My grandma used to say „There are two things in life you should never skimp on: your bed and your shoes. Because if you’re not in one, you’re in the other.“ She was right.
I genuinely hope that trades like this never die out. So many people these days would rather just throw everything out and buy new. We need more people in this world who take care of their things and want them to last as long as possible. That’s really only possible with professionals out there who can do the work.
I was a cobbler, did not get to much work so They fired me and a Bunch more people, because people work fix their shoes only Throw them away because of this gummi shoes like addidas and nike that we can not fix
@@johanforsberg3405 the sneaker trend has been out of control far too long, sad really, adult men dressing in gym shoes there whole lives, hopefully more classical styles become more and more appealing as much as well made clothing and shoes and such, rather than something becoming garbage it just gains character 😉
Fast fashion is slowly dying, which means handcrafted shoes and clothing is coming back. It takes a decade, but the era of everyone owning 500 pieces of polyester clothing will soon be remembered as tacky, gross, and bad for everyone other than the shareholders in H&M.
FlockofSmeagles You’re right about what you’re saying but it just makes me laugh. When I got interviewed for my current position by the company’s operations manager, he was wearing an old beat up pair of Jordan’s while I had on a pair of nice leather shoes. I was wondering if I was over-dressed somehow. Times have changed I guess.
i have no clue why youtube popped this into my recommended videos. but i gotta say i'm glad i watched. absolutely fascinating look into one of the worlds oldest professions
this brought a smile to my face, I remember spending many "horrible" weekends in my moms shoe repair shop, she was never as detailed as you, she made most of her money doing the tips on lady's heels for $5, but she was the only one in the city who would resole boots and the like, it was a good day when someone would bring their fav cowboy boots in. I wish I could go back 30 years and spend another horrible day with her in that shop :).
In our "disposable" culture, it is always refreshing to see that skilled craftsmen still are out there keeping under appreciated arts alive. Well done - keep up the impressive work.
When I was a kid, around 1965, I remember my dad bought a pair of Florsheim Cordovans much like these. I'll never forget how proud he was as he was not a man of means, just a working stiff. I wish I still he'd them so I could have Steve restore them and could "walk in my father's shoes" literally! Brought a tear to my eye. Thank you!
*(The Audio Is Perfect) Back to the shoe doctor doing surgery on his patient... * *Your work is impeccably meticulous, you are the shoe doctor!!* *Thanks for sharing Dr. Bedo!! ;-)*
That customer and 160,000 people appreciate the hard work you put into his shoes. It nice to know that some people still appreciate old world craftsmanship and taking time to do it correctly. Those themes don’t seem very popular today. It’s all about how cheap and how fast.
1:44 AM here. Just finished watching a delivery of a Corvette C8 on RUclips and now watching someone getting their shoes fixed. My mind seems to wonder when I'm trying to go back to sleep.
When I was a kid in the late 50's into the 60's growing up in NYC my mother used to send me to the shoemaker down the block to get "half soles and heels" once in awhile. He was a small Italian immigrant (I realize this looking back) who was almost gnome like in his small and dimly lit shop. I will never, ever, forget the gorgeous smell of that place. In all these years I've never been inside another place that smelled like that.
Not necessarily a shoe that I would personally wear myself, but oh man do I have the utmost respect for the craftmanship that is involved with them. Incredibly good job, Sir!
After re-reading the story behind the shoes, I would have done the same by having them restored. Some things can’t be replaced. It is good to see there are still some actual hand craftsmen around that can continue the trades today that many have forgotten. My appreciation for showing the detail and hard work to bring back these shoes to life to someone who appreciates them as well. Hi 5!
I worked for Florsheim for 4 years when they were owned by Interco and had offices down on Canal, Adams and Clinton streets in Chicago. I believe the wingtip bluchers you worked on were made on the Varsity last. As I remember, she shell Cordovans were part of the Imperial line and we didn't carry them. They had to be ordered, and even in 1982 they were $200. Only a certain kind of man wanted or could afford them. Bankers and lawyers. They were very heavy. One of my fellow shoe salesman threw one across the sales floor at me one time and missed, thankfully. Great video, you are a real craftsman.
I restore vintage bicycles and it's very refreshing to see other experienced craftsmen of good conscience taking the correct measures to do the job the right way and not the easy way. Reusing as much as can be reused and restoring beautiful objects to beyond their former glory. God bless you and your work. When I wear through one of my GYW boots I will be sending them your way. Cheers 🍻
Always enjoy watching someone who works with their hands no matter what it is and takes pride in their work. Excellent job! You have skills very few people possess.
My first pair of dress shoes my mother bought for me for high school graduation in 1956. Wingtips exactly like you are restoring. I kept them in great shape till I donated them in 1995. Florsheim Imperials are all I bought throughout my business career. Nothing compares!.
When dealing with a craftsman, you pay for his time and knowledge. You can always get cheap crap from overseas, as long as you want to wear cheap crap from overseas.
i was honestly guessing it would be 1500-2000. in my head that would have been a fair price for the amount of work and expertise he put into those shoes
I love my Florsheim Imperials and recently had them done at a place you recommended in Sydney. I understand why the customer wanted them to look stock and you did an amazing job. I had a hybrid Dr Sole commando put on mine and love the new wearability. Broken Coccyx is painful lol.
May sound silly, but in times of darkness things like this can make one happy, and even have you start thinking that humanity may not be in such a bad place after all! Kens story is just icing on the cake.
Love your videos! That shoe hammer handle needs some luv. I think it's awesome that you're not like some YT that have all new sponsored tools. But that handle needs some luv.
I’m 77 years old and the first time I remember Florsheim shoes was when Colonel Valdés USMC explained to me that he had his shoes for over 20 years. I was about 8 years old and I could never imagine shoes lasting over 6 months.
First, what a skill to watch, salt of the Earth care and knowledge honed from a lifetime’s commitment to quality and comfort. Watching this restoration has given me huge pleasure, an honour to witness how each nail adds to the personalisation, every swipe with the hammer, the insoles and tree, everything anyone who cares about their feet could wish for. Thank you for sharing.
"Florsheim" *expects to hear that these are your favorite shoes at least ten times in the video* The customer request certainly made this worth the watch. Good work!
I remember as a kid going to the mall with my Dad where he bought himself a pair of Florsheim shoes. He would say that the soles of your feet would wear out before the shoes would! To me they looked so uncomfortable and God awfully ugly. I remember thinking to myself that I hope I never have to wear them someday. Now of course I think differently, and admire the quality with which they are made. Really beautiful craftsmanship. And the way you restore them putting in so much effort to stay true to that level of craftsmanship is really remarkable. I watched this video from start to finish mesmerized by the Kind of skill that it takes to do such a superb job. Well done!
It takes the mind of a child to see the truth. These shoes are ugly and uncomfortable and they wear many times faster than the cheapest shoes with modern materials. Still it is a great pleasure to see high craftsmanship from an age when wood, leather and metal were the only materials available.
@@daphneraven9439 I doubt that the guy wore these shoes each and everyday for 25 years..Do you own only one pair of shoes that you wear everyday? So yes, a cheaper pair of shoes with modern materials will last just as long ...it's all according to how often you wear them and best of all you don't have to sell a kidney in order to afford the damn things!!!! heck ,I own a pair of combat boots that I still wear almost every workday that are 36 years old...
N B The complete opposite is true. Vintage shell cordovan Florsheims (any shell cordovan) will last generations with care. Most modern shoes are made to toss after a year or two.
@@Nas_Atlas If by "modern materials," you mean cheap plastics, they are universally inferior to natural materials. Leather, natural fibers, wood, and metal are more comfortable, harder wearing, more breathable, easier to maintain and repair, far more beautiful, smell better, and are better for your health. The only benefit of plastic is that it is cheap, and even still it is usually overpriced. Plastics have their place in certain applications, but not in shoes. Now, if you're talking about truly high-tech materials like carbon fiber or something like Gore-Tex, that's a different story.
These shoes are wonderful. You can see the love and care they have had. Worth every penny you ever spent on them. Enjoy them. They are timeless shoes. Finding a master craftsman to care for them like you have is a gift from heaven for such an important pair of shoes.
I never care what ethnicity someone have but I always like to know because it's easier to understand who a person is that way. Hearing you talk about your childhood in Lebanon is amazing. When someone has been through hard times that person often is a harder working individual. I really love your channel and the work you do. Honestly I've never cared about shoes before but seeing you and some others in RUclips working and explaining the art of shoe making has made me a shoe enthusiasts. Who knew that?
I love that with every video, more and more of your personality shines through. We can really see how comfortable you are in front of the camera! You’re really funny too ☺️ #AlrightLetsContinue lol
Having 2 pair of shell cordovan imperial shoes which I bought new in San Francisco over 50 years ago and having them rebuilt twice I was amazed at your work and your shoe workshop. You are truly an artist. I too love Florsheim’s. PS I still wear them on special occasions.
There's just something satisfying about watching a skilled craftsman at work. I watch machine shop videos (Abom, Tom, TOT) watch repair videos (Nekkid Watchmaker, The Watch Repair Channel) shoe repair videos (Steve here, Trenton & Heath) not because I know anything about the subject matter but because these folks are really, really good at what they do and it's fascinating to see.
It is a thrill just to watch you work on someone else's shoes. I used to watch the bookmaker in Abilene Texas that did the brace and special b shoes for the original 1948 polio kids. I was about the 45th to come from area (Midland Tx.). We just had 2 nurses,no others would volunteer, so my mother and 2 others came in and did whatever those brave nurses asked cthem to do. They took 8 hour shifts. Of cours it took months for us to have real shoes, but our wonderful bookmaker was kept busy with our brace requirements and the things we used for exercises and for our "night" shoe, and all the things you could never dream unless YOU needed something to take the place of a muscle that has quit working. Then your every thought is drawn there to work out how to HELP IT WORK. AND THERE IS WHERE OUR BOOT---SHOEMAKER CAME IN. I know he lay awake working out what and how to make h is polio kiddo walk. I will always admire those of you who still have those skills. So fondly, jo brewer
Why, to see a true artisan/craftsman doing what he, obviously loves to do. Also, learn about the quality of both, the shoes and the man. There are very few of his kind still doing this.
my opinion, because a real person is acting in front of a cam. No Hollywood unrealistic Bullshit. By the way people in average love to watch real Persons doing there craftsman ship. A Baker, a Chef whats o ever. It is more interesting and educational to look at real stuff, than movies which are produced in always the same way. Bad boy beat good boys wife and family, Good boy chases bad boy, tons of Explosive ruins the whole set, at least good boy beats the shit out of the bad boy and kills him and the Audience cheers like crazy. To listen this guy is another way to relax.
I appreciate your perfectionism, but when you lamented that some of the nails weren't as straight as you wanted, I thought, "Man, that's even better, because now you know it was _hand done._ Any machine can make a straight line, but hand-crafted shoes are a treasure."
I didn't know much about these shoes. Now I do. I worked in Leather shops making Sandels,Belts,Wallets,Bags,etc for a few years. But I've really been an custom upholster 2nd gen for 50 yrs. And I can tell just by looking at his shop and the Patina it has that Steve is an A1 Cobbler. I feel better now knowing there are other craftsman of class that have a shop with "patina" like mine. Glue,stains,holes,scrap,supplies ever where.
I am a retired Woodworker and I really enjoy watching these videos because of the attention to detail you put into your trade and how much experience you have the audio sounds just fine to me btw I watch wearing high quality recording studio headphones
Man does this bring back memories .....my moms neighbor at her beautyshop was a cobbler , I used to hang out over there all the time and watchin gene and his wife repair shoes.....it was so fascinating. That was 45 years ago, thanks for the video and reliving the memories!
Hi Dave, all that time and you didn’t take up an apprenticeship? I spent a lot of years as a tailor, earning a lot of money per hour. To buy 1 of my bespoke suits would set you back around $10,000. I retired to go part time 10 years ago, stoped completely so my son could take over 3 years ago. I am 64. His suits will set you back a lot more than mine would have done. And he has a 12 month waiting list. Not knocking you loads of people have walked away from a trade in favour of a piece of paper. I am learning how to repair watches at the moment. I loved tailoring but slightly wish I had become a horologist.
I remember the day when u could go into a Florsheim Shoe store...I had a pair for Sunday school! I was born 1954 so I’m from the generation when WW11 was only 9 years away from our birth. Thank you sir for the wonderful craftsmanship and steps into reviving a precious 👞 shoes. Take care sir and bless u and your family.
I never thought I would spend an hour watching a shoe resole, but I was captivated by every minute. I find the craftsmanship of a cobbler to be an amazing art. Great job!!!
This is very interesting meticulous work., I love watching :-) . Some parallels to my career as a bench jeweller/ repairer. To my colleague...."Aww s***. where did that diamond go. I heard it hit the bench" and that could apply to any important component, including any tiny part I had just made. Mostly we find the escaped parts ,..... mostly......
I appreciate others who take great pride in their work. I never call back anyone who provides a service that does a lazy, poor job. It's tempting for a worker to save his money and time by cutting corners. He's fooling himself if he thinks there customer won't notice. Fine craftsmanship is a beautiful thing in any craft or trade. More often than not, anyone who puts their name on the business, says a lot about how hard he'll work to keep your business. His good name is on the line. Sometimes his father and/or son's name is on the line too. Ive hired many folks over the years that say with their mouth that they do good work when in actuality they should've called their business "THE JUST GOOD ENOUGH SHOP"!! I've learned that many men equate who they are with what they do and they want to work until they can't anymore. For when they retire they become lost. They just can't sit at home in front of the TV. THEY LOVE THEIR WORK AND IT SHOWS!
I am very impressed. A cobbler with not only exceptional skill and tenacity, but a sense of humor as well. MY favorites are my Johnston and Murphy shell cordovan oxfords I bought in 1979. Still in above average shape, several times re-soled, once restored. Lots of work in restoration, but worth it!
Liking the mic setup. You sound clearer now than before. Those nails and that heel though... well worth the extra money! No issues with the video repeating, just tap the screen to fast forward (on the phone at least). #hammertime
I don't know anything about being a cobbler but I watch a ton of restoration videos from cars to antique metal products to shoes. They're interesting and relaxing to watch but for me nothing beats watching someone doing something they love and doing it well. The fact that this can't be duplicated by a machine makes it even better. In the age of easy access and tapping a touchscreen with your finger to get almost anything you want it's wonderful to see something being created that requires the usage of your hands and patience. 😎
Mr. Bed is, I am an Anglican Priest. My grandfather was from Mexico and he was a baker. He did everything with care and love. He used only the finest ingredients. I remember as a boy of 11 hand grinding the stick cinnamon for the cinnamon rolls and making the icing with powdered sugar and half and half by hand after watching Daddy Bennie do it for nearly a year before he would let me do it myself and drizzle it on the rolls which were nearly 8 inches in diameter. He did everything with the same passion even teaching me to sweep the floor so that dust wouldn’t fly up and get on the specialty “pan dolce” and “ pan de huevos”. To this day I have yet to taste “Mexican Sweet Bread” that tastes as good as my Grandfathers. As I watched you repair those shoes I thought of and could hear my grandfather’s voice as you spoke. The love in your words and the joy in your work is so very rare these days. I wanted to say thank you. You are truly a blessing not just to the man who’s shoes you so lovingly repaired but to me as I heard the special voice of mi abuelo. God bless you sir!
STEVE! LOVE the overhead micing setup! The added room tone and downward placement make sounds a bit brighter. And what a work of art those shoes were! BEAUTIFUL job. You're Lebanese! Back in school, one of my very good friends was also from Lebanon. Unfortunately, he'd also been through some war events, and his telling of them is still with me. You have a heritage of some of the best sailors from ancient times - the Phoenicians.
@@BedosLeatherworksLLC I had to rewind twice, I thought 'oh probably a city in America called Lebanon' but sho nuff, the real deal! I love Lebanese food! And a guy who knows what austerity is, grew up in post-war eastern Europe myself.
@@BedosLeatherworksLLC - Still cool! Constantinople (now Istanbul) is the crossroads of East (Asia) and West (Europe). So much trade has passed through there over the centuries!
You have done a superbly good job. Nothing wrong with the microphone but the 69 nails per heel" madre de dios". What I love the most is the welt being handstiched to the inner sole.
There is nothing like watching a master craftsman at work. Some people may say "why would you watch a video like that?" I say "why wouldn't you watch a video like that?", such great work. Wow. Such fine work. I enjoyed every minute of it. I'll be watching more. Thank you!
A shame Florsheim doesn’t have a quality shoe today as with a lot of brands now. Like Frye boots. Now China made products. Great vid and I’m glad the owner wrote a comment.
Ditto with Johnston and Murphy. It seems the only heritage American companies still making quality dress shoes in America are Alden and Allen Edmonds, and even Allen Edmonds has a lot of "imported" models these days, though all their core styles are still made in America. Heritage boot companies seem to have fared better, and thankfully there are many newer companies filling the void left by Florsheim and others.
J Smith I owned several leather shops around the Boston area called the Last Craftsman ,I carried Frye boots, and was a custom Sandel maker, it is so disappointing to hear that they are made in China ,I used to go to the factory in Marlboro Mass.back in the early seventies.
I just discovered your channel. Your restoration of those shoes is a priceless work of craftmanship. The person who owns these shoes will receive many more years of treasuring these shoes. Well done.
As a person who loves shoes, I gotta say there's something about this guy that just makes want to watch. He's' very calm and enjoys himself. Awesome video.
Fun fact: the mayor of my town is Ben Florsheim, who’s uncles own Florsheim, and his great-great-grandfather was the original founder! Ben, at 28, is the youngest mayor of the city I live in, Middletown!
Great to see a fellow craftsman who actually has an impeccable work ethic. Skipping no corners no matter how much extra time it takes. My friend, you do gorgeous work!
It doesn't matter what you do in life, As long as you do it with the passion and attention to detail like this video you'll be a better person. Very intriguing. I'm back to the Good part of RUclips.
My grandma used to say
„There are two things in life you should never skimp on: your bed and your shoes. Because if you’re not in one, you’re in the other.“
She was right.
Tim Berghoff
Your Grandma was absolutely correct! 🧐
that is actually very good, and ive never heard it said like that before.
I've heard don't skimp on anything that connects you to the ground, shoes, bed, wheels on the car, etc
I think your grandmother is a sage (she still lives, you know). I will have to borrow her wisdom.
Your Grandmother has a great saying 👍
I genuinely hope that trades like this never die out. So many people these days would rather just throw everything out and buy new. We need more people in this world who take care of their things and want them to last as long as possible. That’s really only possible with professionals out there who can do the work.
There are folks who would say that reusing the nails is excessively thrifty.
I was a cobbler, did not get to much work so They fired me and a Bunch more people, because people work fix their shoes only Throw them away because of this gummi shoes like addidas and nike that we can not fix
@@johanforsberg3405 the sneaker trend has been out of control far too long, sad really, adult men dressing in gym shoes there whole lives, hopefully more classical styles become more and more appealing as much as well made clothing and shoes and such, rather than something becoming garbage it just gains character 😉
Fast fashion is slowly dying, which means handcrafted shoes and clothing is coming back. It takes a decade, but the era of everyone owning 500 pieces of polyester clothing will soon be remembered as tacky, gross, and bad for everyone other than the shareholders in H&M.
@@basstrammel1322 I really hope so ... :)
I suddenly feel like I should own a really nice pair of shoes.
Any interviewer that you ever meet in your life will be looking at your shoes.
It's a good investment, trust me.
You right ..all my shoes combined probably cost less than this repair. But seeing all the vids makes me wanna at least get one great pair of shoes
FlockofSmeagles You’re right about what you’re saying but it just makes me laugh. When I got interviewed for my current position by the company’s operations manager, he was wearing an old beat up pair of Jordan’s while I had on a pair of nice leather shoes. I was wondering if I was over-dressed somehow. Times have changed I guess.
I have a pair for you only £900
I have Red Wings I bought in the early 80's.
i have no clue why youtube popped this into my recommended videos. but i gotta say i'm glad i watched. absolutely fascinating look into one of the worlds oldest professions
Valkyrie Motors same!
Not THE oldest, but it ranks up there.
I think everyone enjoys watching a true craftsman at work. This guy is a serious leather craftsman.
It's because we are craftsman! That's why it up it in our feed
My guess a worker from the RUclips department really liked this channel lol 😂 hey not complaining .. I’ve been binge watching these since yesterday
this brought a smile to my face, I remember spending many "horrible" weekends in my moms shoe repair shop, she was never as detailed as you, she made most of her money doing the tips on lady's heels for $5, but she was the only one in the city who would resole boots and the like, it was a good day when someone would bring their fav cowboy boots in. I wish I could go back 30 years and spend another horrible day with her in that shop :).
I remember the smell !!!,walking into the shoemaker's shop !
Stop cutting onions. I need to call my Mom and let her know she is loved.
@@alittlebitofeverything533 those ninjas man, Im tellin you
Cant believe i just sat and watched a 58 min vid on a shoe restoration.
what has lockdown done to me
It's interesting though.
@@drfauci9103 it is! i watched another 2 after this and now im just flooded with restoration recommendations xD
Same.
Umm it has improved your discerning taste :-). You can only watch so many cat videos LOL
But we’re you wearing pants? I haven’t in days
In our "disposable" culture, it is always refreshing to see that skilled craftsmen still are out there keeping under appreciated arts alive. Well done - keep up the impressive work.
When I was a kid, around 1965, I remember my dad bought a pair of Florsheim Cordovans much like these. I'll never forget how proud he was as he was not a man of means, just a working stiff. I wish I still he'd them so I could have Steve restore them and could "walk in my father's shoes" literally! Brought a tear to my eye. Thank you!
*(The Audio Is Perfect) Back to the shoe doctor doing surgery on his patient... * *Your work is impeccably meticulous, you are the shoe doctor!!* *Thanks for sharing Dr. Bedo!! ;-)*
58 min well spent... and I don’t even give a damn about shoes! Sir, you are great to watch.
GERBO The Gerbil, same here :)
Exactly!!!! His videos are fire
The same here. 🤣
Florsheim classic wing tips! My favorite item in my husband's wardrobe, they just make him look so timeless and well put together!
Was expecting waaaaaay more than $900 for this job. Beautiful.
are you kidding? Like 900$ is cheap
Can’t sleep and now I find myself getting emotional about a pair of shoes. What an unbelievable craftsman!
That customer and 160,000 people appreciate the hard work you put into his shoes. It nice to know that some people still appreciate old world craftsmanship and taking time to do it correctly. Those themes don’t seem very popular today. It’s all about how cheap and how fast.
As soon as he came back with that errant nail and laughed..."you thought you could get away..." I hit like and subscribe!
5:20 A.M. Can't sleep. Watching shoe surgery. Can't complain. :-)
Pete Peter relatable!
5:09 AM and checking in :)
538 am 😂😂
5:31 same here 😂🤣
1:44 AM here. Just finished watching a delivery of a Corvette C8 on RUclips and now watching someone getting their shoes fixed. My mind seems to wonder when I'm trying to go back to sleep.
When I was a kid in the late 50's into the 60's growing up in NYC my mother used to send me to the shoemaker down the block to get "half soles and heels" once in awhile. He was a small Italian immigrant (I realize this looking back) who was almost gnome like in his small and dimly lit shop. I will never, ever, forget the gorgeous smell of that place. In all these years I've never been inside another place that smelled like that.
@Joe Al i don't think it was chemicals that was responsible for the smell. f'ing dumb ass
Not necessarily a shoe that I would personally wear myself, but oh man do I have the utmost respect for the craftmanship that is involved with them. Incredibly good job, Sir!
Your work is amazing I have nothing but respect for you and your talent
If I were that customer, I'd say WORTH EVERY PENNY. You are an artist!
After re-reading the story behind the shoes, I would have done the same by having them restored. Some things can’t be replaced. It is good to see there are still some actual hand craftsmen around that can continue the trades today that many have forgotten. My appreciation for showing the detail and hard work to bring back these shoes to life to someone who appreciates them as well. Hi 5!
From an era when craftsmanship was a treasured art. Wonderful!
I worked for Florsheim for 4 years when they were owned by Interco and had offices down on Canal, Adams and Clinton streets in Chicago. I believe the wingtip bluchers you worked on were made on the Varsity last. As I remember, she shell Cordovans were part of the Imperial line and we didn't carry them. They had to be ordered, and even in 1982 they were $200. Only a certain kind of man wanted or could afford them. Bankers and lawyers. They were very heavy. One of my fellow shoe salesman threw one across the sales floor at me one time and missed, thankfully. Great video, you are a real craftsman.
Back in 81 imperial shell cordovans were my shoe. I just let them go.
Royal Imperials!
So did I in Brooklyn NY
@@Darkwell0071
H
Why did your fellow shoe salesman throw a shoe at you? 😓
You sir are one helluva craftsman. So happy there are tradesmen left in this increasingly unlivable world. Job well done.
I restore vintage bicycles and it's very refreshing to see other experienced craftsmen of good conscience taking the correct measures to do the job the right way and not the easy way. Reusing as much as can be reused and restoring beautiful objects to beyond their former glory. God bless you and your work. When I wear through one of my GYW boots I will be sending them your way. Cheers 🍻
Great name for a band: Suicide Heels. Steve, I love your work and always get happy when you upload a new video.
Always enjoy watching someone who works with their hands no matter what it is and takes pride in their work. Excellent job! You have skills very few people possess.
My first pair of dress shoes my mother bought for me for high school graduation in 1956. Wingtips exactly like you are restoring. I kept them in great shape till I donated them in 1995. Florsheim Imperials are all I bought throughout my business career. Nothing compares!.
Honestly, when you told me the price, I thought it was pretty cheap for the skill you put into the restoration and how incredible the result was.
When dealing with a craftsman, you pay for his time and knowledge. You can always get cheap crap from overseas, as long as you want to wear cheap crap from overseas.
How much was the restoration?
i was honestly guessing it would be 1500-2000. in my head that would have been a fair price for the amount of work and expertise he put into those shoes
This reel took me back to childhood, picking up bent nails from my dad’s construction sites when I was a child.
I love my Florsheim Imperials and recently had them done at a place you recommended in Sydney. I understand why the customer wanted them to look stock and you did an amazing job. I had a hybrid Dr Sole commando put on mine and love the new wearability. Broken Coccyx is painful lol.
May sound silly, but in times of darkness things like this can make one happy, and even have you start thinking that humanity may not be in such a bad place after all!
Kens story is just icing on the cake.
Love your videos! That shoe hammer handle needs some luv. I think it's awesome that you're not like some YT that have all new sponsored tools. But that handle needs some luv.
I’m 77 years old and the first time I remember Florsheim shoes was when Colonel Valdés USMC explained to me that he had his shoes for over 20 years. I was about 8 years old and I could never imagine shoes lasting over 6 months.
First, what a skill to watch, salt of the Earth care and knowledge honed from a lifetime’s commitment to quality and comfort. Watching this restoration has given me huge pleasure, an honour to witness how each nail adds to the personalisation, every swipe with the hammer, the insoles and tree, everything anyone who cares about their feet could wish for. Thank you for sharing.
I enjoyed watching you. I was in Beirut in 1973 during the war. Came to America in 1976. Good job and thank you Steve.
My grandpa was a carpenter when I was a young kid, we used to sit and straighten nail for hours and then we would resell them.
@Eli Z back in the 70's in Nuevo Laredo Mexico where people still leave without running water and electricity to this day.
@@51chevyj1 q
@@51chevyj1 qqqq
Nothing wrong with the microphone, I like to hear that sound. Many thanks for the video, Steve.
Wow Steve. The imperfection in your work is what makes it perfect.
No machine will come close to your expertise.
"Florsheim"
*expects to hear that these are your favorite shoes at least ten times in the video*
The customer request certainly made this worth the watch. Good work!
I remember as a kid going to the mall with my Dad where he bought himself a pair of Florsheim shoes. He would say that the soles of your feet would wear out before the shoes would! To me they looked so uncomfortable and God awfully ugly. I remember thinking to myself that I hope I never have to wear them someday. Now of course I think differently, and admire the quality with which they are made. Really beautiful craftsmanship. And the way you restore them putting in so much effort to stay true to that level of craftsmanship is really remarkable. I watched this video from start to finish mesmerized by the Kind of skill that it takes to do such a superb job. Well done!
It takes the mind of a child to see the truth. These shoes are ugly and uncomfortable and they wear many times faster than the cheapest shoes with modern materials. Still it is a great pleasure to see high craftsmanship from an age when wood, leather and metal were the only materials available.
@@Nas_Atlas The evidence is in on that; beauty is entirely subjective, but 25 years of wear out of a cheap pair of shoes??? Not in my experience!
@@daphneraven9439 I doubt that the guy wore these shoes each and everyday for 25 years..Do you own only one pair of shoes that you wear everyday? So yes, a cheaper pair of shoes with modern materials will last just as long ...it's all according to how often you wear them and best of all you don't have to sell a kidney in order to afford the damn things!!!! heck ,I own a pair of combat boots that I still wear almost every workday that are 36 years old...
N B The complete opposite is true. Vintage shell cordovan Florsheims (any shell cordovan) will last generations with care. Most modern shoes are made to toss after a year or two.
@@Nas_Atlas If by "modern materials," you mean cheap plastics, they are universally inferior to natural materials. Leather, natural fibers, wood, and metal are more comfortable, harder wearing, more breathable, easier to maintain and repair, far more beautiful, smell better, and are better for your health. The only benefit of plastic is that it is cheap, and even still it is usually overpriced. Plastics have their place in certain applications, but not in shoes.
Now, if you're talking about truly high-tech materials like carbon fiber or something like Gore-Tex, that's a different story.
These shoes are wonderful. You can see the love and care they have had. Worth every penny you ever spent on them. Enjoy them. They are timeless shoes. Finding a master craftsman to care for them like you have is a gift from heaven for such an important pair of shoes.
Grew up in Massachusetts in the late 60's straightening nails was an art form! Tree hutts was our thing.
For me too ! Dad would not permit I used his brand new nails... That was ok, showed me to be patient.
I never care what ethnicity someone have but I always like to know because it's easier to understand who a person is that way. Hearing you talk about your childhood in Lebanon is amazing. When someone has been through hard times that person often is a harder working individual.
I really love your channel and the work you do. Honestly I've never cared about shoes before but seeing you and some others in RUclips working and explaining the art of shoe making has made me a shoe enthusiasts. Who knew that?
That’s a sweet looking pair. Nice work and thanks for letting me watch you work.
I love that with every video, more and more of your personality shines through. We can really see how comfortable you are in front of the camera! You’re really funny too ☺️ #AlrightLetsContinue lol
This video makes me want to get myself a pair of shell cordovan Florsheims! Drat! More money to spend!! Love it, Steve!!!
Whether or not you care about shoes, it's pleasant to spend an hour with a nice person.
I love watching craftsman at their trades. But I really love when they love their work and it comes out on the video. Great job.
Having 2 pair of shell cordovan imperial shoes which I bought new in San Francisco over 50 years ago and having them rebuilt twice I was amazed at your work and your shoe workshop. You are truly an artist. I too love Florsheim’s. PS I still wear them on special occasions.
No clue why I would ever watch an hour long shoe restoration when I’m not a “shoe guy” but I did. Fantastic job.
There's just something satisfying about watching a skilled craftsman at work. I watch machine shop videos (Abom, Tom, TOT) watch repair videos (Nekkid Watchmaker, The Watch Repair Channel) shoe repair videos (Steve here, Trenton & Heath) not because I know anything about the subject matter but because these folks are really, really good at what they do and it's fascinating to see.
I would have never guessed how much work was involved in repairing shoes... you are very talented...
This is how my Dad would have it done ! He always wanted the best. Nice work.
It is a thrill just to watch you work on someone else's shoes. I used to watch the bookmaker in Abilene Texas that did the brace and special b shoes for the original 1948 polio kids. I was about the 45th to come from area (Midland Tx.). We just had 2 nurses,no others would volunteer, so my mother and 2 others came in and did whatever those brave nurses asked cthem to do. They took 8 hour shifts.
Of cours it took months for us to have real shoes, but our wonderful bookmaker was kept busy with our brace requirements and the things we used for exercises and for our "night" shoe, and all the things you could never dream unless YOU needed something to take the place of a muscle that has quit working. Then your every thought is drawn there to work out how to HELP IT WORK. AND THERE IS WHERE OUR BOOT---SHOEMAKER CAME IN. I know he lay awake working out what and how to make h is polio kiddo walk.
I will always admire those of you who still have those skills.
So fondly, jo brewer
Me before clicking: Why would anyone watch an hour long video?
Starts: nvm.
there's a ton of double edits, if you skip those it's significantly shorter
Why, to see a true artisan/craftsman doing what he, obviously loves to do. Also, learn about the quality of both, the shoes and the man.
There are very few of his kind still doing this.
Lol!
@firmly grasp it probably because you didn't understand what it meant.
my opinion, because a real person is acting in front of a cam. No Hollywood unrealistic Bullshit. By the way people in average love to watch real Persons doing there craftsman ship. A Baker, a Chef whats o ever. It is more interesting and educational to look at real stuff, than movies which are produced in always the same way. Bad boy beat good boys wife and family, Good boy chases bad boy, tons of Explosive ruins the whole set, at least good boy beats the shit out of the bad boy and kills him and the Audience cheers like crazy. To listen this guy is another way to relax.
I appreciate your perfectionism, but when you lamented that some of the nails weren't as straight as you wanted, I thought, "Man, that's even better, because now you know it was _hand done._ Any machine can make a straight line, but hand-crafted shoes are a treasure."
I didn't know much about these shoes. Now I do. I worked in Leather shops making Sandels,Belts,Wallets,Bags,etc for a few years. But I've really been an custom upholster 2nd gen for 50 yrs.
And I can tell just by looking at his shop and the Patina it has that Steve is an A1 Cobbler. I feel better now knowing there are other craftsman of class that have a shop with "patina" like mine. Glue,stains,holes,scrap,supplies ever where.
Wow, that was extreme. Nothing can stop you man. Great restoration. Very stylish shoe
You are a true master of your craft sir. I really enjoy watching your videos.
I am a retired Woodworker and I really enjoy watching these videos because of the attention to detail you put into your trade and how much experience you have the audio sounds just fine to me btw I watch wearing high quality recording studio headphones
Man does this bring back memories .....my moms neighbor at her beautyshop was a cobbler , I used to hang out over there all the time and watchin gene and his wife repair shoes.....it was so fascinating. That was 45 years ago, thanks for the video and reliving the memories!
Hi Dave, all that time and you didn’t take up an apprenticeship? I spent a lot of years as a tailor, earning a lot of money per hour. To buy 1 of my bespoke suits would set you back around $10,000. I retired to go part time 10 years ago, stoped completely so my son could take over 3 years ago. I am 64. His suits will set you back a lot more than mine would have done. And he has a 12 month waiting list.
Not knocking you loads of people have walked away from a trade in favour of a piece of paper. I am learning how to repair watches at the moment. I loved tailoring but slightly wish I had become a horologist.
The microphone picks up the sound perfectly. You do very impressive work!
A beautiful blend of personal history and craftsmanship, I can’t help but watch, please continue.......
Don't forget to Double Tap To Edit
I like it how you explain everything in a nice phase. Makes me curious about how shoes are made now when i look at them. Good job Sir. :)
I always find it fascinating and enjoyable to watch a craftsman at work.
Thank you!
Im just impressed that you actually found that nail again.
I dont care what you charge i like the repairs and your comments
I remember the day when u could go into a Florsheim Shoe store...I had a pair for Sunday school! I was born 1954 so I’m from the generation when WW11 was only 9 years away from our birth. Thank you sir for the wonderful craftsmanship and steps into reviving a precious 👞 shoes. Take care sir and bless u and your family.
There was a shoemaker in my neighborhood in the 50's and I could smell is shop as I heard the machines running. He also sharpened our skates.
It's funny, but I can remember the smell of shoe repair shop just from watching you work. Great job.
I never thought I would spend an hour watching a shoe resole, but I was captivated by every minute. I find the craftsmanship of a cobbler to be an amazing art. Great job!!!
1h video on servicing a pair of shoes. This channel feels more like a Bob Ross or a Jeb the Gardener (he’s on YT and I love his videos). 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
This is very interesting meticulous work., I love watching :-) . Some parallels to my career as a bench jeweller/ repairer. To my colleague...."Aww s***. where did that diamond go. I heard it hit the bench" and that could apply to any important component, including any tiny part I had just made. Mostly we find the escaped parts ,..... mostly......
I appreciate others who take great pride in their work. I never call back anyone who provides a service that does a lazy, poor job. It's tempting for a worker to save his money and time by cutting corners. He's fooling himself if he thinks there customer won't notice. Fine craftsmanship is a beautiful thing in any craft or trade. More often than not, anyone who puts their name on the business, says a lot about how hard he'll work to keep your business. His good name is on the line. Sometimes his father and/or son's name is on the line too. Ive hired many folks over the years that say with their mouth that they do good work when in actuality they should've called their business "THE JUST GOOD ENOUGH SHOP"!! I've learned that many men equate who they are with what they do and they want to work until they can't anymore. For when they retire they become lost. They just can't sit at home in front of the TV. THEY LOVE THEIR WORK AND IT SHOWS!
It's always satisfying to see a true craftsman working his magic. Thank you for sharing it.
Now I feel like going to go buy me some high end shoes.
Amazing craftsmanship i love what you do my grandfather was a shoemaker God bless you great work!
The customer got his money's worth!
👍
He has painstakingly restored shoes, down to the original nails.
That doesn't come cheap.
😎
You just "Cobbled" your way to a new sub!! What a fantastic display of a lost art....
I'm starting to think youtube knows me better than I know myself...shoe restoration videos? Apparently YES.
💯 😃 I fell down the rabbit hole and got thoroughly engrossed in this video. RUclips knows me better too lol.
😂😂😂😂
I am very impressed. A cobbler with not only exceptional skill and tenacity, but a sense of humor as well. MY favorites are my Johnston and Murphy shell cordovan oxfords I bought in 1979. Still in above average shape, several times re-soled, once restored. Lots of work in restoration, but worth it!
Another amazing project. The nails in the heels are perfect.
Liking the mic setup. You sound clearer now than before. Those nails and that heel though... well worth the extra money! No issues with the video repeating, just tap the screen to fast forward (on the phone at least). #hammertime
I don't know anything about being a cobbler but I watch a ton of restoration videos from cars to antique metal products to shoes. They're interesting and relaxing to watch but for me nothing beats watching someone doing something they love and doing it well. The fact that this can't be duplicated by a machine makes it even better. In the age of easy access and tapping a touchscreen with your finger to get almost anything you want it's wonderful to see something being created that requires the usage of your hands and patience. 😎
Much better. Quiet sounds of you working, explaining & hammering, a much better audio background than the “music”.
As a high schooler, I worked hard to purchase my Gant shirts and Florsheim imperial wingtip shoes.
Mr. Bed is, I am an Anglican Priest. My grandfather was from Mexico and he was a baker. He did everything with care and love. He used only the finest ingredients. I remember as a boy of 11 hand grinding the stick cinnamon for the cinnamon rolls and making the icing with powdered sugar and half and half by hand after watching Daddy Bennie do it for nearly a year before he would let me do it myself and drizzle it on the rolls which were nearly 8 inches in diameter. He did everything with the same passion even teaching me to sweep the floor so that dust wouldn’t fly up and get on the specialty “pan dolce” and “ pan de huevos”. To this day I have yet to taste “Mexican Sweet Bread” that tastes as good as my Grandfathers.
As I watched you repair those shoes I thought of and could hear my grandfather’s voice as you spoke. The love in your words and the joy in your work is so very rare these days. I wanted to say thank you. You are truly a blessing not just to the man who’s shoes you so lovingly repaired but to me as I heard the special voice of mi abuelo. God bless you sir!
STEVE!
LOVE the overhead micing setup! The added room tone and downward placement make sounds a bit brighter. And what a work of art those shoes were! BEAUTIFUL job.
You're Lebanese! Back in school, one of my very good friends was also from Lebanon. Unfortunately, he'd also been through some war events, and his telling of them is still with me. You have a heritage of some of the best sailors from ancient times - the Phoenicians.
daveogarf well I was born in Lebanon but I’m Armenian not Arabic. But Lebanon is still home
@@BedosLeatherworksLLC I had to rewind twice, I thought 'oh probably a city in America called Lebanon' but sho nuff, the real deal! I love Lebanese food! And a guy who knows what austerity is, grew up in post-war eastern Europe myself.
@@nataloves - There is a Lebanon, Pennsylvania, I believe.
@@BedosLeatherworksLLC - Still cool! Constantinople (now Istanbul) is the crossroads of East (Asia) and West (Europe). So much trade has passed through there over the centuries!
@@BedosLeatherworksLLC - BTW, LOVE the T-shirt!
You have done a superbly good job. Nothing wrong with the microphone but the 69 nails per heel" madre de dios". What I love the most is the welt being handstiched to the inner sole.
There is nothing like watching a master craftsman at work. Some people may say "why would you watch a video like that?" I say "why wouldn't you watch a video like that?", such great work. Wow. Such fine work. I enjoyed every minute of it. I'll be watching more.
Thank you!
A shame Florsheim doesn’t have a quality shoe today as with a lot of brands now. Like Frye boots. Now China made products. Great vid and I’m glad the owner wrote a comment.
Ditto with Johnston and Murphy. It seems the only heritage American companies still making quality dress shoes in America are Alden and Allen Edmonds, and even Allen Edmonds has a lot of "imported" models these days, though all their core styles are still made in America. Heritage boot companies seem to have fared better, and thankfully there are many newer companies filling the void left by Florsheim and others.
J Smith I owned several leather shops around the Boston area called the Last Craftsman ,I carried Frye boots, and was a custom Sandel maker, it is so disappointing to hear that they are made in China ,I used to go to the factory in Marlboro Mass.back in the early seventies.
I just discovered your channel. Your restoration of those shoes is a priceless work of craftmanship. The person who owns these shoes will receive many more years of treasuring these shoes. Well done.
As a person who loves shoes, I gotta say there's something about this guy that just makes want to watch. He's' very calm and enjoys himself. Awesome video.
I'm tapping my screen but nothing's happening. Help!
DeepFriedDoom stop, that’s just an editing mistake 🤣🤣🤣
Oh okay I was doing that too . It felt kind of like I was helping Steve with the job #hammertime 😁😎
I thought it was a choose your own adventure....
Is this the guy complaining about the hammering?
@@BedosLeatherworksLLC LOL
Fun fact: the mayor of my town is Ben Florsheim, who’s uncles own Florsheim, and his great-great-grandfather was the original founder! Ben, at 28, is the youngest mayor of the city I live in, Middletown!
Whaaaaaat!?
That was impressive! I bet that blue pair looks even more special, premium & better than when it was brand new! 👍👍👍
"Double-tap to edit."
you know what they say in professional cobbler circles: double tap to edit. best advice i have ever received
@kirwi kirwinson Was all that really needed, especially the Ad hominem?
246spyder It’s the internet, so probably not, but people are gonna do it anyway.
Yes, I supose you're right, but stll?
*Landrew0* - "Peace, and prosperity under Landrew. Are you of the body, friend?"
This video just made me view my shoes in a new light
Great to see a fellow craftsman who actually has an impeccable work ethic. Skipping no corners no matter how much extra time it takes. My friend, you do gorgeous work!
It doesn't matter what you do in life, As long as you do it with the passion and attention to detail like this video you'll be a better person. Very intriguing. I'm back to the Good part of RUclips.