I've got a pair of cowboy boots that I've had forever but the soles on both boots had holes in them. It took me forever to find a cobbler to repair them. I finally found a Mexican fella down in Gallatin, and he did an excellent job.
Long about 1980 I was doing bomb sweeps for some old guy running for president. He noticed my 21 year old ass was dragging after a few 14 hour days and recommended a thick-soled leather dress shoe, Freeman’s, I believe. Still have them. Been re-soled twice. Not many occasions to wear them anymore, but I still keep them polished. You could always find someone to re-sole boots and shoes around an Army base, Joe didn’t have money to waste on new boots. Eod1sg Ret
Watching that was good for the sole. I wonder if there's a cobbler trade school somewhere or if you just have to apprentice under someone that's good at it.
I'd imagine you'd have to find somebody to teach you. The guy that did mine wasn't just a cobbler, he was an all around leathersmith. There were saddles and tack in his shop waiting to be picked up.
Bought some hay from this guy a few years back [https://www.huntsharness.com/]. All handmade and done on some really antique equipment. He's sold sets all over the world. Spent quite a bit of time after the hay was loaded just talking and getting a tour of his shop. I asked him about the future. He had an apprentice but business wasn't as steady as needed to pay him a salary. People, especially young people, can't afford to dedicate the time to learning a craft without compensation. Sad, but understandable. This place [https://www.tillersinternational.org/classes] offers classes on many old crafts. If I win the lottery I hope to spend time there... Bought my yoke plans from them and the hardware to finish it. Also the bows.
Here in Blairsville, Ga Ernie at the Old Soft Shoe has rescued many of my shoes and boots. He is a craftsman, repaired/replaced the cuffs on my 1970 issued flight jacket. Sadly, Ernie is retiring and moving to Mexico . He has sold his business to a young man and is training him. Hopefully, craftsmanship will not be lost.
There used to be a good shoe repair shop in Columbus Nebraska, but when Kurt died that ended. The man had the worst arthritis in his hands that I've ever seen, but was relentlessly cheerful and an absolute artisan. I finally found a retired shoe maker in Central City who I hope keeps up for a while longer. I know of one other guy who will resole or repair boots within driving distance of me when there used to be numerous.
My poor old Red Wing boots just lost their sole, but I am told that the Red Wing store in Fort Wayne will resole them. Most comfortable boots I ever wore. To replace them would be over $300FRN. Milton
If you can, go get your self fitted for a pair of Russel Moccasins. The outfit has changed hands but the employees are still there. Semi pricey but they will last a lifetime and be repairable.
Much of what is sold these days can't be repaired. I've got a pair of Rocky Boots from the Pre-China era. Got them on sale not long after they closed their factory in Nelsonville, OH. They were using their old factor floor as a sales floor to blow out the boots that had been made there.
I have a pair of Russels. Best boots I’ve ever worn. I finally had some money so I went to the website to order the leather sole moccasin boots-not listed anymore! Very few of the old models were available. JFM
I drive 30 miles each way to get my boots resoled or reheeled. Dude is a craftsman when it come to leather. Ain't cheap, but worth every penny. No one else around that isn't a butcher.
In Knoxville, TN, the Pendergrass family runs a shoe-boot repair shop and they are my go-to place for such jobs. The aging father has taught his son well in the trade, so I expect they'll be around for a while.
One of my clients is a cobbler. Does soles and heels but also makes custom shoes and boots. He also handles work for Redwing both here in town and the next closest Redwing store, 120 miles away. Having done his taxes for years it's easy to see why no one gets in the business. He doesn't make any money! Sales of $50k would be a fantastic year.
Red Wings are the way to go, although they are expensive. My most comfortable shoes are Redwing brogans, re-soled twice, must be about 30+ years old and still look great.
I sure know what you guys are talking about. There was a Mennonite in Va that had a harness shop and sold all sorts of leather items. I used to go in there and hang out just for the smell. My great grandfather was the last harness maker in his area. He had a shop attached to the barn. It still had a lot of his stuff hanging on the walls when I was a kid. I loved that room.
About 25 years ago I got to tour the Alberta boot company custom shop. It was half a dozen very old men and women making custom cowboy boots. It was pretty neat to see how they did it. They still do custom work but i doubt any of those people still work there given they were all 50 plus then.
There’s a channel on YouTube where a cobbler takes boots apart and talks about them. Rose Anvil. Also talks about little custom shops around the country JFM
We've got ONE place within 50 miles that I trust to repair my Lucchese boots. Waggoner’s Boot Center has been in Henrietta, TX for over 70 years, but the cobbler is getting up there in years, so no idea how much longer they're going to be open. You can send Lucchese boots back to the factory and they will resole/heel them.
"AnonymousMay 25, 2023 at 9:38 AM Much of what is sold these days can't be repaired."
I was an apprentice cobbler for a year in the mid-'90s. the man I worked for was a third generation shoe man. From him I learned that the above is bullshit. *Any* shoe can be repaired, depending on how worn it is.
In the vein, a few years ago I had a pair of loafers I'd got from a load of donations after one of the recent hurricanes here in NE Florida. I forget the make but they were good shoes, in my size, and well broken in, but the one-piece rubber sole and heel were badly worn. I took them to a local shoe/luggage/leather goods repair shop and was told, "These can't be repaired." I said, "Yes, they can. Do you mean *you* can't repair them, or you *won't* repair them?" He blathered excuses for a bit and finally I said, "OK, if you think it can't be done, let me back there and I'll show you how it's done." He refused, and refused to sell me the one-piece sole and heel I wanteded to do the repair myself at home.
Long about 1980 I was doing bomb sweeps for some old guy running for president. He noticed my 21 year old ass was dragging after a few 14 hour days and recommended a thick-soled leather dress shoe, Freeman’s, I believe. Still have them. Been re-soled twice. Not many occasions to wear them anymore, but I still keep them polished. You could always find someone to re-sole boots and shoes around an Army base, Joe didn’t have money to waste on new boots. Eod1sg Ret
ReplyDeleteLow cut lace up boots... who would have thunk it... but it is a great video and a dying trade...
ReplyDeleteWatching that was good for the sole.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there's a cobbler trade school somewhere or if you just have to apprentice under someone that's good at it.
I'd imagine you'd have to find somebody to teach you. The guy that did mine wasn't just a cobbler, he was an all around leathersmith. There were saddles and tack in his shop waiting to be picked up.
DeleteBought some hay from this guy a few years back [https://www.huntsharness.com/]. All handmade and done on some really antique equipment. He's sold sets all over the world. Spent quite a bit of time after the hay was loaded just talking and getting a tour of his shop. I asked him about the future. He had an apprentice but business wasn't as steady as needed to pay him a salary. People, especially young people, can't afford to dedicate the time to learning a craft without compensation. Sad, but understandable.
DeleteThis place [https://www.tillersinternational.org/classes] offers classes on many old crafts. If I win the lottery I hope to spend time there... Bought my yoke plans from them and the hardware to finish it. Also the bows.
I'll bet his shop smelled great.
DeleteLike a new leather holster x10 with a hint of horse sweat thrown in. I didn't want to leave.
DeleteHere in Blairsville, Ga Ernie at the Old Soft Shoe has rescued many of my shoes and boots. He is a craftsman, repaired/replaced the cuffs on my 1970 issued flight jacket. Sadly, Ernie is retiring and moving to Mexico . He has sold his business to a young man and is training him. Hopefully, craftsmanship will not be lost.
ReplyDeleteNavy flight jacket?
DeleteHad to dig hard to find a boot shop around the Twin Shitties a few years back.
ReplyDeleteAlmost impossible around to get caulked boots switched to Vibrams, and a plastic strip sammiched by a stip of cow to make an ankle brace.
The plastic hurts your ankle bone until you train it with a C-clamp, golf ball and a big socket...
Congratulations are in order, George Floyd get his 3-year chip today!
High holey feast day of St. George
DeletePatron saint of reparations and fentenyl.
DeleteThere used to be a good shoe repair shop in Columbus Nebraska, but when Kurt died that ended. The man had the worst arthritis in his hands that I've ever seen, but was relentlessly cheerful and an absolute artisan. I finally found a retired shoe maker in Central City who I hope keeps up for a while longer. I know of one other guy who will resole or repair boots within driving distance of me when there used to be numerous.
ReplyDeleteMy poor old Red Wing boots just lost their sole, but I am told that the Red Wing store in Fort Wayne will resole them. Most comfortable boots I ever wore. To replace them would be over $300FRN.
ReplyDeleteMilton
If you can, go get your self fitted for a pair of Russel Moccasins. The outfit has changed hands but the employees are still there. Semi pricey but they will last a lifetime and be repairable.
ReplyDeleteSpin Drift
Much of what is sold these days can't be repaired. I've got a pair of Rocky Boots from the Pre-China era. Got them on sale not long after they closed their factory in Nelsonville, OH. They were using their old factor floor as a sales floor to blow out the boots that had been made there.
DeleteI have a pair of Russels. Best boots I’ve ever worn. I finally had some money so I went to the website to order the leather sole moccasin boots-not listed anymore! Very few of the old models were available.
DeleteJFM
I drive 30 miles each way to get my boots resoled or reheeled. Dude is a craftsman when it come to leather. Ain't cheap, but worth every penny. No one else around that isn't a butcher.
ReplyDeleteDon't know if they're still in biz, but Wyatt & Dad in Winston-Salem does Vibram and everything else.
ReplyDeleteIn Knoxville, TN, the Pendergrass family runs a shoe-boot repair shop and they are my go-to place for such jobs. The aging father has taught his son well in the trade, so I expect they'll be around for a while.
ReplyDeleteOne of my clients is a cobbler. Does soles and heels but also makes custom shoes and boots. He also handles work for Redwing both here in town and the next closest Redwing store, 120 miles away. Having done his taxes for years it's easy to see why no one gets in the business. He doesn't make any money! Sales of $50k would be a fantastic year.
ReplyDeleteRed Wings are the way to go, although they are expensive. My most comfortable shoes are Redwing brogans, re-soled twice, must be about 30+ years old and still look great.
ReplyDelete"The Cobbler" closed up and retired here in Waynesville nearly 10 years to go. Asheville, about 30 miles away, is the next nearest.
ReplyDeleteI sure know what you guys are talking about. There was a Mennonite in Va that had a harness shop and sold all sorts of leather items. I used to go in there and hang out just for the smell. My great grandfather was the last harness maker in his area. He had a shop attached to the barn. It still had a lot of his stuff hanging on the walls when I was a kid. I loved that room.
ReplyDeleteAbout 25 years ago I got to tour the Alberta boot company custom shop. It was half a dozen very old men and women making custom cowboy boots. It was pretty neat to see how they did it. They still do custom work but i doubt any of those people still work there given they were all 50 plus then.
ReplyDeleteExile1981
You might like this guy's youtube channel as well.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/c/Tringshoerepairkeyshop/videos
There’s a channel on YouTube where a cobbler takes boots apart and talks about them. Rose Anvil. Also talks about little custom shops around the country
ReplyDeleteJFM
Thanks for featuring that video, Ken. It is always fascinating to watch true craftsmanship.
ReplyDeleteWe've got ONE place within 50 miles that I trust to repair my Lucchese boots. Waggoner’s Boot Center has been in Henrietta, TX for over 70 years, but the cobbler is getting up there in years, so no idea how much longer they're going to be open. You can send Lucchese boots back to the factory and they will resole/heel them.
ReplyDelete"AnonymousMay 25, 2023 at 9:38 AM
ReplyDeleteMuch of what is sold these days can't be repaired."
I was an apprentice cobbler for a year in the mid-'90s. the man I worked for was a third generation shoe man. From him I learned that the above is bullshit. *Any* shoe can be repaired, depending on how worn it is.
In the vein, a few years ago I had a pair of loafers I'd got from a load of donations after one of the recent hurricanes here in NE Florida. I forget the make but they were good shoes, in my size, and well broken in, but the one-piece rubber sole and heel were badly worn. I took them to a local shoe/luggage/leather goods repair shop and was told, "These can't be repaired." I said, "Yes, they can. Do you mean *you* can't repair them, or you *won't* repair them?" He blathered excuses for a bit and finally I said, "OK, if you think it can't be done, let me back there and I'll show you how it's done." He refused, and refused to sell me the one-piece sole and heel I wanteded to do the repair myself at home.