THE VINTAGE FLORSHEIM IMPERIAL: AN AMERICAN CLASSIC
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
- For all things Vintage American Shoes, visit David at www.vcleat.com
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Your channel has the best balance: brilliant showcase, clear direction, brief history, succinctly informative, with a nice touch of "ASMR" polishing pleasure. Please keep up the fabulous work! I'm sticking around for the long haul.
Your channel is a mix of helpful tutorials and relaxation...I love it
Thank you, stay tuned for more.
Why don't you turn them over to see the bottoms??? Who cares what it looks like on your foot.
Preston your videos are so calming and relaxing.
There's nothing like sitting down to one of them after a hard day at work. Thank you.
I even picked up a black sharkskin pair of Kenmoors several years ago. Very rare so I felt fortunate to find them in my size.
I just love the classics thank you for bringing them back as a child growing up in Brooklyn New York we were very fortunate to have a Florsheim shoe store, in our neighborhood.
Thank you for introducing me to this amazing line of vintage shoes. Since I first watched this when you first uploaded it, I have procured two pairs of Cordovans at $200 each and couldn't be happier. Although one is likely to begin cracking. Just this week I secured a brown pair of these LWB for $100 that is in nearly pristine condition. I'm excited to get this pair delivered so I can use it more frequently for walking. I'd use my Cordovan LWBs but don't want to wear them out as they're my only shoes with this material.
I once found a pair of NOS 1960s Shell Cordovan Hanover longwings at the thrift store for $14. I sold them on ebay and I've regretted it ever since.
@nikola zazzoslki Well i dont feel too bad then. I sold them for $450
@@ajg52100 lol 🤣
I have a small collection of these classics, and I love them.
I agree I not only love the educational part of your tutorial but there very comfortable and relaxing. I really enjoy how much you enjoy what your doing as far as bringing the leather back to life and make the most tiring worn shoes look very elegant, Thank you.
I bought a pair of wingtip oxford Burgundy on ebay. They are in great shape , however they do have a rubber heel block that is very shiny from age. Definitely someone's church shoes.
Wow those dress shoes are amazing what an elegant look I have some nice ones but nothing close to what those look..... I'm jealous!
At 1:30, the video goes into the shining of the shoes. I found it strangely relaxing, almost nostalgic. It reminded me of my father, circa 1965, shining his shoes Saturday evening, preparing them for church the next morning. Watching the video, I could almost smell my father's shoe wax.
I love the old design going back to the simple days
Those Golden Harvest Gunboats are Beautiful. I remember back in the day when Men dressed for work, saw a few that had those, and lasted after them.
Please stay on as long as you can, and never change your format.
That briefcase that you refurbished!!! Im still thinking about that.
That is a gorgeous collection of ol'time Kenmoors.
I have a pair of Allen Edmonds in the same style. Would love to have had a pair of these though.
Great video and great information I just started watching all your videos after recently discovering a passion for good quality shoes, I just bought a pair of vintage imperials long wing 93602 in brown from Ebay and the shoes were in great original condition for way under a hundred dollars after a shine I wore them last weekend to a family gathering and several people complemented me on them, keep up the good work!
My Grandfather wore these shoes. He was from the generation of well dressed men.
Thanks for sharing great video.
Love this style, calf skin and leather. Super.
I so glad I found (and subscribed to!) this channel. Really, thank you for making and sharing this, it is much appreciated.
Best cover shot ever!
Isn’t it? Absolutely phenomenal. Luckily the owner let me borrow the picture
Robert Powers... A king among men!!
Just ordered a pair of dark brown a few days ago from Ebay. It even came with Florsheim's version of the Dainite sole, Big plus. Just replaced the old laces with red ones and boom. Awesome shoes.
Went to John Simons The Ivy. Shop. In 1968. Bought Wingtips. Gibbsons and plaintops . The Best shoes. Ever . P s. The Ivy Shop. Richmond Hill
Chulada de zapatos...
WILD, I have been watching your videos now for about a month. I started the Police Academy and needed to know how to mirror shine my boots. Great tutorials. BUT THIS VIDEO...I own a pair of these Florsheim shoes. I bought them for like $12 when I lived in New Mexico for my church Mission. They are not in the greatest condition...like at all. They could really be a cool restoration video, but I was able to achieve a passable mirror shine with your help on them. Ill have to share a before and after photo on your Insta DM. I am interested to see your reaction for someone who only has been mirror shining for a month-ish. Haha.
That site V-CLeat also has links to a lot of current ebay listing of these. I was watching pair of brown pebbled ones in fairly good condition for a little over $300, but I never pulled the trigger.
I discovered Florsheim in Infinite Jest by DFW, the chapter about Tiny Ewell page 85 lol
Nice.
👏🏽🌹👏🏽🌹👏🏽🌹
Beautiful
Your right this and these are the finest and most durable shoes made by our great USA, sadly now you can only find them made in China and India. Nothing beats the 90’s, even Johnston and Murphy for the most part is made in India. Your right eBay is the best place to find these gems. Purchase them there and then put Vibram on the sole to never ever see them diminish 🤝
Muchas gracias por toda la información que brindas en el canal.
Great video I always loved the Florsheim Imperial wingtips and have a few pairs of those. Your right in saying the overseas version is not the same as the American classics are really durable and great looking shoes.
My Grandpa had the same. We grew up in the Detroit area. Always remembered his brown wings. Until recently, thought they looked 'old man' style. Well, then the light came on.
I find these all the time at thrift stores! I just never find them in my size… but I enjoy buying them anyways. Clean them up good and pop them on eBay for a good profit.
While in college back in the early eighties, I sold shoes. I loved selling these because they were nearly $200 a pair and at ten percent commission...
Very nice, a tan longwing is still missing in my wardrobe.
But you don't call them gunboats?! Thought that was very American. 😃
Just wanted to remind people to go at least a half size down if this is your first pair of dress shoes. Also, these shoes can be stretched quite a but by a cobbler if you have a wide foot.
If you got them for $100 in this condition, that's totally an unbeatable find! I always have my eye on 7.5D-8D but never found the same condition as yours :(
I really enjoy watching your videos, keep up the great work!
I didn’t get these for $100. These are brand new. A new pair of old stock vintage Imperials will run $200-300 but even then, that’s a steal. You can find gently worn pairs for $100
Fantastic material as always Preston! You da man
Such a pleasing to watch this video as i wear same shoe at this video
I got a pair of these in shell Cordovan at the thrift store yesterday for $12. They are in remarkably good condition, especially since according to the info on V Cleat they were made in 1962. The soles show they were well worn, but the uppers are immaculate. They still had the shoe trees in them. I also got a brand new pair of John Fluevog suede boots for $9.99. Not so much as a scuff on the soles. It was a good day for a size 12 at the Thrifty Shopper!
That’s so awesome! Perfect find!
The Elegant Oxford Honestly, I never thought of looking for shoes in thrift stores until I stumbled onto your channel, so thanks for that. I’m a guy that likes nice stuff and appreciates quality workmanship, but I’m not wealthy by any metric, so I definitely appreciate your info, both in that you can find quality stuff on a budget, and how to fix it up if it’s not in tip-top shape. Thanks!
Nice video
Terrific video! I also love the old Florsheim's. I own a pair of vintage 1980's black Imperials that are mint and bullet proof, along with a couple of pairs of today's Florsheim Kenmoor Imperials. It's easy to see the great quality in the older shoe that is absent in the newer versions. Even though the new Imperials will still cost over $200.00 to buy they can have a tendency to look, in my opinion, a bit cheap and plastic-y sometimes. Also, I feel that the weight of the older Imperials are much more substantial. I have many, many shoes. Sadly, I don't even remember when I wore my older Imperials last. And one of my newer Kenmoor's I haven't yet taken them out of their shoe-box. But, after seeing your video and the way you paired your Imperials with different denim, chinos and socks; I will definitely wearing my old Imperials this week! Keep up the great videos! I really enjoy them. By the way, as a side-note, we're you aware that the penny-loafers that Michael Jackson always wore in his videos and on stage were Florsheim's. I always thought that was extraordinary. Anyway, just FYI. Thanks again!
“God damn Florsheim shoes”
beautiful shoes
Got like 30 pairs of Florsheim shoes in the family, they are quite cheap to get while a sales is on. Comfy shoes, but the only complain is that the inside leather sheet under you foot wear and tears out easily, if not soaks up sweat and smells easily. After a year, you would have to throw them away and wear a new pair.
Perfect shoes
I purchased a pair of Florsheim Imperials that state on the inside “assembled in USA”. They are a burgundy color and overall they look brand new from the tops to the soles. I found them at a local Goodwill and paid $7.00 for them (it was Senior Day and the original cost was $10.00). Was this a good find?
Yes, they were made in the 90’s. Still a good shoe.
Today I found a pair of “Florsheim Imperials” at my local Goodwill. They had them listed for $10 and when I saw the “Made in America” on the inside along with the size 10 1/2 (my size,) I had to buy them. I’ve got a couple of different brands of quality shoes and I’m just happy to add Florsheim to the collection. Can’t beat the price for an “American Classic”
The materials and craftsmanship of these shoes look top notch, but I've gotta ask, were they only available as wingtips? The reason I ask is that I'm honestly not a wingtip fan, especially when they have the long wing pattern. It's too gaudy in my opinion and I just prefer the more subtle enhancement of a semi or even quarter brogue. Did the vintage Imperial line ever have shoes with brogue patterns other than wingtip (long or regular)?
That being said, it's just ironic that you can find better quality shoes for cheaper second hand than most inferior dress shoes are for new. Yeah, that's usually because vintage shoes are used and thus aren't presently worth a lot of money most of the time, but still, shopping used for better quality is almost a no-brainer for me!
Classic Imperials came in other styles as well, most notably the plain toe Blucher. Semi brogues and quarter brogues do exist but are extremely rare and valuable. They weren’t as common and are much older than the imperial line.
P
Gotta know- does saphir pay you to use and talk about them (which is fine if so) or do you just love their products?
pretty sure he just loves them. A lot of dress shoe enthusiast knows saphir and loves it too
Interesting that you didn’t mention AE “MacNeils” as a contemporary replacement? I have never seen any in person, but in photos they sure look like a quality equivalent that are made in USA.
There are definitely some modern long wings but the MacNeil is unfortunately no longer in production either. I’d say the Alden 975/979 is the only real contemporary that was made concurrently with the Imperial and is still around.
I did not know that “MacNeils” are no longer made! I have not looked around for shoes since pre-pandemic. I have 42 pairs of Kenmoors, in all the colors, including Flame shark, many pairs are NOS. I will be contacting you in the near future to see if you will dye some to navy and olive.
@rozinant1237 of course. Email me anytime. Yes unfortunately the MacNeil is gone but hopefully it will be back. I’ll be in Port Washington on the 20th to tour the AE factory. I’ll ask the president what they plan to do with it.
I haven't bought any used shoes because I'm afraid of buying some laced with fungus. Anyone know how to clean leather shoes to kill any fungus inside? Do you think antifungal shoe sprays will damage the leather?
I have several NOS pairs of black 96624 and brown 97625 LWBs. Do you have any suggestions to modify them with patina or strip and re-dye to add some variety.
Hi, I've got a question about how vintage Florsheim imperials tend to fit. I wear a 10.5 E UK in shoes by British makers. I wear an 11 E on Alden's Barrie last. Would I take an 11 E or an 11.5 E in the imperials?
Imperials run true to size. The Barrie last is half a size larger so just go with your normal true to size
Hello Mr Soto. I have a choice between two nice Imperial Longwings of similar color (#8ish). The shell cordovan is $175 vs the calf at under $75. Is the extra $100 worth the gamble? From one of your other Shell Cordovan videos, I left with the impression that vintage shell is hit or miss in that it may turn out to have a limited life left because of previous poor maintenance. This is not the case with traditional calf leather. What do you think?... FYI, I’m also a Soto (mother’s side/P.R.) ~Cheers.
How can you tell if they’re vintage or modern?
Yes, you can tell by a couple of giveaways
1. The shoes will have a metal V-cleat on the heel of the shoes.
2. The code on the inside of the shoes can be dated. Vcleat.com can help you date a pair of Florsheim Imperials.
Very nice pairs of Florsheims! The only pair I'm needing is the burgundy shell cordovans. 8.5D By the way, how did Florsheim apply the woodgrain sole finish at the factory?
I have a pair of 8.5D, they are featured in my outer shell cordovan video.
I’m not sure how but competent cobblers know how to do it. Check out Bedo’s Leather Works. He can completely replicate the look.
@@TheElegantOxford Are they for sale? Yes, I have seen all of Steve's videos. He has done some work for me.
Do you use same brush for all color shoes?? Doesn’t it transfer color from colored wax or cream to the next shoe?
100 dollars for a new 93602 NOS? This I gotta see.
Dude those shoes are awesome and are they really only for a $100
You can find them gently used for $100 or a bit more. Unworn vintage pairs will go for $300 but it’s still worth the price for what you’re getting. It’s a great deal.
There is a guy selling a pair 50.00 ok Offerup right now. Size is 8.5 though..
offerup.co/CNhVFDR0CZ
@@TheElegantOxford here is another larger size same price Check out this offer on OfferUp
Check out this $50 Vintage Florsheim Imperial Brown Leather Wingtip Oxfords 12 Med for $50 on OfferUp offerup.co/fEavf1Z0CZ
I love shoes and i know much about shoes. (The Royal👑Florsheim Imperial) is the best shoe ever made in America. Moreover British produce the best shoe in the world both in construction and durability.
Under the top lift of the v cleat florshiems is a black plastic heel. They all have it. Stick your finger nail in and you'll find out. Look carefully and you'll see the smoothness of the plastic compared with the grain of the top lift and sole, the shoe you are holding up also has the plastic heel. It is probably why they used heavy slugs on the top lift, they need to attach to the plastic because glue and a few nails wouldn't have been enough. So the big question is....was replacing that piece of heel with plastic enough cost saving to offset the metal slug being used...probably.
Ask Steve the cobbler, he'll probably tell ya.
TheSproutarian maybe the later years did, but I have a decent collection of 1970s and earlier and they have all leather heels
@@Jbickley00 were they bought new?
Steve at Bedos told me some were made with leather heels and others were made with plastic heels.
I have seen some with leather heels and l wonder if it was the cobbler who replaced the plastic with leather. Most of the pairs l have seen have had plastic heels. All my 5 pairs have plastic heels, and even a 1950's double sole stitched (rare) and inseamed (so triple stitched in all) american spectator has plastic heels.
@@Jbickley00 the 1940's Florsheim Imperials and before were the real deal. They actually had a proper functioning storm welt unlike the ones built after the 40's. The early ones had an inseaming stitch from the outside running through the storm welt to the feather on the inside (done by hand), and it kept water out, where-as the ones after the 40's were machine welted and only had the hidden insealing stitch from the inside and consequently no proper sealed functioning storm welt (not stitched from outside like a true storm welt). Consequently you see gaps on the pairs made after the 40's between the uppers and the storm welt where water can get in. The welts they used on the imperials after the 40's were purely decorative and not truly functional. The factories use t welts in the same way as an I welt and it is such a shame because it makes a mockery of the true nature of the wonderful t welt.
Well I can’t argue one way or another about welts. I can say with some certainty that both my Florsheim shell Cordovans and my golden harvests have original soles and heels. I have 3 pair that were definitely resoled, and two pair that are probably original given they have all the nail work still in place. Even backbin that time redoing the nail work in the heels would have been expensive - maybe not $900 like before charges.
In any case I went back and looked and mine def don’t have plastic in the heels.
I don’t have any experience with post 1970s Florsheims other than a pair I got in the 1980’s which weren’t Imperials.
TheSproutarian in fairness I didn’t determine if the heels had fiberboard or some composite leather, I just noticed they weren’t plastic. It appears there were a number of different constructions. I recall David from v-cleat tearing apart a pair and mentioning this.
@theelegantoxford - Black Rock over Saphir Renovateur? I also notice you use the Saphir Leather Lotion in a lot of your videos. Does the Black Rock have waxes in it? Great work btw.
Blackrock nourishes really well. It’s not the best for shining but I found it really penetrates dry leather really well. I use it when a shoe really needs moisture.
Renovator does a much better job at offering a good shine as well even though it nourishes really well too.
Renovator is double the price so it may not be an option for everyone.
Does Black Rock provide more moisture than Saphir Renovateur?
Its funny that you can now find a better pair of used shoes at a thrift store than you will at a high end retailer!
Son retaurado ???
Buenas noches se deberia traducir castellano pido de ser posible para los proximos comentarios desde panama un saludo a todos
Can you give these a mirror shine? I tried it on mine and it was not working
Now we have crap shoes made in China.
Yes, unfortunately many companies no longer make quality shoes.
Fortunately, Allen Edmonds and Alden still make quality shoes. The Alden longwing in shell cordovan is legendary.