I’m Finally Going To Be Rich…
Back in my younger days when I was starting in the antique business, I made a spectacular deal on a trailer load of Shoe "Last's". The things were ancient and I only paid a nickel a piece for them. I really thought the big money would come rolling in. They were all hand-carved out of hardwood, and what I thought would be highly prized heirlooms from an earlier time.
Now a lot of people don't know what a Last is. Many more have seen them, but mistakenly call them forms. Basically a Last is a sample foot which cobblers used to use to make shoes, and they still do.
Modern last are made out of molded material, but it wasn't very long ago that they were all custom made from wood. Those were the days when the best shoes were made in the Northeast US, instead of the Chinese junk you have nowadays.
There's never been anything better than a good pair of, properly made, shoes. And it's something that most folks neglect to appreciate. You just cannot buy the same quality shoe today that was available even 25 years ago. They just don't exist, it's a dying craft.
I often suspect it's been a major contributing factor to the world becoming more and more uptight. Folks are just more miserable these days becauase their feet hurt. But, back on track, here's a picture of some assorted Shoe Last's:
As far as Lasts' go, those are dandies. They've seen better days, but they're made of hardwood and are truly things of beauty.
Anyway, it took me about 20 years to sell that trailer load of firewood. I was dead wrong about them, nobody wanted the things at all. I would have had better success trying to sell Perry Como t-shirts at a Led Zeppelin concert.
They did come in handy for putting nails in the wall and other odd tasks. But, after tripping over them for 20 years, I was happy to see the last one go.
Now one of these days I'm going to talk about the silly things people buy at yard sales. Maybe you go to yard sales and, if so, perhaps you've ran into Mrs. Huntington in your travels. She never misses them and I have the clutter to prove it.
It seems Mrs. Huntington has decided to work on her fortune now….. we've got another box of these durn Shoe Lasts'.
Phineous Zivick Huntington April 21, 2007
VTG Salvatore FERRAGAMO stretcher SHOES forms Lasts 12
 | US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 20:00:10 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
VTG wood Stretchers CHURCH'S mens SHOES forms Lasts 13
 | US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 19:55:43 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
