Proper leather shoes

I picked up my first brogues today a basic loake Fearnley £115
jones the bootmaker offered to wizz them through there spraying machine for waterproofing or such like I declined for now (not really knowing the benefit) they are already comfy as fuck.
I do feel a chav chic irony having them and look forward to getting the bus
while already working out what to get next [year] ... and am liking these tricker's saddle shoes if they'll make them

jones the bootmaker offered to wizz them through there spraying machine for waterproofing or such

Bizarre... Brogues were invented so the perforations would let the water drain when walking through wet land.

Buy some good leather care stuff, don't trust a machine.

Hivemind please:

Think these boots are worth bidding on?

http://www.tradera.com/item/342463/256418025/red-wing-iron-ranger-storlek-42

I see raised welts and an overly enthusiastic use of oil. Think I can sort the welts out by pressing them back down? Read online that it should be possible

Not sure about the over oiling though, looks aside, wonder if the leather is overly saturated and therefor soft?

This seller has Church Ketsby and Burwood shoes and boots for ladies at very discounted prices. Bought two pairs and they look perfect:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/wrongunsunited6/m.html?item=152058450316&hash=item236763d18c%3Ag%3AoPsAAOSwbwlXBQXg&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Surely it just serves to protect the leather rather than also act as waterproofing as it would do on other shoes?

Point taken, but not sure I'd want anything sprayed onto new leather unless I knew what the chemicals were though.

I wouldn't want any wonder-chemicals on my leather shoes either, I'd much rather do it myself

Anyone interested in some Loake 209 boots - size 7
http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/product-info.php?brandid=7&shoeid=6664

Only worn half a dozen times but I just can't get on with them.

Also some Grenson Kian - size 7 (but come up bigger). Never worn as they're too big

Like these but black http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/grenson-kian-round-toe-boot-men/3866949

Before I ebay them.

Can anyone recommend a good cobbler/shoe repairer in London who is capable of working with more complicated leather shoes? ie. not a bog standard expensive brogue w/ welted sole construction. I have a rather nice pair I have let get into a bit of a sorry state, and they need a new (full leather) sole.

I have no recommendations but lets have a look at your messed-up fancy-shoes.

I have heard good things about the one on city road

Where in London? This cobbler in Dulwich might be able to help.

http://merrifieldsoflondon.co.uk/shoe-repairs

The City Cobbler? So did I, then they ruined my boots

Used to look like this:

Now look like the images below :(

They did manage 3 years in all weathers, with the horrible rubber heels and toe protectors being added around half way through that.

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Im North East, but anywhere in London's fine. I'll give them a call and see what they think. Cheers

I think there's been a mistake - those are dead, no?

What about the nice shoes you're wanting to get repaired?

Laurel and Hardy used to wear shoes like that in their films.

I thought those were those NHS shoes for people with a club foot.

They look like monk shoes, but with laces!?

That upper is totalled. They must be super comfortable because it's creased beyond all hope.

You may be able to get the sole replaced at any regular cobbler who'll do a full through-sole and heel for you, but that upper........

And I thought these were bad!

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RIP, thems be gonners. Do you wear them to work?!

@aggi
being a size 7ish i might be interested in either, especially the Grenson boots though

any thoughts about price?

I guess about £100 for the Grenson boots (they're still new in the box) and £70 for the Loakes. As I said, the Loakes seem roughly true to size whereas the Grensons are definitely bigger

@aggi PM sent

Yes, they are rather comfortable, worn barefoot most of the time ;)

I would just like to give them a new pair of soles so I can carry on battering them, they're for going on nights out, getting wet, dirty, etc. Not for wearing to an office, have other shoes for that purpose.

Problem is finding somewhere that can attach it without either using stitching, or it being visible.

Leather soles are heavy. If the shoe construction originally had stitching it's probably because it needs it.

You can ask a cobbler to do a blake/moccasin welt stitch (or words to that effect), rather than a Goodyear. Then it stitches inside the shoe, not along the outer welt. This isn't ideal if the shoe is the wrong construction and you'll probably be told "no" or "it won't work" .

Alternative is the leather is pinned down all the way with nails, super expensive if you want a fine job. Try find an old man cos it's not a common technique now, labour intensive.