="acceber, post: 720375, member: 13528"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!
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.
