Those are timeless! The model from which all others were spawned! They look great, I'll have to check out that new product. I only have two pair of shell shoes - boots actually, so they don't get much wear in the Summer. I just have PP Cleaner & Conditioner, but that seemed to work well last time I treated one of my pair.
Excellent condition for a pair from the 60s! Mine are dated 1980 and the "before" didn't look as good as the "before" on these. I had a new welt and outsole put on mine in an antique brown, which I think looks more casual and goes better with the color 8 than the original black. Enjoy your pair.
Hi @shellvedge this is exactly the content I was looking for. Recently bought my first pair of shell cordovan shoes - and it is vintage Florsheim imperial. My question is - what acetone should I use? Is it just any regular one from a hardware store? Also - can I be too harsh in the cleaning up phase? Never restored shoes before. Thank you Sincerely Niels
Would it make sense to use something like Pure Polish Natural Leather Cleaner and Conditioner before using the Shell Cordovan cream? Or would it make more sense to do some brushing with some water to clean the shoes first, before applying the shell cordovan cream?
Yeah, both things are possible just like the performed in the video. But brushing with water doesn’t clean the leather as much as it is a way to buff the shell to a higher shine. If the shoes need to be cleaned, start with cleaner conditioner or acetone depending on the extent of the cleaning needed
Just acetone. Water makes it a little slicker but if you use enough acetone with a light pressure, it’ll take off the gunk without taking off more because of how fast it evaporates
