Shoe repair

[JulianNew]

I have a pair of english import shoes in need of repair, and I have tried to contact Pat Cunningham several times with no response. I was wondering if anybody had any tips for making a "field" repair because I need these shoes for an event in a little over two weeks. I have tried the wrapping of twine around the sole, but if came off fairly quickly. Any advice helps! Thanks in advance.
Julian New

[J.H.Berger]

Re: Shoe repair

Without knowing what needs to be repaired it is hard to help you. If just the sole has become loose you can fix it by driving clinching nails through the sole, upper and insole on an iron shoemaker anvil. Pegging would be better but therefor you need a pegging awl and pegs. A new half sole can be attached the same way. Glue as support would be helpfull.

[JulianNew]

Re: Shoe repair

Yes, forgot to add what was actually wrong. A layer of the sole is peeling off.

[Craig L Barry]

Re: Shoe repair

Short term solution = strong adhesive or glue to the affected area
Long term solution = cobbler...find a shoe repair shop near where you live and get the pair re-soled. I have a pair of Missouri Boot & Shoe pegged sole Donelson boots which the shoe repair shop here was able to re-sole. Not sure now they did it, if they re-used the pegs or cut new pegs? Point being, it can be done without shipping them back to England.

Or alternately, leave it as is and flap when you walk. Soldiers make mention of the phenomenon all the time in period accounts.

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: Shoe repair

Like Craig said, I found a local cobbler who would do leather half soles and he fixed a pair of Brogans for me on a rush job. Others I know, like Robert Serio are backed up and would take longer, but it would certainly be done right.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Shoe repair

Hallo!

As Herr Jan shared, it can hard to diagnose when the shoes are not in hand.

In the spirit of a Quickie, Modern Day, expedient repair only in the interest of time...

If the soles are sound and not worn enough to be replaced and-

IF the sole is separating because the pegs have swollen and shrunk due to time and wet, I have repaired a number of shoes for lads in the same boat by using BARGE brand contact cement to bond or bind and clamp the sole layers together. Then using wooden match sticks "greased" with 5 Minute epoxy, replaced missing pegs or using tweezers pulled out loose ones and retapped them back in once covered with a light covering of epoxy.

Again, definitely NOT a Period repair, but if one does not want to deal with a period problem, it can help you get by in the moment.

Curt
Looking the Other Way Mess