Antique Cat's Paw Rubber Heel Promotional Postcard

1911 Cat's Paw Rubber Heel promotional postcard from the vintageworkwear.com collection

Promotional postcard for the FOSTER RUBBER CO., makers of Cat's Paw Rubber Heels.
USPS cancellation stamp dates this one hundred and one year old postcard to Oct. 18 1911.

Postcard features an image of what was claimed to be the world's largest Black Cat. The cat appeared every afternoon and evening at the New England Industrial and Educational Exposition and was used to advertise Cat's Paw Non-Slip Rubber Heels. The Cat was operated by man power, and the eyes feature electric lights that could be flashed at will.
Cat's Paw salesman Mr. Noll is seen standing along side the cat to provide size & scale.

Happy Halloween.

THE GEORGIA SHOE MFG. CO. VINTAGE PAIR-A-TROOPER QUALITY BRAND WORK BOOTS

Original Pair-A-Trooper vintage boot box. This winged paratrooper logo is also found stamped on the upper side of vintage versions of the company's boots, as seen below 

Vintage 1940s-50s dead-stock Georgia Boot "Pair-A-Trooper" Brand work boots. Part of The San Fernando Valley Mercantile Co. collection. Contact us for price and availability

Close up of stitching, original leather laces and the painted eyelets and rivets

Stamped Pair-A-Trooper logo

B.F. Goodrich cork sole

B.F.Goodrich nailed heel

Georgia Boot history. In 1932, William Brooks, joined by his brother F. M. "Mike" Brooks, founded The William Brooks Shoe Company in Nelsonville, Ohio, about 60 miles southeast of Columbus. Both men had lost their jobs during the Great Depression when Godman Shoe Co. of Columbus went bankrupt.
In search of opportunity, the brothers set up shop in a rent-free factory with lent equipment and what would eventually become The Georgia Shoe Mfg. Co. was born.
The company originally employed 50 to 100 workers with a production rate of 300 pairs of shoes per day. With a newly-constructed addition and the installation of more equipment, by the mid-1930s the factory employed 225 people and production output increased to more than 2,000 pairs per day. During the 1940s and 1950s business continued to grow and the company supplied more than one million pairs of shoes and boots for military conflicts such as World War II and the Korean War. 

In 1974 Mrs Elisabeth M. Lott compiled THE HISTORY OF FLOWERY BRANCH, GA 1874-1974. The information below is taken from her work.

The Georgia Shoe Mfg. Co. was established in Flowery Branch, GA in May of 1946. Eight hundred and fifty are now employed. It manufactures 7,000 pairs of shoes a day. There are two plants, two warehouses and one main office located in Flowery Branch. They get their leather from Horween, Superior, Lannon, Trostal and Griener Co.

Re-posted from vintageworkboots.com

BLUE GRASS ROY "The KENTUCKY KORN KRACKER"

The double tuck. Rigid dark denim split pocket overalls placed inside the boots with a chore jacket worn underneath. Add bandana, hat and a four finger spread on the neck... no pick required!  This one goes out to our friend Kevin, the Kentucky Junker.

Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, Vintage Workwear, Rugged Accessories and the Red Wing Iron Ranger Work Boot

Moonrise Kingdom is the wonderful new film by director Wes Anderson. This film takes viewers along for the ride on the journey of Khaki Scout Sam Shakusky and school girl with edge Suzy Bishop, two twelve year old kids in the midst of growing up and experiencing their first summer of love while on an adventurous run. Pursued by an all star cast of adults including Edward Norton as Khaki Scout Troupe Leader Ward, Bruce Willis as the lonely Town Sheriff Captain Sharp and Suzy's together yet detached parents played by Bill Murray and Francis McDormand. Harvey Kitel as Khaki Scout Commander Pierce, Tilda Swinton as Social Services (love that name or lack there of) and Anderson film repeat offender Jason Schwartzman as Cousin Ben also add their special talents. Moonrise Kingdom is set in the year 1965 on the island of New Penzance located off the coast of New England with the mother of all storms approaching. Sam and Suzy's journey and pursuit is filled with the humor and wit that we've come to love and expect from a Wes Anderson film along with set design and details that fans of vintage workwear and rugged accessories will no doubt appreciate. The use of Hank Williams Jr. tunes throughout the film is another nice choice.

Items of interest include narrator Bob Balaban's low top "Gumshoe" version of the iconic L. L. Bean Maine Boot, Khaki Scout uniforms similar to the vintage version made for the Boy Scouts of America by vintage workwear manufacturer Sweet Orr, the Safety type glasses worn by many of the cast members, Sam's Blue Bell Herringbone Twill Coveralls, Metal Water Coolers and Ice Chests, the Industrial Metal Desk and Chairs like those manufactured by The General Fireproofing Company and the Red Wing style Moc Toe Boots worn by Cousin Ben.

Sweet Orr Boy Scouts of America Shirt Box courtesy of Suntrap

Red Wing IRON RANGER boots after 1 year on the job

Last year we were contacted by the film's producers inquiring into of the possibility of using a pair of well used Red Wing Iron Ranger boots belonging to yours truly. Seems Wes had run across said Iron Rangers previously pictured on this very blog and we were more than honored to offer them for use on the new project from one of our favorite directors. A virtual handshake type deal was struck and since this was to be a small budget film a screen credit / thank you along with a production shot of the boots in action was accepted in lieu of rental payment. Knowing the attention to detail that Wes always brings to his films along with the knowledge of the directors ability to achieve his vision in any number of alternative ways made his choice of this particular pair of boots all the more special.

Red Wing IRON RANGER boots after 2 years on the job

Mr Billingsley photo courtesy of Moonrise Kingdom & Focus Features

We were excited to hear that Moonrise Kingdom had been chosen to open the prestigious 2012 Cannes International Film Festival followed by openings in New York and Los Angeles in May. Eager with anticipation to see the new film from one of our long time favorite artists and directors along with the cameo appearance of the Red Wing IRON RANGER boots belonging to yours truly, we recently made the short trip to Hollywood, CA to catch Moonrise Kingdom at the ArcLight Theatre.

The film was a joy to watch from start to finish with the appearance of Sam's foster dad Mr. Billingsley (aptly played by seasoned actor Larry Pine) wearing the Red Wing Iron Rangers while conversing at the table in a perfectly period correct kitchen right around the film's ten minute mark. The thank you to yours truly and The San Fernando Valley Mercantile Co. as the end credits rolled was an especially nice treat.

Even with the bias that comes with having contributed on the minutest level to this highly enjoyable piece of work, we can not recommend Moonrise Kingdom highly enough for your summertime viewing pleasure. Go see this film and enjoy an opportunity to smile and laugh while taking a trip back to those youthful days of long summers and first loves.

Official Site:
http://www.moonrisekingdom.com/
 
Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/MoonriseKingdom
  
YouTube Page:
http://www.youtube.com/moonrisekingdommovie

 

Washington and Lincoln: Presidents Day 2012

In honor of founding father George Washington and arguably our greatest president Abraham Lincoln, some 1940's, 1950's and 1960's deadstock vintage workwear bearing their names.

David Beckham visits Hollywood Trading Company

Our friend Zip Stevenson shared a couple of shots of a special customer who dropped by the HTC headquarters Thursday to pick up a few pieces including a couple pairs of boots and a green bag along with ordering a denim & leather jacket from the IrregulaR line. 

Seems some people get preferred parking

 Looks like Becks is sporting a pair of the new IrregulaR Vintage Jump Boots. Boots have been cropped around the neck area to slightly higher above ankle along with white piping added on top, the tongue is kept at its original length, and the original soles have been replaced with white cushion soles.

Available now in all sizes. $495.00

David Beckham, one happy customer!

LIMITED EDITION HTC Engineer Boots featuring NOS Green O'Sullivan Soles

These awesome SANTA ROSA Engineer Boots featuring deadstock original O'Sullivan green half soles were recently sold by our friend Zip Stevenson of HTC (Hollywood Trading Company) fame. 

Part of a truly limited edition project, only 10 pairs are being produced and offered (5 pairs already sold) due to the limited quantity of new old stock 1940's-1950's green O'Sullivan soles from Zip's collection that are being used for this limited run. 

N.O.S. vintage O'Sullivan half sole.

Of the 10 pairs available that were initially available, I am informed that 2 pairs are now sold to a client of Zip's in Spain, 1 pair to another client in Germany, one pair to another in Orange County So. Calif. and yet another pair now calls Toronto its home, leaving 5 pairs remaining at the time of writing. 

These boots can be constructed in a full range of sizes ranging from 7 to 12.

Design details:

The boots include four stitches on the counter pocket, three stitches in the vamp, and triple stitched back spine.  

They are available with either hard or steel toes and solid brass (or heavy duty stamped steel buckles with nickel plating) instep and calf buckles.  

The interior vamp is leather lined (nice touch).  The top of the shaft comes with a separate rolled, green leather collar.  The boot features leather "Goodyear Welt" standard sole construction with optional storm welting available at no additional charge.  

They come standard with triple ribbed hardened "steel shank" arch supports that are secured to thick "12 Iron" leather outsoles with twin solid brass, semi tubular rivets.   

The heel cores are made from stacked leather and the rubber heel cap is the nail down washer type.  Even the heel rand is made from leather.

Zip uses Latigo type leather that he offers in choices of light, medium or dark brown in addition to black. I'm told that the Latigo leather ages quickly to a very nice patina. 

Made in the U.S.A.

Cost:

Priced at $995 per pair which reflects the thought, experience, time and materials not to mention the love invested in to making these heirloom quality, limited edition beauties. With boots like these, when you're done with them you can hand them down to one of your grand kids that's interested in classic British made motorcycles e.g. Triumph as these boots are made to last!

Interested parties may contact Zip via his Facebook page or contact the fine folks at the Hollywood Trading Company retail store in Los Angeles, California. 

The first rubber heel for shoes was patented on January 24, 1899 by Irish-American Humphrey O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan patented the rubber heel which outlasted the leather heel then in use. 

1910 O'Sullivan Rubber Co. Print Ad

P.S.  One of the reasons that these boots first caught my eye was due to the unique green sole that reminded me of a pair much favored PRO-Keds that were re-released some 8 odd years ago with green toe cap, shoes that I still wear to this day.

NOS PRO-Keds from the upper reaches of my closet.

Seattle Gas Co."Shops" Aug. 11 1938... Gasworks Park, Present Day

Rose Bowl find from this past Sunday. Panoramic workers photograph... Seattle Gas Co. "Shops" Seattle, Washington, Aug 11, 1938.  Photo credit C. Hafford

Scanned image revealing a treasure trove of vintage workwear including a great collection of Express Stripe Overalls & Coveralls, Chambray Work Shirts, Work Boots, Hats and Caps.  Too may great looks to mention them all but 5th from lower left and what looks to be the main man top row center (seen top row 2nd from right) are killing it.

Great glasses seen upper row 3rd from right, awesome pocket on the coveralls upper row 5th from right and jacket with ball chain zipper pull seen bottom row 2nd from left are just a few of the many details worth mentioning.


Seattle's Gasworks Park... from a place of  natural beauty to an industrial wasteland and back again.
From its industrial past rises one of the most unusual parks in the world.