both.  I asked an Alden dealer about this and he said that the Brooks version was on the trubalance or truflare (I forget which).  At any rate, it was "tru"-something-or-other.  The Hawaiian shoo seller among others has opined differently, but as the Alden seller I talked to has been selling Aldens for close to fifty years, I tend to believe him.

the laces on the chukka can be problematic. There are only 2 eyelets, and they are high up on the foot.  Coupled with the roomy heel, the chukka can be a tough fit. I have found the longwing and the PTB to be more supportive.

Tony Ventresca wrote:

Good short little blurb on Weejuns on Men's Style, here.

I liked the following comments posted from readers:

Bullethole wrote:

POSTED MAY 16, 2008 12:34PM:  Bought my first pair 50 years ago. They were mostly handemade. The leather would polish well and they would last forever. Now unfortunately the leather is not nearly as good. My last new pair were very stiff and the stitching around the toe soon came undone. It has not been that long ago when Bass was still in Maine and would rebuild your Weejuns for $25. They would come back with all stitching repaired, new soles, heels, scratches buffed out, and a new insole. If they were still around I would gladly pay extra for that kind of service. Now all we get is an imitation that lacks the quality and service.

biglakestyle wrote:

POSTED FEB 27, 2008 03:40AM:  How can you knock a classic, but you can. Something of the magic is gone when you can find these at every Bass Outlet at 1/2 the retail price. I wore these as a child but, I fear, It's over. We gotta move on...

Sad, but true.

It seems on the newest Weejuns only the uppers remain leather: everything else, even the soles, are of "man-made materials".

Russell_Street wrote:

Shudder!

Yeah, it's a damn shame as they say.
Not worth buying at any price.

Kiss them goodbye folks, they're officially dead.

Funny old thing is America: history means nothing here.

Here are some commas: , , , , , ,

Please punctuate my posts for me.

My greatest eBay score to date.:p :p

One seller with two pairs of Stetson brand Philly spade soles in my size 10.5. They have been conditioned and given a Colonill polish treatment

Enjoy the results - you are not likely to see such marvels again in this lifetime methinks....Anyone like to date them?

Last edited by meister (2009-05-02 03:02:48)

The light brown are sleeker to wear and fit better...these were just one of the incredible styles made in the USA. Interestingly you could probably get them copied in Bangkok because that wide spade welt is still used for the cowboy boots.

I would like to post these Spade sole Semi Brogued beauties which reached the enormous price of USD367 today because they are NOS.

These beauties belong with the great American shoe/Spade Sole file.

They are Hendon Brand sold at Wallach's 5th Ave store.

They were supposedly 10C size but I suspect more like 10.5C.

Last edited by meister (2009-05-29 03:18:58)

The Florsheim Imperial, circa 1959.  The same year, incidentally (or not) as that last of the grand Cadillacs with rocket fins.


Also the year of my birth

meister wrote:

My greatest eBay score to date.:p :p

One seller with two pairs of Stetson brand Philly spade soles in my size 10.5. They have been conditioned and given a Colonill polish treatment

Enjoy the results - you are not likely to see such marvels again in this lifetime methinks....Anyone like to date them?

Why do I love these shoes so much?  Why do I have an almost visceral reaction at seeing these for the first time?  I very vaguely remember seeing spade soles some 30 years ago but I felt nothing like the overwhelming lust I feel for them now. I am sick. Why? What happened to me?

Shooey:  I can't seem to appreciate the spade sole, but I love that darker brown colored model.  Good stuff. Horace

For classic american shoe, I like timberland.