1940's & 1950's Shoes & Why I LOVE 'Em!

I have to say… The 1940’s & 50's were the ULTIMATE decade for Wonderful Men’s Shoes.

The delicate balance between Top Quality CONSTRUCTION + Traditional (but VERY exciting) Styling + Top Materials was realized.  What an incredible marriage.

There was something for EVERYONE in the 1940’s.  The traditional styles of the 1930’s were still being made with the best leathers the world will ever see.  Shoes were HAND-WELTED and HAND-STITCHED.  While the “Goodyear Welt” is now considered a fabulous and long-lasting construction, in the 1940’s so many makers HAND-WELTED their shoes.  It took time, yes.  It was well-worth it, though. It was a question of economics that made this method still cost effective.

If you like the Gunboat Styles… they were BORN in the 1940’s.  The soles got THICK.   The welts got WIDE.  That welt was considered “another canvas” for the ARTIST (shoemaker) to display his craft, and the contrasting cream or white colored stitch was very popular.  What an AWESOME and fun detail.  As a GUNBOAT STYLE addict, I LOVE the 1940’s Shoes!!! 

By the end of the 1960’s, many of the great US makers had closed shop, unable to compete with the mass produced, machine-made shoes of their larger competitors.  By the 1970’s, more and more shoes were imported, and by the 1980’s, there were virtually no more quality US made shoes.  Today only Allen Edmonds, Alden and a couple others remain.

HOWEVER, here is a wonderful opportunity for you to own (and wear) a piece of US Handmade Shoe HISTORY.  Some TRUE 1940’s Vintage shoes, from a spectacular dynasty of shoemakers.

Church's (Church) Vintage RARE 1950's Ranch Oxhide (Buffalo) Wingtips 8 1/2 D

They are marked a size UK 7 G.  They fit a size US 8 1/2 D PERFECTLY!!!
*The conversion for this vintage "G" size is very large.

They measure approximately 11 3/8 inches long x 4 1/8 inches wide (at the forefoot)!

I tried to take as many good quality pics as I could, so you know how great these shoes really are.

I welcome international bidders.  The general cost to send shoes International priority mail is $45.00.  If the item sells for more than $100.00, I add insurance, which is around $3.00- $6.00.  If you have any alternate shipping methods in mind (to save money), please let me know.

I require payment within 3 days of the auction's close.

If you have ANY questions, or require any add'l info on these, please ask me.