^ Some tidy bits in that catalogue, nice one. Seersucker popover there for Jesmond...

Those Clark's ads are ebay finds D&F, magazine cut outs for sale. Not that I buy them. I have some found pictures here and there but I'm afraid I'm not much of a systematic archivist.


Beatnik - you're right about the ones "Hand lasted in the republic of Ireland". Somehow the Desert boot suffered less from outsourcing to Asia than the Wallabee did.

Last edited by 1966 (2009-05-14 14:56:45)

I don't have to listen hard... it's the voice in my head.

Cheers.

JP

Last edited by Decline & Fall (2009-05-17 08:16:39)

I guess it would be too much to ask for Bean to reproduce these shoes with the same materials and same quality as it strives to cash in on it's heritage. The Norwegian Sweater is a step in the right direction, but I would like to see more done on the shoe front. I think if it were marketed right they could easily undercut some of the premium heritage brands rather than just reproducing that "iconic" but heinous sweater (sorry folks as much as I like my made in Freeport Bean sweaters that were handed down from my brother I've always found the OPH sweater ugly.)

Visit SOCAL and drive just north of L.A. county on the PCH or 101 freeway. Drive onto Kanan Dune road and ask directions to 'the Old Place.' It's a building built @ 1890 and now a bar and restaurant. It is also where Steve held his wedding/reception with Ali MacGraw and the walls are covered with photos taken that day. Down the coast is a gasoline station that sells custom blend hi octane fuels for the many vintage automobiles we take for granted locally with many weekend car and motorcycle runs and shows on weekends ( also on Kanan, the Rock House is the major watering hole.) You might spot Steve's son driving his vintage Jaguar D type. In his last year, Steve and 3rd wife moved into a hanger in Santa Paula airport. Steve was taking lessons, flying a yellow Stearman over the endless lemon groves and eating at the local 'greasy spoon' restaurants. Sadly, the cancer that took him in less than a year ended what he privately shared was the happiest time of his life.
I met him. His first art director, Jan Van Tamelan from wanted dead or alive owned the redwood lodge at Lake Malibu from it's hunting lodge days in the 20s-30s . I was helping rebuild the small boat landing. We were taking a lunch break and heard a huge exaust roar. Jan smiled. "Oh, it's Steve and I'm in trouble with the homeowner's association again for that bike." I didn't take any notice until a voice said "Hi Jan, hey! I'm thirsty, can I bum a beer?" I pulled one of my Warsteiners, looked up and he was smiling with his trademark hands on hips stance.
Steve admired my Mini Cooper 1100 CC S- the last of it's displacement. He looked at the RHD and commented that must b e fun trying to pass 16 wheel trucks on the freeway( it wasn't.) Steve asked if I could help transport his Ferrari from Phil Hill's restoration shop tommorow. Obviously I said yes. I found myself in an ancient VW bug! We were going up the freeway by UCLA and Steve put on sunglasses and handed me a pair ( so they can't I.D. Us ) rolled up by orthodontist types in  porsches and alfas, honked and  yelled out " your driving a real pig!" Then the fun began. That old VW had a full raceworks porsche engine and God knows what else and Steve's superior driving skills made for some 'interesting' moments.
We arrived at Phil's who I was acquainted with through the vintage racing car association. Mr Hill just rolled his eyes and rolled out the ferrari. We caravaned home at a safe and sane 70 MPH on the PCH. I expected that VW's front end to pop up at any moment.
I waved at Steve a few times at the Airport, a friend owning a vintage french Criquet based on the WW2 Fieseler Storch. And then he was gone.
You can see his flying photos at the airport museum too.

Last edited by Chris Kavanaugh (2009-05-18 12:42:11)