I researched the stamp inside it and read that the Stephens and Shinkle shoe company was building its store in 1916. I don’t know if it was their first store. I thought these shoes were older than that. How on earth could someone wear these things? They’re so incredibly narrow. Anyway, might anyone have any information on these? Thanks!
Beautiful! Looking at my shoe books, I think they could be right for 1910s. Let's see what others think.
Is there any writing before Stephens? Looks like there is a faint word. The reason I ask is that I looked quickly and found many records of Johnson-Stephens & Shinkle Shoe Co which was indeed started in 1916 but I wonder if it had a precursor prior to Johnson Here are a few things on them through 1964 Please do not reproduce in any way as they are copyrighted so this is just for educational purposes
There is a word in front of Stephens, but I can’t make out what it says. I think it might begin with an M.
Found them in in @Jonathan Walford's Shoes A-Z. The company was founded in St. Louis by Bradford Shinkle, his brother-in-law Andrew Johnson and his friend Howard Stephens and existed until the early 1970s.
Hi, 1916 is about right for these boots, sometimes referred to as " High Cut " or "Cloth Top, basically ladies shoes with putties. It had become a fashion of sorts to militarize, just prior to and during the Great War, some menswear to ladies and shoes were no exception. I have in my collection 2 pairs of these, leather and cloth with wing tips, one, front lace up the other side button. As a man, I to have often wondered how Victorian and Edwardian ladies managed to truss themselves up in such attire--but they did and no doubt passing out or going crimson after the effort. And I agree, they look incredibly uncomfortable--still a nice find. The history of the Stephens and Shinkle company and their role in shoe making, in a round about way, can be traced back to 1836. ( See the formation of the International Shoe Company, St. Louis, Missouri.) See, children, Bradford Shinkle, Jackson Johnson Shinkle, Andrew Shinkle and Florence Shinkle. In the 195os the company got caught up in a compensation claim involving a Fountain, a Goosing and a Penis. It's a funny old world is research.
The really pointed toe with the high hourglass heel is typical of 1920/21 - the last gasp of boots before they fall out of fashion. Basically, the hem gets too short and the gap between the top of the boot and hem of the dress is unsightly, so shoes with coloured stockings are worn instead. Here is an ad from a 1921 catalogue with the virtually identical boots: