Wing Tip Shoes?

[Standpat Steve]

Howdy,

A person on the SASS wire asked if wing tip shoes were period correct. I looked up in my reproduction 1897 Sears & Roebuck catalog and didn't see any listed in the men or boys section and posted to that effect. Does anybody know  if they are correct for our period? Have I steered him wrong?

Thanks . . . 

[Delmonico]

A quick check of my ditionary says Wing-tip shoes became part of the American version of the English language in the 1870's.  I use the theroy that if folks talked about it, it must be there and somewhat common. 

The Sears and Wards catalogues are a good source, but just because they don't list it, don't mean it wasn't there. 

As an example, you don't find Stetson's today much at Wal-Mart, but I know they exist.

[St. George]

The Sears, Roebuck 'Fall 1900' Catalog  would've been sent to the printers in 1899 and would've reflected what goods they had available at that time.

In reviewing it - you'll see a 'wing-tip' shoe called a 'Blucher' - complete with the punch design that's familiar to us all.

However - that shoe is a high-topped shoe and 'not' the common style of today.
It rises a bit past the ankle.

It looks like a dressed-up version of the old Army-issue 'Field Shoe' of WWII.

This being said - you have to wonder what his 'take' on the Old West really is...

Scouts Out!

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[Steel Horse Bailey]

Is that shoe a FRAU Blucher?

(Horse whinneying)