Having to go to town for an appointment shortly, I looked at my new shoes and thought, "These could use some polish." Looking for some shoe polish, all I found was a can of Kiwi Cordovan. "That's red and I need some black. Well, I guess I could use the Cordovan to just kind of clean them up some, where is the brush?"
I'm sad to say that I no longer have the tools and materials in my house to care for my shoes. It used to be as necessary a thing as tooth paste, to have polish, sole dressing, brush and pop rag in a special, dedicated place.
I went to the computer and began to search for a shoeshine stand. There aren't any. There are places that say, in their title, that they shine shoes, but they don't. I guess they would if you left them for a week. But those places just repair luggage and an occassional shoe and are located in areas of town that I'd just as soon not visit.
It used to be that every barbershop had a Shoeblack. There aren't even any barbershops available anymore. They are all Hair Dressing Salons. I've not found one yet that will cut my hair the way I would like it cut. They don't know how. They snip a bit here and snip a bit there and hold out their hand for a big bill...... and a tip.
I guess I'll smear a little Kiwi on my shoes with a paper towel and see if I can buff a bit of a shine on them.
I wonder if Walmart might have some shoe polishing supplies?
I suppose the Shoeblack has gone the way of the Barber. There is just not a demand for the service any longer. It seems that our shoes are made from plastic or fabric now.
It makes me wonder though. What are they doing with hides from all the beef that we use for hamburgers. Some people even eat steaks, so there must be some available for shoes. :-\
Heck! It's hardly worth going to town any more.
I agree Tom. Shoe care is fastly becoming a lost art. Shoes are cheaper to buy new it seems than to really take care of. Oh and yes I think Walmart does carry all the supply's for this or your local shoe store (payless, etc.)
Windex :)
You can still find them in airports. That doesn't help much if your not flying. They're only on the inside of the security zone.
Tom, a pair of nylon stockings will do in a pinch to buff your shoes. If you have trouble finding the items you need, give me a shout. I can still get the basic shoe shine kits at the exchange.
If I am thinking proactively, I will wear the dress shoes that need care when I travel. Airports and train stations are the only places I know that still offer that service.
I haven't seen a pair of nylon stockings around for a long, long time. Maybe I'm not looking in all the right places. :)
Watch it now your walking a very sharp edge :D !
In no way would I waste a pair of my nylons to shine shoes. Beenthere, you have to look in the ladies section of the store. ;)
I looked all over the house where I've seen them before and there aren't any nylons here. When the swelling goes down, I'll check Wal-Mart.
I am going to have a shoe shine station at my "Battered Mens Shelter" :D
Beenthere,
Come on down here, I'll introduce you to some. Bring Dollar bills. ;D ;)
It's a disposable world. Get your shoes dirty, buy another pair, I ride with a Cobbler. Most don't even know what that is anymore.
Bill is gonna bring you to a Shoe Show. :D
Shoe show ....yep that's it! ;) ;)
Peach Cobbler? Mango Cobbler? Blue Berry Cobbler? Black Berry Cobbler? Raspberry Cobbler? Southern Cobbleress?
Yeah, I got a problem with the lack of shoe, I mean work boot, fixers. I really hate to throw out a pair of boots that actually conform to my feet and have good uppers. The Chinese inports that are readily available have poor sole durability but the uppers seem to be OK.
I try to keep my shoes in decent condition. I used to be better at it. I'm not as organized I once was (and that means I went from bad to worse!).
I buy shoe polish at the grocery store. I ordered the blackening "ink" for the soles, can't remember from where.
I wear Allen Edmond cap toe shoes at my office job, I have a few pairs of them and alternate them back and forth so they get ample "rest" between uses.
If you treat good shoes well, they will last many years.
QuoteI have a few pairs of them
Can we call you Imelda? .
haha, nah, not quite.
But I somewhat embarrassed to own more than 2 pairs of shoes :D
Quote from: Slabs on July 19, 2011, 07:48:52 PM
Yeah, I got a problem with the lack of shoe, I mean work boot, fixers. I really hate to throw out a pair of boots that actually conforn to my feet and have good uppers. The Chinese inports that are readily available have poor sole durability but the uppers seem to be OK.
My feet are so hard to fit that I have to keep a good pair of shoes/boots a long time. I'm having a pair of Wesco's made and hope that they will be the last pair of boots I ever buy with proper care and repair.
i plan on getting a custom pair of wesco's after I wear out the chippewa boots I have.
I have a few pairs of white's too, they are very well made boots. They are awesome for ankle support.
I'm trying to figure out how to get this Cordovan colored Kiwi polish off of my feet. :-\
if you boil your feet, the wax will float to the top of the water after it cools off.
My Dad would have told you to use diesel. He used diesel in 1000 ways.
There used to be a place on the corner of 4th and Grand,where a little ball of rhythm had a shoeshine stand.
I always thought it a wonder that the rag don't tear the way he makes it pop.He opened up at 9am and charged a nickel a shoe.
And that's all I know about that.
Like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh5A2qmWjf0&feature=player_embedded#at=44
That's him!He's in WI now?
Quote from: Paul_H on July 20, 2011, 10:13:57 AM
There used to be a place on the corner of 4th and Grand,where a little ball of rhythm had a shoeshine stand.
I always thought it a wonder that the rag don't tear the way he makes it pop.He opened up at 9am and charged a nickel a shoe.
And that's all I know about that.
There went my coffee all over the keyboard! :D :D :D
We're talking about a little boy no_no
Sorry, wrong channel...... :D
Thank goodness ;)