Question:
Does anyone know what material is used in the rear part of the heel (not sure what it is called), ie the black part? Why is it used?
Can one buy good quality combination heels whole or do shoe/boot makers make them themselves, ie stacking the leather and the black (rubber?plastic?) part?
Does anyone know where whole or parts of the combination heels can be bought?
Answer:
I believe it's high carbon rubber.
the densest and hardest wearing shoe rubber available.
Answer:
It is a rubber and it is pre-assembled. It is used for traction. I can ask where my cobbler gets them.
Answer:
Hmmm, I thought that was used in running shoes, no?
if you can, that would be of great help. Have you had them before, do you have pics?
Does anyone know whether Lobb, EG, C&J use these preassembled combination heels? Any particular brand, or is it something we will never know?
Answer:
Ron? other shoemavens?
Answer:
A shoe factory uses two pieces (already assembled) to make the heel. There is the actual heel, two or three layers of leather (cheap shoes use blocks of rubber or hollow plastic moulds), coming already stacked and glued from the sole leather supplier (for example Rendenbach). Then there is the top-lift, a layer of leather with a rubber corner, everything assembled and in place. The top-lift gets stuck on, nailed down and then cut and sanded to it’s correct size.
Manufacturers like John Lobb (RTW) or Berluti use a top-lift that incorporates the company’s logo. That still comes from an outside supplier. If you order sufficient quantities, they’ll just make you, whatever you want.
Equally repair shops use ready assembled top-lifts.
Answer:
Do you know whether repair shops have the same quality heels and toplifts that manufacturers like Lobb, EG and C&J use? Can you recommend any repair shop that does?
Answer:
My shoe repair guy uses combination heels from Cat's Paw. They're not EG quality, but not bad either.
