In 1960, US Air Force, we used cotton balls and water for the spit shine. For extra gloss, and to keep the polish from clouding in humid conditions, some would finish off with a coat of Johnson's Glo-Coat floor wax. I sometimes spit shine my dress shoes even today, but Glo-Coat has not been in production for many years.
USAF here, mid-70s. Same with cotton balls and water. Nothing like a good spit shine. Inspection by the base commander, Chanute, "Room looks good, shoes look damn good."
Sir. Had the privilege to have worked with you in Chelsea Barracks in the 80s. One of the most respected and smartest men in the regiment at the time. Great times. Quis separabit. Ben Besau(Sgts' mess).
for the perfect guardsman shine you need to layer the polish with your fingers until dry and let set before bulling, several layers per shoe, takes months not 15 min :)
Great point...in addition using the water from the lid is too finicky. Start with a wet sylvet and the boots will bull faster over the set layers 👍 I was always "nominated" to do the boots of bigwigs and even did mine myself as an RSM. A matter of pride. Septum Juncta In Uno 💂
Use to make a spit shine cloth out of a handkerchief. It would take a while but you would need to rub the handkerchief down with a stiff bristle brush until the handkerchief was incredibly soft. You would know it was there when the cloth would actual be stiff when it was dry. When you went to polish your shoes you get the cloth damp and it would be come soft and pliable and use the wrap you fingers trick and polish away. It took time to make the spit shine cloth and time polishing to actually get a pair of shoes were they need to be. Afterwards it only takes a few minutes a day to keep them there.
indeed..the most respected rank in the u.k. forces. Normally takes 20 years to get that rank. & even Ruperts (officers) have the utmost respect for the RSM. . The ''spit'' thing not a good idea. bottled water. OR as the guards do... BEESWAX &PARADE GLOSS polish & a heavy duty blow torch. I , mor the most part enjoyed most of my time in the green, & like your old man, achieved said rank.
belfast child I never use Parade Gloss, it works the same as normal Kiwi polish, but if it gets any water on it it turns blue. I prefer good old beeswax and kiwi polish! And huge respect to you.
I spat on mine too and it worked a treat, bottled water, humpf. though, we did notice that what we were served for 16:30 meal did effect the finish. A wee wan I had was to give the last coat of the Bull in brown polish. I kept my main No.1's with brass buttons, looked a lot better than the Staybrights and was commented on on many a Guard of Honour. One night, while lying on my bunk bulling my boots talking to a comrade he made the comment, "You must be very good at French kissing, for you can get that whole boot into your mouth"
My god, I haven't seen hob nails on boots let alone shoes since I joined the Canadian Navy in 1977. The ground pounders were just in the beginning of being told to take them off, I'm sure I'm about as old as the Captain is. I maybe a Naval Captain ( Col) but I'm sure the former RSM knows his business. Well done, as we swab is say BZ.
In the Jnr Paras we where not allowed to bull our boots. To do so was a chargeable offence as it weakened the leather. To break in our boots we went on a 3 mile run through every river and puddle etc that was there, then the next day the other pair. Ripped your feet into shreds but your boots fitted like a glove
Judging from both your accent & your BLACK shoes you are a former guardsman who has done the ''Hurst'' & commissioned as a L.E.O. as opposed to a D.E. Hence the fact you are ( & will be so knowledgeable) I dare say the layers of beeswax is for a later Vid!!!
Polishing clothe is a jewellers Selvyte.....................a rather expensive lint free fine cloth....................known by many service men as a "Bobbing Diddly.........................Cheers......................
I’m a tad late to this (7 years late) but Martin, as a fellow Inf officer (Royal NZ Infantry Regiment), thank you. One comment though to reduce the 15 minutes per shoe to about 2 minutes . . . use your wife’s stockings mate. Now - I know women don’t wear them like they did in the 90’s (and every decade prior) but you can still buy a pair old mate - it’ll save you about 26 minutes. Nothing better than the old silk to get a Guardsman shine with a wry smile. Just saying. ONWARD
Wasted hours and hours of my life which I will never get back sitting down with a bulling cloth in one hand and bulling to get a good shine and all because someone thought years back that shiny boots made better soldiers. I left the Scots Guards 30 years ago and have never bought a tin of polish nor shined my shoes since and that will remain till the day I die.
@@LM-tk5bh I bet you would. You little flirt. Thanks for the offer, I'm genuinely flattered, but I'm not that way inclined. Don't be disheartened though, you'll find a boy who can love you just as much as you can love them. Keep at it princess xxx
vehlajatt22 I mean exactly what I say. I understand that in the infantry they have them shining shoes like this as a method of discipline when not in combat, and as a way of developing esprit de corps, but in civilian life, who has not got something better to do than shine shoes for 30 minutes?
How much time does the average person spend on youtube or netflix in a day. Thats what I thought. I polish my boots while watching shows or listening to podcasts.
that's a real champion's mentality right there catch my boy hugo lindum on the the cover of next month's forbes "who tf spends time polishing shoes lmao, get a life nerds" -hugo
In 1960, US Air Force, we used cotton balls and water for the spit shine. For extra gloss, and to keep the polish from clouding in humid conditions, some would finish off with a coat of Johnson's Glo-Coat floor wax. I sometimes spit shine my dress shoes even today, but Glo-Coat has not been in production for many years.
USAF here, mid-70s. Same with cotton balls and water. Nothing like a good spit shine. Inspection by the base commander, Chanute, "Room looks good, shoes look damn good."
Sir. Had the privilege to have worked with you in Chelsea Barracks in the 80s. One of the most respected and smartest men in the regiment at the time. Great times. Quis separabit. Ben Besau(Sgts' mess).
Ben, i take it he made RSM, and then took a commission ?
Definitely worked his way through the ranks.... He hasn't got a double barrel name . And doesn't talk with a plum in his gob
No nonsense ..... the way it should be .... gonna do a job do it right, work smart not hard .... 👏
Why the hell would you put this in black and white?
cause he looks as old as a turtle
for the perfect guardsman shine you need to layer the polish with your fingers until dry and let set before bulling, several layers per shoe, takes months not 15 min :)
Like you said weeks and weeks and layers and layers and cold water
Ahh but remember, this man is an officer. They have their own dress standards😂
Great point...in addition using the water from the lid is too finicky.
Start with a wet sylvet and the boots will bull faster over the set layers 👍 I was always "nominated" to do the boots of bigwigs and even did mine myself as an RSM. A matter of pride.
Septum Juncta In Uno 💂
Nice to see the Selvyt still being used!
Keep the lid on! The polish will dry out. Love those outsoles BTW.
If ever mine started to get dry I'd add a few drops of lighter fluid. Always worked!
Use to make a spit shine cloth out of a handkerchief. It would take a while but you would need to rub the handkerchief down with a stiff bristle brush until the handkerchief was incredibly soft. You would know it was there when the cloth would actual be stiff when it was dry. When you went to polish your shoes you get the cloth damp and it would be come soft and pliable and use the wrap you fingers trick and polish away. It took time to make the spit shine cloth and time polishing to actually get a pair of shoes were they need to be. Afterwards it only takes a few minutes a day to keep them there.
My dad used to spit on his instead of the water - hence "Spit & Polish" my dad was a n R.S.M and his word was lore!
indeed..the most respected rank in the u.k. forces. Normally takes 20 years to get that rank. & even Ruperts (officers) have the utmost respect for the RSM. . The ''spit'' thing not a good idea. bottled water. OR as the guards do... BEESWAX &PARADE GLOSS polish & a heavy duty blow torch. I , mor the most part enjoyed most of my time in the green, & like your old man, achieved said rank.
belfast child I never use Parade Gloss, it works the same as normal Kiwi polish, but if it gets any water on it it turns blue. I prefer good old beeswax and kiwi polish! And huge respect to you.
I spat on mine too and it worked a treat, bottled water, humpf. though, we did notice that what we were served for 16:30 meal did effect the finish. A wee wan I had was to give the last coat of the Bull in brown polish. I kept my main No.1's with brass buttons, looked a lot better than the Staybrights and was commented on on many a Guard of Honour. One night, while lying on my bunk bulling my boots talking to a comrade he made the comment, "You must be very good at French kissing, for you can get that whole boot into your mouth"
Spitting actually has oils in it which can ruin the polish. This is coming from ex Light Infantry though... Ah ha
Merci Capitaine ! Je vais appliquer cette méthode
Simple and no nonsense.
superb. Thanks for the heads up
Die Stiefel strahlen wie die Sonne 😊
My god, I haven't seen hob nails on boots let alone shoes since I joined the Canadian Navy in 1977. The ground pounders were just in the beginning of being told to take them off, I'm sure I'm about as old as the Captain is. I maybe a Naval Captain ( Col) but I'm sure the former RSM knows his business. Well done, as we swab is say BZ.
Thank you.
Go dad haha
Well spoken like the genteel officer he is.
In the Jnr Paras we where not allowed to bull our boots. To do so was a chargeable offence as it weakened the leather. To break in our boots we went on a 3 mile run through every river and puddle etc that was there, then the next day the other pair. Ripped your feet into shreds but your boots fitted like a glove
Polish weakens the leather? I’ve never heard that one before.
@@Canadian-Asian-dudeperhaps he’s a little bit slack…😂
My dad was reme he just sprayed them with windowlyn good till it's rains lol
My old RAZZMAN [ R.S.M.] had this stupid saying
""" shiny boots... shiny mind"""
He was anything ....BUT!!!
2 mins bobbing there klear them job done 🤣🤣
Till it fucks it down with rain and they turn blue haha. Trying to bluff the badge it's just polish
Kiwi shoe polish is No longer available..
New Zealand here.
Judging from both your accent & your BLACK shoes you are a former guardsman who has done the ''Hurst'' & commissioned as a L.E.O. as opposed to a D.E. Hence the fact you are ( & will be so knowledgeable) I dare say the layers of beeswax is for a later Vid!!!
Belfastchild I
jose villanueva
I take it you '''forgot''' to complete your post!!!
Boss are you around to go to the George tonight?
Like a bloody officer does there own kit 🤣🤣🤣🤣
He went through the ranks.
Polishing clothe is a jewellers Selvyte.....................a rather expensive lint free fine cloth....................known by many service men as a "Bobbing Diddly.........................Cheers......................
What's with colour blind mode
well that's lies 15 min a shoe more like 2 hours a shoe
I was thinking the same. I've never bulled a boot in 10-15 minutes lol
Is guardsman gloss good polish?
Where can you buy those shoes in the UK?
Silvermans...
I’m a tad late to this (7 years late) but Martin, as a fellow Inf officer (Royal NZ Infantry Regiment), thank you. One comment though to reduce the 15 minutes per shoe to about 2 minutes . . . use your wife’s stockings mate. Now - I know women don’t wear them like they did in the 90’s (and every decade prior) but you can still buy a pair old mate - it’ll save you about 26 minutes. Nothing better than the old silk to get a Guardsman shine with a wry smile. Just saying. ONWARD
Yes that's true in the Australian Army I used stockings as did many
Sir with respect but not issued boots for parades ie Ammo or combat high. is it just shoes only been a civi 16 years
Looks like big changes
They are issued officer black shoes for Guards Officers - look at the studs.
@@theautisticparamedic Might I say that guards officers still get issued brown shoes. Its just so much polish on the whole thing makes it look dark.
How come we didn't see the end result? What is exactly the point of such a high shine anyway ?
Wasted hours and hours of my life which I will never get back sitting down with a bulling cloth in one hand and bulling to get a good shine and all because someone thought years back that shiny boots made better soldiers. I left the Scots Guards 30 years ago and have never bought a tin of polish nor shined my shoes since and that will remain till the day I die.
Great video, they need morello boot polish morelloman on them boots!
Well thats the irish way
No melted beeswax, didn’t pack it with sand. Amateur.
Which isn't necessary if it's already been done, amateur.
@@matthewjones9565 you want some?
@@LM-tk5bh Some boot polish? Got some thanks
@@matthewjones9565 you want some il give it ya
@@LM-tk5bh I bet you would. You little flirt. Thanks for the offer, I'm genuinely flattered, but I'm not that way inclined. Don't be disheartened though, you'll find a boy who can love you just as much as you can love them. Keep at it princess xxx
WTF is up with the B and W filter
1000000% that bloke does not speak like that normally 🤣
Weird name, 'Captain'
Some inarticulate ex ranker trying to string some words together ….
Migjt be a guardsman shine but he’s not .not guards boots either .guards officers don’t do anything to boots apart from wear them
Q S those that know
Know 🇬🇧
Spit polish.
Nothing better to do than spend 30 mins shining shoes?
Hugo Lindum
what do you mean?
vehlajatt22
I mean exactly what I say. I understand that in the infantry they have them shining shoes like this as a method of discipline when not in combat, and as a way of developing esprit de corps, but in civilian life, who has not got something better to do than shine shoes for 30 minutes?
How much time does the average person spend on youtube or netflix in a day. Thats what I thought. I polish my boots while watching shows or listening to podcasts.
that's a real champion's mentality right there
catch my boy hugo lindum on the the cover of next month's forbes
"who tf spends time polishing shoes lmao, get a life nerds"
-hugo