The Crispin Colloquy

Welcome to the Crispin Colloquy, Kenneth. As Nasser said, Frank was on this side of the pond for the Guild's AGM.

I can't help you with a manual for the Pederson or the Jupiter but I'm sure someone can...just keep trying.

Emmett

Welcome Kenneth.

I'm going to suggest you contact Henry at Creative Leatherwork in Canada at

veenhoven@sympatico.ca
or
http://www.tools4leather.com

He sells Pederson stitchers (and others including Frobana) from time to time and may have a manual.

He also deals in Aerostitch machines.

Regards,
Georgene

Welcome Kenneth,

I think your Jupiter Pederson is a large curved needle machine? Try Pilgrim Shoe and Sewing Machine in Massachusetts if your not talking about the Pedersen reproduction of the Junker and Ruh SD-28.

I knew Thea through my original shoe teacher here in Chicago- unfortunately I haven't been in touch with her for many years- I am pretty sure she is back in England though.

Cheers,

Erick

wow what a response,
thank you Georgene i will try to contact Henry and thak you Erik for pilgrim, i am delighted that you know Thea, and to Emmett and Nasser for your promt feedback on Frank Jones.
Regards
Kenneth

Hi Arron,
although i can speak for Michael Sharpes book (Michael was my tutor for patten cutting and development) and can say it is fab, simply writen and
easy to understand i haven't seen Tims or any one elses book and they may be fab also.
good luck
Kenneth

Hi Kenneth,

Frank is really good at keeping in touch. Glad there is some else interested in shoe making in the south east of England. I thought I was just about the only one!

So welcome

Claire

Kenneth Hamilton

Good to hear from you again after all this time. A hearty welcome to the Colloquy from one of the few British members of the HCC.

For the sake of other readers, Ken attended a two-week intensive Pattern Cutting course we ran at the college here in Lancashire, England. Ken came on the course in 1990. A long while ago but time flies when you are having fun!

Ken do telephone or email me privately. There are very strict rules about marketing on the Colloquy but if you email I can send you full details about the new version of the book you mentioned.

Frank Jones
UK tel: 01706 211181
frank.jones@noblefootwear.com

Howdy everyone. My name is Barry and I'm located in south Mississippi. I know absolutely nothing about shoemaking, however, I do know that I will learn something.

My interest began a few weeks ago while shoe shopping with my wife. She has a wide forefoot and has trouble finding shoes that actually fit.

Well, you know how we husbands are. I finally told her I'd make her some shoes that fit. Plus, I've got two daughters I figured I'd make stuff for.

Of course, wives being how they are, she does have some reservations about me fulfilling my promise.

Now, I'll be the first to tell you that I am quite 'unknowledgable' (read, ignorant) when it comes to shoemaking. I know none of the correct terminology, however, I will try my best to improve upon that.

So in other words, forgive me if/when I sound like an ignorant dufus. If I say something wrong, forgive me, I mean no disrespect. I just 'don't know'.

I do know that I need a last that is like my wife's foot. I've discovered that much whilst lurking here over the last couple of weeks.

I figure I may make my own, as it is hard to find one. (they don't carry them at walmart, lol)

I've great access to wood working equipment and a shop, so I'll make a last and probably some wood sandals first, then progress from there.

Anyway, pardon my blundering. I'm just glad to have found this place, as it seems 'shoemaking forums' are hard to come by.

Welcome Barry.

It is nice, that you want to make shoes.. but I think this way you won't have so much success. Making a pair of last - that is something what we shoemakers don't do. If I can give you an advice: search for a master to help you - even if he makes if expensive - you will save a lot of money.

Anyway, I didn't want to be negative: good luck for shoemaking, and welcome on board!

Thank you.

Barry,

First, Welcome. With wife and daughters, you will have severe critics, but that is probably good.

Second. Yes, You can make your own lasts, although I find it harder to make a good last than it is to make boots. Koleff's "Last Designing and Making" is a place to begin. Count on making at making at least three pair before you get close. Better yet, contact Bill Tippit at Global Footwear Solutions and have him make a last. It probably won't fit perfectly the first time either, but it is a good start.

Being a beginning shoemaker and a beginning last maker at the same time is tough. You never know where the problem is. As Marcell said, a Mentor will save you time and money. At least get a bunch of good books.

Good Luck and, again, Welcome, Chuck

Barry
Welcome! I hope you don't get hung up with the lasts and never get to the shoes. I've been doing this for a while and my mentors made me "fit up" an existing last for my foot wide ball narrow heel. before I could make a shoe. I had 3 years prosthetic / orthotic experiance by this time .
These guys God rest there soles could do everything sideways backwards and upside down, a pail of white rum was the norm for coffee and lunch.
Then I had to make patterns et all. well the first shoes in retrospect were crude at best but they fit!! ahh comfort!!
But I was lucky to have such training.
I do mostly ortho work off casts so last makeing is different for most of my clients but I still have a wall full of lasts and go looking for what is close for any shoes none ortho. I will ususly copy they with foam/bondo/plaster as dictated and alter that as I don't want to bugger up the lasts.
I also do a lot of wood work and not much has straight lines. A shoe finisher makes a great sanding machine for curved parts and my old Sutton has bayonet fitting so I can put on small shafts etc. any way as I ramble ... get some premade lasts and as you make fitter's and develop those skills you will learn the sublties of the last. The are a mutli- planer , radius changing, and under cut, not shaped exactly as the foot ie toe extention and shape, with note a straight line in the mix.
If you find a copy of a book " The Last Shall Be First" by John Lobb. London England it is a fantastic history of British no goods nicks being shipped to Australia. and the Gold rush but the apprenticeship he went through till making footwear for the Royal Family.
So welcome and hope you can get started, if you ever need an excuse to come to Western Canada I'll show you what I know.
Remember the only dumb question is the one not asked!

Forage ahead
Regards
Brendan

All,

I'm Larry, a 41yo novice bootmaker from Phoenix, Arizona. As many do, I've been lurking a long time.

My initial interest in making boots/shoes developed earlier this decade when I discovered my long favored footwear went from being 'hand-crafted' in Italy to being produced in China... of inferior material and workmanship.

Last year, I decided to seriously pursue the craft and quickly managed to become totally overwhelmed with the amount of detail there is. I've never been much of a risk taker and the commitment I feel is needed to learn to make boots/shoes is far outside of my normal comfort zone. However, I'm much further along than I would have ever imagined and I can't stop now or else I would always wonder 'what if'.

Not long ago, I was able to meet an accomplished bootmaker located about an hour away. He invited me to his shop which turned out to be a wonderful experience. He has been a great help answering all of my questions and we have also discussed the possibility of him teaching me to make a pair of boots.

With that said, I just want to add an enormous 'thank you' to you all for your contribution to the amazing HCC resource. Everyone in the trade that I have spoken to thus far has been outstanding in their willingness to help and share much desired knowledge. You are a fine group!

Regards,
Larry

Welcome on the board Larry!

Larry,

Glad to have you aboard. I know there are some good bootmakers in Arizona.

I think that once you have read all 15,000 (more or less) posts on the Crispin Colloquy and the other 5,000 that are on the first archive CD, you will have begun to get a sense of what you've got yourself into.

Don't hesitate to ask...the only dumb questions are those that aren't asked.

Emmett

Hi Larry
There is a very good bootmaker near you Ernesto Castro in Mesa/Tempe. He made some fancy boots for you Governer years ago. If you get hold of him say Hi From Brendan From Canada

Welcome in Larry M.The boot maker thats an hour from you may be our own Paul Krause.He's been doing some fine things with his skills.Check him out.

Ed

Thanks everyone.

Brendan,
I've never heard of Ernesto Castro. I'll have to look him up.


Ed,
the maker I mentioned earlier is not PK... who, luckily for him is quite a bit over an hour from me (or else I would be knocking on his door and possibly becoming a pain )


Marcell,
Thanks for your blog and youtube postings. I often see people discuss them on other sites that are not even shoe/boot related.

Regards,
Larry

Larry - I did it for you and other people interested in shoemaking. I am glad if they like it.

Good Evening All, My name is Jason Clark. I'm a partner at the Driven2 Custom Shop in Sallisaw, OK. I've been admiring the photos and techniques on this forum for quite a while and thought I would take the opportunity to introduce myself. I made the mistake a few years back of asking one of my friends if he could teach me to make boots. He said maybe, and since then it's gotten completely out of hand.

We make several pair of custom boots a year and do some patternmaking and design work for the dreaded factories. We also have a complete line of apparel and some really nice handmade boots that we bring out of Mexico for retail. I'll be posting some pics of our recent work in the gallery soon.

We enjoy the traditional methods at our shop but don't always hold ourselves to traditional styling. We have a lot of fun and are never afraid to try something that we've never seen done before. Some of our favorite phrases are "What if" and "Why not" Sometimes that just means a new addition to the "punt" pile but often its something exciting.

I hope to be able to praise the work of other makers and see how you all like the stuff we do, as well as, share some ideas and techniques and always learn a thing or two. Mostly I hope the work that we do here will serve to perpetuate the trade for future generations. We are always looking for someone new to train, or defile, as the case may be. We are, so far a two-man shop with a couple of new guys in here trying to learn a little.

Hope to see you all on the forum.

Thanks,
Jason

Jason,

Let me be one of many to say welcome to the house.I seen the work you posted and it looks real fine.

Ed

Welcome Jason!

Hello, everyone!

My name is Jordan and I am a college student. I have had shoe making on my mind for quite a while now and seeing some of the handmade shoes here have inspired me even more. I am eager to learn to make high quality shoes and I look forward to any advice you guys may have for me. I have yet to buy anything to build the shoes with (including lasts), but plan to start buying soon. I am looking forward to making my first pair of shoes!

Jordan

(Message edited by jordanh on February 12, 2009)

Jason, Jordan,

Welcome to both of you...welcome to the Crispin Colloquy. Glad to have you on-board.

There's a lot of information here...ask questions, offer opinions and jump on in the water's fine.

Emmett

Hi Jordan!
Good to see you here...