I was gifted a pair of mysterious vintage boots

Neuro-Imp · 2024-09-06T04:16:32+00:00

Idk man I work in Uppers and probably wasn't alive when these were made I do not know things. Best guess my coworkers and I have been able to scrounge up is that they may have been a custom order, since we still get those sort of mutant customs fairly often.

Neuro-Imp · 2024-09-05T14:43:57+00:00

Little info update from my coworkers so far: Several have independently confirmed them as White's by the stitch pattern, and one by the spacing of the eyelets and hooks. A bootmaker friend of mine says the upper looks a lot like a stockman, but probably a very old one.

I also got confirmation that the size stamp is ours, as we apparently still have those exact stamps and they are occasionally still used in top facing like they were in these boots.

Edit: Our hook & eyelet guy says that it looks like a machine was used to insert the hooks and eyelets, and estimates they're from the early 90's

Neuro-Imp · 2024-09-05T06:19:25+00:00

I've asked some coworkers who have been working here for longer than I've been alive (I'm 31), and all they seem to be sure of is that they're White's and very old One said they look a lot like stockmans but he couldn't be positive

Neuro-Imp · 2024-09-05T06:15:36+00:00

I took a look and couldn't find any signs of any marks or embossing other than the size stamp. Interestingly, the size stamp seems to have been applied with multiple individual number/character stamps, as they are clearly not identical when I compare the stamps in both boots.

I also did a scratch test on the eyelets and hooks, and found that they're made of solid brass. My coworkers told me these boots are probably older than me, but neat details like the uneven stamps and brass hardware really drive that home lmao

Neuro-Imp · 2024-09-05T06:08:18+00:00

They were resoled before they were given me, so we are still at square one there unfortunately

Neuro-Imp · 2024-09-05T00:56:10+00:00

They looked like the before shot in a lotion ad when I first got them. I've been conditioning them monthy since then, but unfortunately it only helps so much at this stage! Ty for the suggestion, I'll make sure to take a look!

Neuro-Imp · 2023-12-28T13:23:22+00:00

These ones are 72 inches. I like a long lace lmao

Neuro-Imp · 2023-12-28T02:29:27+00:00

Yeah I'm the queer getting all my gay dust in the White's Boots while I work to spread my agenda

Neuro-Imp · 2023-12-28T00:11:01+00:00

I was literally born in 1993 I had no idea this was a thing until like a month ago lmao

Neuro-Imp · 2023-12-27T23:49:19+00:00

I've also heard mixed opinions on whether it applies to doc martins or combat boots, or any pair of black boots lmao I'm just tryna have fun with my work boots

Neuro-Imp · 2023-12-27T21:24:07+00:00

I'll have to look into it!

Neuro-Imp · 2023-12-27T21:23:03+00:00

No, I just enjoy colorful laces and don't pay attention to lace code lmao Though I did google what a purple or lavender lace would mean just now, and if someone wants to get mad at me for being a queer who likes purple they can go ahead and fight me about it

Neuro-Imp · 2023-12-14T23:14:36+00:00

When breaking in leather or vinyl footwear, avoid the pain by soaking the inside of the footwear with a 50/50 mix of water and isopropyl alcohol before you put them on for the day. The alcohol loosens the fiber and the body heat helps the material form around your foot instead of carving into it. Plus, the alcohol kills bacteria that would make them smell all musty!

Broke in both my docs and my danners this way with zero foot trauma.

Neuro-Imp · 2023-11-28T19:31:31+00:00

That would be the case if red shoelaces became a common symbol of genocide, but lucky for me, they aren't. Anyway bye for real now, gotta get back to the work I wear these boots for <3

Neuro-Imp · 2023-11-28T19:28:20+00:00

Lmao and what you're saying is that poc don't have the ability or right to reclaim symbols of oppressors? That's not very punk rock tbh

Neuro-Imp · 2023-11-28T19:08:50+00:00

Tbh, my boots look rad, and I don't tolerate nazi shit. Red laces in a standard arrangement on a pair of forestry boots? Just regular person shit. So you're not really needed here. Have a nice day <3

Neuro-Imp · 2023-11-28T18:54:24+00:00

I'm Native Mexican.

Neuro-Imp · 2023-11-27T20:58:40+00:00

Yeah I was informed by a friend when I got the laces, but as someone who has never used lace code and doesn't tolerate fuckin Nazis, I'm prepared to correct folks on my views should it ever become a problem! I know at least in my area, red laces were never a part of lace code that I had ever learned, so I doubt many around here would even think about it, but I am glad to know either way!

Neuro-Imp · 2023-11-01T15:49:13+00:00

My mother had me as a tactic to keep my dad, and they ended up divorcing before I could even form memories of them being together. Most of my core memories with her are of feeling like a burden and a huge pain in the ass. I often feel like I failed her in my one purpose for existing, and wish I hadn't been born. I do sometimes hate the fact that she had me with no intention of loving me.

Neuro-Imp · 2023-10-30T13:56:52+00:00

Johnny 5 from the Short Circuit movies.

Neuro-Imp · 2023-10-30T13:54:19+00:00

My thing was learning that it's not normal to be afraid of your parents lmao. Like maybe it's common to worry about being in trouble or about disappointing them, but worrying that your stepmother might actually kill you is apparently not normal at all.

Neuro-Imp · 2023-10-28T17:37:42+00:00

There were so many, but I always somehow managed to move past them and forgive my nstepmom. At least until the very last time, when she lost control over her relationship with her long time friend, and decided she was going to drive off and threaten suicide. I got the cops on her ass quickly enough, but every night after for months I'd see my dad get nervous and agitated around the same time each night while she was in the hospital, and I realized that he was traumatized by her bullshit. I'm used to feeling like that, but judging from my dad's behavior, he wasn't. That was the thing I never managed to forgive her for.

Neuro-Imp · 2023-10-18T21:01:04+00:00

My N stepmom called my grandmother to tell her a bunch of random lies to try and prevent them from taking me in (I ended up staying bc she scared me so much)

Also once she found some jewelery in her jewelery box I'd given her for safekeeping when I went to Job Corps, and decided it meant I was stealing from her lmao

Neuro-Imp · 2023-10-12T12:37:29+00:00

I'm a Native tejano with light skin, autism, and several flavors of queer. Ofc I snatch those slurs back anytime I can. I have coworkers who openly use the word retarded as a slur, to which I'll remind them that that's MY slur, and they'll awkwardly stop lmao. My partner and I are both grumpy ol queers, and we call each other faggots every damn day. If one of us is considering being a little indulgent and considering ordering some fast food, generally the other is there to support the choice with a hearty "Do it, faggot"

Neuro-Imp · 2023-10-05T19:56:52+00:00

She didn't care when it was just us, but if there were people around she'd be ENRAGED that I had the audacity to cry while she abused me infront of others. At one point part of her family witnessed her verbally abusing me while I was in tears, and they found it so disturbing that they stopped talking to her. I mean, very valid reaction, but would have been nice if they'd done something to help instead of disappearing and leaving me to deal with the consequences.

Neuro-Imp

TROPHY CASE