$700 Custom Raiders Aldens

rbinko2001 · Post by **rbinko2001** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:38 am

Has anyone received their exact replica custom Raiders Aldens boots yet? Im curious to see how they look.

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:47 am

We all are curious, but we have to wait september-october to receive them...

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:14 am

I spoke to Alden yesterday and they're supposed to be done in mid September. I'm dying to see them myself!!!

Regards,

Marc

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:17 am

Thanks for the very good news Marc!!

rbinko2001 · Post by **rbinko2001** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:19 am

The guys that ordered their custom Aldens will probably get them before I receive my "normal" ones ordered on May 23. Almost 3 months and still waiting.... but not as patiently as before!

sneakertinker · Post by **sneakertinker** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:25 am

Can't wait for my pair to get here...

Tron7960 · Post by **Tron7960** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:34 pm

Marc wrote:I spoke to Alden yesterday and they're supposed to be done in mid September. I'm dying to see them myself!!!

Regards,

Marc

Mid September? That doesn't seem nearly as far away as it used to (masterful grasp of the obvious I have!)

Indiana Jake · Post by **Indiana Jake** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:37 am

What exactly are "exact replica custom Raiders Aldens boots "?

Jake

Indiana Williams · Post by **Indiana Williams** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:53 am

Indiana Jake wrote:What exactly are "exact replica custom Raiders Aldens boots "?

Jake

Basically the only thing custom is the color. If you want the Raiders brown aldens you gotta get custom ones.

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:04 am

Tron7960 wrote: Mid September? That doesn't seem nearly as far away as it used to (masterful grasp of the obvious I have!)

We ordered in April.

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:07 am

Indiana Jake wrote:What exactly are "exact replica custom Raiders Aldens boots "?

Jake

Have a look here:

viewtopic.php?t=27166

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:40 am

Basically the only thing custom is the color.

Not quite

It's also the way the leather is tanned, the lining of the boots and a few other details that have painfully been sourced out through COUNTLESS discussions with both Aldens and with a lot of help from people who I consider true experts on the subject.

Regards,

Marc

Indiana Williams · Post by **Indiana Williams** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:48 am

Marc wrote:
Basically the only thing custom is the color.
Not quite It's also the way the leather is tanned, the lining of the boots and a few other details that have painfully been sourced out through COUNTLESS discussions with both Aldens and with a lot of help from people who I consider true experts on the subject.

Regards,

Marc

Ahhh!

I was mistaken. I should have looked at the original thread before I posted that, sorry if that sounded demeaning.

Im very interested to see some pics of these new custom aldens compared to the newer ones. I figured the color was the only difference but if the whole boot is like the ones offered back in the 80's thats cool.
Best Regards,
Joe

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:59 am

About the original colour, in the IndyGear boots page you can read this:

As late as 2002, before Fritz's death, fortunate Indy gear collectors with obscure size feet, smaller or larger sizes generally, were known to sometimes come away from Frederick's Shoes with a pair of old stock Raiders brown Aldens. The color is generally considered to be “extinct” but there are still “new” old stock pairs that surface every now and then from the storerooms of old shoe shops

But I never saw any pic of these old stock pairs, in this forum. Anyone can provide some photos?

Indy_1971 · Post by **Indy_1971** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:26 am

Okay, maybe this question has already been answered but I'd still like to know.
Why does Alden refuse to change the color of the 405 to a dark brown?
I am quite sure they have received many calls and emails requesting a dark brown boot, but they won't seem to budge.
Seems like poor customer service to me. There is a market for these boots and in my humble opinion, they would sell a lot more if they changed the color. Is it really that hard to do? I don't know why it is necessary to make a custom Alden, just change the color already, and everyone would be happy!

gwyddion · Post by **gwyddion** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:10 pm

your guess is as good as mine...

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:03 pm

Indy_1971 wrote:Okay, maybe this question has already been answered but I'd still like to know.
Why does Alden refuse to change the color of the 405 to a dark brown?
I am quite sure they have received many calls and emails requesting a dark brown boot, but they won't seem to budge.
Seems like poor customer service to me. There is a market for these boots and in my humble opinion, they would sell a lot more if they changed the color. Is it really that hard to do? I don't know why it is necessary to make a custom Alden, just change the color already, and everyone would be happy!

same reason why HJ continues to make parking cone hats......

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:40 pm

I'm interested to see if the color is any more convencing that my regular 405s that I've applied regular old Kiwi cordovan and brown paste to. I personally can't imagine them being better than how mine came out after shining them up with that..it was cheap to.

And I'm obviously behind on the subject but besides the AB special order why does it seem like everyone is having to wait a long time to get their boots, I got mine in '06 and don't remember having to wait very long for them to show up. Are these only made once the order is placed or something, surely they keep these in stock, no?

Doug C

Don't Call Me Junior! · Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:41 pm

Marc wrote:
Basically the only thing custom is the color.
Not quite It's also the way the leather is tanned, the lining of the boots and a few other details that have painfully been sourced out through COUNTLESS discussions with both Aldens and with a lot of help from people who I consider true experts on the subject.

Regards,

Marc

Marc has "top men" working on it right now!

I can't wait to see how they come out. Part of me is hoping that it's not worth the increase. I don't yet own the 405's as part of my gear collection and if these custom SA ones are as good as Marc says then I will certainly have to consider them. Hopefully the dollar will improve by the time I decide I am ready to take the plunge!

Tron7960 · Post by **Tron7960** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:08 am

Indiana Strones wrote:
Tron7960 wrote: Mid September? That doesn't seem nearly as far away as it used to (masterful grasp of the obvious I have!)
We ordered in April.

You are right, We did.

Thanks for the refresher!

Satipo · Post by **Satipo** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:50 am

Any of you guys planning on distressing these boots? I bet that'll be a painful decision to make.

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:33 am

Satipo wrote:Any of you guys planning on distressing these boots? I bet that'll be a painful decision to make.

Very simple decision to me: NO DISTRESSING!!!!

Dr._J · Post by **Dr._J** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:02 pm

Yeah, that price-tag is distressing enough.

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:17 pm

Dr._J wrote:Yeah, that price-tag is distressing enough.

Yes, very distressing!!

bigrex · Post by **bigrex** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:50 pm

Don't Call Me Junior! wrote:
Marc has "top men" working on it right now!

WHO? (that's rhetorical btw)

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:16 am

bigrex wrote:
Don't Call Me Junior! wrote:
Marc has "top men" working on it right now!
WHO? (that's rhetorical btw)

(I'll bite...!) TOP... men...

Shane