Question:
here's another of the oddities I've come into ownership of from a widow I know. I've determined that they were made by the
hanover shoe company, which since the turn of last century had been the Pride of hanover, PA before
mysteriously disappearing in 1974. It's generally assumed that hanover was merged into some other company (Bostonian I've read) before eventually "going the way of american manufacturing" as they say.
But that's neither here nor there. What interests me is the peculiar hide these are made of. At first glance I assumed they were one of those interspecies calfskin/deerskin hybridized shoes, but if you look closely, the weird texture of the leather is pretty consistent all over the shoes. Is this just what happens to shoes that sit for years drying out in a closet after their owner has died, or could these be, dare I say it, shell dinovan?
Answer:
You don't think they're just straight-up pebble grain?
Answer:
but would it be normal for it to be "patchy" like that?
EDIT: wait hold on, forgot to upload the key photo...
why doesn't that heel counter on the left have the same texture as the rest?
Answer:
Is it really soft? It looks like the texture on my Vass reversed suede boots.
Answer:
I dunno. But I'm wearing pebble-grain bluchers as we speak that have the same effect. Maybe it's from the pressure of the counter being wrapped around the shoe?
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come to think of it, yeah they are very pliable.
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you are just hell bent on dashing my dreams of owning dinosaur skin shoes, aren't you? :plain:
Answer:
I have old V-cleat florsheims which are similar, where high-curvature areas like the heel and toe are smoother than the rest of the shoe, although you can still see there used to be pebble grain. I think it happens when they gently hammer the leather to shape it in those areas. I can upload a pic if you are really curious. Those are really nice by the way. right now im looking for some non-wingtip florsheims to round out my collection
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I'm just hoping mine are too. Ideally, pterodactyl.
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now you're talking. Then we can wave them in the face of the Evolutionists and their whole "the earth is billions of years old" nonsense.
Answer:
Looks like well worn pebble grain.
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I have found that pebble grain, when worn and polished repeatedly, tends to smooth out.
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Deerskin?
Answer:
Embossed calf, commonly used in older Florsheims, AEs and the like. Smoothed areas result from wear. They're pretty nice for Hanovers.
Answer:
For what it's worth, the pebble grain bluchers I was wearing yesterday had smooth quarters even when new.
