The Registry

[admin]

Moved the discussion of sources for Hirschkleber, etc., here

Yr. Hmb. Svt.

[stanford]

Hello to all.

For far too many years I suppressed my interest in shoes and boots. Deciding, finally, to jump into the craft, I found The HCC and the Colloquy.

It's premature to call myself a shoe and boot maker, since I've done neither. I'm still in the discovery phase right now. To get my hands dirty, and to start transitioning into the craft, I would like to study/apprentice with a local repair shop.

By this fall, I would like to enroll in a course at either the Shoe School in Washington, or the Shoe College in Arizona. Any recommendations?

I'm also looking for some advice regarding good reads. I just finished "The Romance of the Shoe..." by Thomas Wright (1922) - which was really a lot of fun.

The first few months of this journey begun, I'm looking forward to the next few decades with great interest.

-Stanford
Denver, Colorado

[admin]

Stanford,

Welcome to the Crispin Colloquy. Quite a few people started out at the Shoe School in WA.

With regard to books to read...check out the downloads of three volumes of Golding's eight volume set on the Guild homepage. It's free and may be the most comprehensive overview of shoemaking available.

Emmett

[stanford]

Emmett,

Thanks. And, yes, I've downloaded the Golding volumes - outstanding reproductions, kudos to DWFII for the effort.

-Stanford

[athan_chilton]

Hello all, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Athan, and I have been interested in leatherwork & shoes for many years but only started working seriously w/leather about a year ago. In March 2009 I attended the ShoeSchool in Pt. Townsend, WA, which gave me a good start. But now I have many more questions!! I don't even know where to start...I guess by reading the archives here? And maybe go to the Gallery & try to post a pic or 2 of my beginning efforts! So many things I don't know...welt sewing...sole finishing...best choice of leather...can't skive very well yet... You get the picture!

[admin]

Welcome Athan. Alan's Zerobnick's Shoe School is a good place to start. The Crispin colloquy is a good place to continue to learn. If you read all the archives--there's close to 16,000 posts in this incarnation--you might just have enough information to hold you for a month or two. But don't let that stop you from asking questions or sharing information you have. If everybody just reads soon there's nothing to read.

Glad to have you on board...

Emmett...

[athan_chilton]

Many thanks Emmett... I will post questions, once I'm sure where they ought to be posted. Here are two, for starters:

1) Are there any members of this colloquy located in IL or IN, USA (if that's a permissible query)?

2) And, can anyone recommend sources for a post, roller foot, single needle sewing machine, like an older Pfaff for instance? I have also been looking for a 3-in-1 and a Naumkeg sander...

[romango]

Athan,

Take a tour of all your local shoe repair shops and let them know what machines you are looking for. They may have units they don't use any more.

[dw]

Athan,

There are any number of good sources for used equipment mentioned on this board. I have always depended upon Melanie machine in Los Angeles but I am on the West Coast. There must be someone in your area. In fact, universal Sewing machine is in St. Louis, I believe. I don't know if they carry used machines but they deal parts for old sewing machines and lots of needles and accessories.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

[ch_rasmussen]

Hello forum members,
My name is Craig Rasmussen and I have been nosing around the forum, reading the archives as time permits, and just listening for about 2 months now. I have been interested in the craft of shoemaking for many years, but, it has taken recent experiences with bad shoes for me to realize that delay is no longer an option.
It is very heartening to see the exchange of information that is taking place on this forum along with the effort to document techniques that are rapidly disappearing. In my own craft of goldsmithing and engraving there are also efforts to preserve knowledge (especially engraving). When I wanted to learn engraving as a young person the knowledge was kept secret, at least from a young boy from central California farm country. A visit to an engraver was met with suspicion and tools that disappeared into drawers upon entering the workshop. No interest in teaching or passing along knowledge. I think there has been discussion on this forum of a similar vein concerning the shoemaking trade.
Well, looking on to the future, I recently received my copies of Tim Skyrme's book, the Koleff book on last making, and the Dictionary of Leather-Working Tools, where, I finally discovered the meaning of the word Cran. I was afraid that I was going to have to just ask. My goal at this point is to make shoes and boots for myself and my wife and our dogs (that they would wear when they have a paw injury.)
To all forum members: many thanks for sharing your knowledge and especially to DW for your monumental effort to preserve the Craft.
At this point the journey is just beginning for me and I am setting up a work table in my office so that I can get going. I need a pair of shoes.

Best Regards,
Craig Rasmussen

[admin]

Craig,

Welcome to the Crispin Colloquy. Good to see you coming out of the shadows.

There's an interesting phenomenon that occurs on some forums...this one in particular...when someone, especially a new someone, asks a question, people usually come out of the woodwork to help and to answer.

Don't be afraid to ask questions...questions provide the inspiration for the generosity you see here.

Emmett

[marcell]

Have a good journey Craig!

[ch_rasmussen]

Thank you, Marcell. Every time you post I learn something new. Your snakeskin and kid shoes are fabulous!
Best regards, Craig

[ch_rasmussen]

Nasser, I got my posting confused... YOUR snake skin and kid shoes are fabulous.
Craig

[dearbone]

Craig, First i want to welcome you to the forum and thank you.

[hammersole]

I thought I should take the time to post a short introduction; I’m located in Melbourne Australia and recently finished a small short course at RMIT Tafe’s Footwear department making a flat ladies court shoe. And after a number of weeks have managed to come away with a rather ugly, poorly constructed badly designed shoe. I must say despite the crudeness of the final object, I’m rather proud of my accomplishment. I will put some photos up in the gallery for general amusement.

I have been lurking on the list for quite a while reading as much as I can and slowing gathering together some basic tools, (hammers, jack, pliers and so forth….) I doubt I can add much to this community except for my unbridled enthusiasm for learning about the craft.

Thanks,
Ryan.

[jon_g]

Ryan,

Unbridled enthusiasm is the common thread around here. You've stumbled upon a great wealth of resources and a place where almost any question will find an answer.

Jon

[athan_chilton]

Welcome, Ryan! I too am an absolute beginner, and subject to rampant enthusiasm Glad to find another person just starting out. And if you have questions about how to improve your designs and learn how to do things properly, this is the place to do it. The people here have already given me all sorts of pointers/tips that are invaluable to say the least. And do post your pics, please. Seems to me a court shoe would be very difficult to do for your first pair!!

[admin]

Ryan,

Welcome. You will find several of your countrymen here as well as some Kiwis.

It's always nice to welcome a new member especially one from across the pond. A wider range of perspectives is both useful and intensely interesting.

We will look forward to seeing your photos and hope to be able to help when we can.

Emmett

[marcell]

Welcome Ryal. Great to see that this forum is growing..

[hammersole]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes.

[paul]

Yes. Welcome Ryan.

I like your shoes.

Putta number 1 on the file and move on to the next pair.

Hold on! It's a wild ride!

Enjoy,
Paul

[athan_chilton]

Ryan, let me add my welcome. I'm probably the beginningest beginner here, besides you. This is the place to be, for learning more than you can possibly take in!! If these folks don't know the answer, the question probably hasn't been invented yet...

[jkrichard]

Greetings everyone!
My name is Jeff Richard, I am formerly a nuclear mechanic supervisor for submarines in the US Navy--- after an early retirement from the armed services, I somehow landed in Oklahoma. I embraced Okie traditions (bought the horses, the pick-up truck, and got the girl) and the last few years I took up tooling leather, having success in making various and sundry for the Wiccan and pagan communities of the UK.
A few months ago I enrolled in Green Country Technology Center's Boot and Saddle Making program -- I have been focusing in boots and English saddles...much to the dismay of my cowboy counterparts.
I came indirectly by way of Marcell M's YouTube videos...which prompted me to rip apart an old loafer and give shoes a go...and I see a few folks from the custom bootmaker forums here as well.
Look forward to learning all about being an honorable cordwainer.

Website with some evidence of tomfoolery with leather.

My flickr account with even more evidence of previously aforementioned tomfoolery.

Cheers,
-Jeff

[admin]

Welcome to the Crispin Colloquy. Sounds like quite a change of course for you!

Also sounds like you've got your feet firmly planted on the "path." We can help...

Good luck!

Emmett