Posted 4 years ago
AnythingOb…
(1778 items)
Some of y'all may remember a little while ago when I showed an odd assortment of old parachute straps/parts/etc., including a very dirty pair of otherwise awesomely cool (and seemingly *ridiculously* well-made) black leather boots.
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/273842-a-pile-of-parachute-parts-i-think-and-p
Shortly after I posted all that, I made a stab at an attempt to try to start to clean up one of the boots (with household spray cleaner and toothbrush/paper towels) and the results were not only not really satisfactory, but left me wondering if I might be doing more damage than good -- so I abandoned that effort. THEN, now a few months later (and after once more having to move the pair off the top of the clothes dryer where they landed after that) it suddenly occurred to me that I should look for a local "shoe shop" to see if I could find some actual expert advice on what to do to try to rescue them. So I did...dropped 'em off there last week (after 'splaining their story to the nice young ladies manning the counter at the shop) and getting a ~$25 price to "clean/renew/polish 'em up.
AND HERE'S THE RESULTS -- after I reclaimed 'em (a week earlier than they first estimated BTW, I wasn't expecting the call to come get 'em until next wk sometime) this afternoon, to say I'm pleased with the result is *more than quite* the understatement?!!! <applause!!!> OH, did I also mention, as I kinda thought might be the case from what little of the original 'size' lettering inside them, they *DO* seem to fit my feet comfortably, so I really *can* maybe really wear 'em out someplace every once in awhile just for fun???!!!! <WOOHOO!!>
As to the boots themselves, they really are incredibly overbuilt in about every way possible it seems, as I suppose would be expected of vintage military issue boots meant to be used by those brave guys that really *do* jump outta perfectly functional airplanes...wartime or not something I don't think I'm in any hurry to actually do myself. <eeek> Their maker's insignia on the sole reads "PARASAUT PARABOOT" and also includes an interesting (to me?) "MADE IN FRANCE" designation.
Notable details about their construction include the heavy thick rubber soles, a double-layer of leather over the ankles, and very sturdy chrome plated steel lacing hardware. (which still needs a bit more polishing maybe, or not...?) Their laces are also notable, being of a rather excessively thick and still very elastic material w/ woven outer covering and heavy duty steel (like the rest of the hardware) crimps on their ends to prevent unraveling.
One more detail probably bears mentioning, though I didn't attempt to show it in the pics here. Both boots still have their (presumably) original owner/paratrooper's name inked onto the inside of their tongues. Even without attempting to research whoever he might have been, there is no doubt a little part of me that is also very pleased (on rather a different level than just "fun boots") to now be the guy who otherwise accidentally managed to save them from a dumpster and invest my own little bit of $ to give them their own chance at a continued history. I'll never wear them as he did, but when/if I do wear them myself it'll always be with the thought that they were first made/used to serve a "greater purpose"... <salute>
And all in all, I've gotta think I'm happy with my new favorite "shoe shop" too...???!!! ;-)
They are absolutely awesome AO!
Great recovery and I would wear them often, with jeans and a big overcoat, not in summer maybe.
Thanks SO MUCH to fortapache, Newfld, yougottahavestuff, Brunswick, and Watchsearcher for stopping by with your <love it>s -- also to racer4four for your fun comment!!! :-) :-) :-) I *do* look fwd to wearing them myself, and as the first pic mebbe kinda shows, I also happen to think they look *great* with jeans!! (which are 99% of the pants I ever wear, BTW)
<lolol>
Thanks to Vynil33rpm too for the <love it> -- 'ya snuck in there while I was writing to thank everybody else so far?!! ;-) :-) :-)
Jumping out of a plane was on my Bucket List so 4 years ago when I was 72 a hometown airfield started a tandem parachute offer!! $169.00 to jump out of a plane!! I went up in a rattley old plane!!! Landed fine They asked if I would do it again?? I said it was off my Bucket List!!!!!!!!
Next year the plane crashed (pilot had minor injuries) after people jumped but
they were out of biz!!! Poor Maintenance!!!
Stuff
<LOL> @ 'stuff -- I've always wanted to do a hot-air balloon ride, also a bungee-jump (but not at the state fair offa some generic crane -- instead someplace like a beautiful bridge over a gorgeous canyon or something, so if the bungee broke I'd at least plunge to my death somewhere *pretty*...??) but I *don't* care for airplanes AT ALL for even normal travel -- much less have I ever felt the slightest urge to not only have to go up in one of them, but then to *jump out* of the d*mned thing in midair while it kept going....??? <nonono><giggle>
Val97, THANKS so very much for your thoughtful comment too. As matter of fact, I (as last nite) just actually put them back on to wear around the house for the rest of the evening (instead of my Nike's, or socks) because they *are* seemingly actually really comfortable (so far?) boots to walk around in. And I guess if I'm ever gonna wear them "out" someplace (dancing?? no, prolly not??) I suppose I should give 'em a chance to adjust themselves to my own ankles/feet instead of whoever their previous owner's were...? ;-) THANKS TOO to purvis for your <love it>!
The next project for my now favorite shoe shop -- a pair of vintage English made "equestrian" knee-high (and very tightly fitting in every respect from their soles up) boots that need 'stretched' a size or two...they promise me it shouldn't be a difficult (nor expensive) matter to eventually (finally?) be able to squeeze my feet into those things too...?? ;-) :-) :-)