Equity 3 ways two tone shoes 40's or 70's/80's?

Pinkcoke

Pinkcoke

Alumni
Equity 3 ways two tone shoes 40\'s or 70\'s/80\'s?

Can't decide how old these are, the style says utility wear to me and I've seen similar pierced interiors on 40's Scholl shoes for example but the heel and soles have been re-done so I can't tell what material is under there.
The label looks as though it could be late 70's however in font style and I've shown pictures of the interior fabric hoping someone may recognise when this is from. The picture looking into the toe was to show the tongue that is sewn in seperately at the sides. I hope you can help.
I did wonder when maker's started to write materials used on the shoes themselves, is there a particular date, as with clothes?


vintage365.jpg

vintage366.jpg

vintage370.jpg

vintage373.jpg

vintage374.jpg

vintage375.jpg
 
Would love to learn the answers to these questions! I'm curious about the term "man-made." Seems modern, but then, I'm on shoe expert.

There seem to be two English "Equity" shoe companies. One in Leicestershire, which closed in 2008 (after 100+ years), and this one:

Pavers Ltd:
Catherine House, Upper Poppleton, YO26 6QU
Customer: 0844 844 0203
Fax: 01904 528 791
Email: [email protected]

Maybe they can help?
 
The problem with shoe styles like these is that they weren't made for fashion - they were made for sore feet! If the sock lining is a Dr. Scholl's type foot pad, then they can not date before 1952, because that was the first year those padded sock liners were first added to shoes. I don't know when knitted linings were first used but I suspect it was the late 1960s or early 1970s. OVerally, I would suggest early 70s.
 
Thanks Liza,
It would be the first one, as I'm in Leicestershire and all my stock is extremely local - there used to be a lot of manufacturing here. Where did you get the details from?

and thankyou Jonathon; the lining isn't padded at all in fact, just pierced - it was only similar to the Scholl lining in looks. They are quite hard in the sole as it goes down to a card/plywood type sole under that pierced liner. (Interesting to know that scholl liner detail though as it means the shoes I saw are incorrectly dated)

Does anyone know what the number 412 means?, it is stamped between the size and made in britain on the sole.
 
These do look very comfy! My feet would kill for them....

I think they could be late 60s just as easily as they could be early 70s, as Jonathan said. I wore similar back in high school, and I graduated in 1972, but remember wearing this general style as far back as '68 or '69. It seems to me that the heel and toe styles were around for a few years. As Jonathan points out, those knitted linings weren't around much before then, if at all. But, there may be something in the toe or heel that puts them definitely into the early 70s. I don't know for sure!

As far as the designation of "leather upper, man made sole," Jonathan will know better than I when that sort of wording started to be used, but I think the earliest shoe I've ever had with that designation is early or mid 60s.
 
Yes I can see 60's look in it now you say but I think they would need that hint of a square in the toe shape to place them firmly in the 60s, this round and they're turning towards the 70's almond toe. Still good to know they were around at that time as I have no pictures of 'comfort' shoes like this in any of my books.
 
As Jonathan said, not all shoes are made for fashion - if you look at conservative shoe styles now, especially those for older ladies, many would be dated a decade or even more ago. That's why style is only one component to date by, the fabrics, construction and labelling are also important.

Nicole
 
In looking at my shoe inventory, I agree that the toe is a bit more rounded than fashion shoes of the 60s, so they could be early 70s! Not later than that, though, and could be "cuspers."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top