I am in need of a lot of help with boots that I have never seen before

  • Thread starter Thread starter alonesolo
  • Start date Start date
A

alonesolo

Guest
These are a really strange pair of boots. Made with a felt like fabric on the sides. Kinda like you would see layered into an old coat maybe. Also there is a layer of this felt between the bottom of the shoe and the sole. The rest of the boots are leather. Oh and the laces don't match. But that wouldn't be a problem for a buyer. If there would be such a thing with these.

Gonna warn you now I have a lot of pics. Sorry but I didn't know what it was going to take to figure out a date and what the heck they are. Oh and the bottom of the heel is goodyear.

I lightened up one of the pics


<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/march/337.jpg>

<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/march/338.jpg>

<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/march/339.jpg>

<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/march/340.jpg>

<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/march/341.jpg>
<p> that is the layer between the sole
<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/march/342.jpg>

<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/march/343.jpg>
 
I don't have a clue, Pauline, but those are very interesting. I've never seen anything like them. Where is our shoe expert, Jonathan?
 
Leigh I wouldn't think they would be military. You wouldn't stay dry in them with the felt sides. And I would think with the thin soles they wouldn't work to well for a lot of marching.
 
The stitching on the toe looks like a bowling shoe. Pauline, hopefully
Jonathan will stop by and be able to help, cause I don't have a clue.

Was looking through some old pics last night and a pic of some doughboys
from WW1 had boots that looked similar at the bottom and the
what appeared to be spats, or the bottom of their trousers came down
over the sides of the boots - like you say though, felt would not be a
great protector of mud and puddles, etc.

Sue
 
I steamed the label that is on the bottom. If this label does go to the boots which does seem likely ( and not something they walked on) there is rayon in the wool felt. Just a wee bit but Rayon came about in the 20's right so that would rule out the doughboys.
 
Felt winter boots were traditionally made in Russia centuries ago, where they were called Vlenki (if I remember correctly), and later in Canada and the U.S. THey were designed for mid continental super cold winter weather. The cold is so severe that there is no worry about melting snow wetting the felt. Felt boots and shoes like your pair (imitating a fashion style boot) were made as early as the 1880s, although with rayon in the felt, I wouldn't expect these to date before 1925. They were made until the 1950s. It was only with the introduction of nylon and other synthetics that the felt boots stopped being made.
 
Oh thank you so much Jonathan Info is stored and will be ready to sell next winter.
 
Well, non melting snow in sub-freezing temps, would make sense!

Good info, as always, Jonathan!

Sue:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top