more shoe probs...

L

little-bea

Registered Guest
Here's my story: I have a pair of vintage 60s (50s?) stiletto shoes that I love. The heel tips wore out. I took them to the shoe repir guy to replace. "They're so old ya probly can't fix'em." (that should have been my clue to move on!!) He pulled out some ol' shunts (??...or some other word?) muttering..."they dunt even use these anymore."...he rammed the heel against a wheel to sand it...sparks flying...started slamming the shoes around...tried hammering things an assortment of things into the heel to hold on the tips...the nail broke (twice). (I was havin a heart attack!) He tore back the sole "to see what was under." Then he slopped epoxy on the heel tips (and satin) and tried glueing the tips on. I finally got them back...before he could test out anymore of his ideas/experiments. The fabric was frayed so I trimmed it...there's a bit of expoxy on the other shoe. Otherwise they survived.

How do I go about finding some who is careful and knowledgeable about fixing vintage shoes? (Not like a torcher chamber...lol!)

Should I just call it quits and give up on these?
...maybe sell them as is?
 
Well, not quite sure how'd you'd go about finding someone to repair these. But I'd first start by calling an old-fashioned shoe retailer (if you call another shoe-repair shop & ask if they can repair a vintage shoe, they'll probably tell you yes, whether or not they can!). You know, the kind of store that stocks the expensive brands and can order custom shoes. Not the chain stores. We have one store in town here like that, and they do repairs as well. And when I was a little girl, the shop where we always bought our shoes did any number of repairs--the owner himself used to insert lifts into my shoes, under the insoles. and repair heels. If they don't themselves do repairs, they likely will know who the "best" in your area are! Best of luck!
 
The guy I use is a little old chinese guy with thick glasses and has a small shop that if you blink you miss it.

I called around and asked if they restored vintage shoes. Then I took a pair of shoes that I didn't care that they messed up to check it out. Had him fix them. Then I checked the quality of his workmanship. He did such a wonderful job that I told him he had me for a customer for life!!!!!!!:USETHUMBUP:
 
Any smaller show store, like Anne says, that has been around forever - even if they don't do it, they probably know someone who has been around forever even if they are semi-retired who worked on shoes back then or know how.
 
Thanks!! There's still hope yet!! I'll start paying attention. There must be somewhere like that in Toronto other then those kiosks set in up in the malls. (...you know the kind that cuts a spare key, polishes your shoes and sells punk rock belts.)

With that metal heel they've got years left in them...lol!
 
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