Club Obi Wan

The new pic of the 405 on the Alden Shop website shows the 405 in an almost black color. Have they switched colors on us again? I'll have to say this is much better looking than the orange color I've seen on lots of the newer boots.

Jaydoc

He's right! I just checked the site and they ARE black...no "almost" to it. And they look terrible, too....

Anyone want to find out what the deal is with this?

Michaelson? You always seem to have more "response" from these guys....

Here's the link to see them!....

http://www.aldenshop.com/indyboot.asp

Later!
Indydawg

This picture came from the other site. http://www.aldenshoe.com/cat_ortho_trub_405.htm

They must have liked the angle better. But the color doesn't represent the shoe. They call it a Dark Brown. It's not dark when you get it. Hmmm.....

Maybe they've finally changed the color of the leather? Or it could be just a factor of REALLY horrid lighting.

West

I saw this picture in the Aldens catalog when I went with MK and Indean to get fitted by Fritz for my own pair. This picture, like all the others in the printed catalog are grayscale (black and white) photographs. Nobody panic!
PBG

I've just ordered a pair, and Allan at Aldens has mentioned that they are the light brown.

Recent inquiries to the Alden factory say that the color has not changed. That picture is just to show the style in better definition. They can make black in special order status, though, for a price. Regards. Michaelson

The new pic is just a high contrast Black and White photo.

It is my understanding that they are using the order catalogue photo because they are planning to update the color photo to match the color of the boot.

I have personally seen 3 distincly different leathers/colors of the 405.

1. Original Brown: This is the original ROTLA patent leather brown boot. Its upper is unlined and the leather is stiffer than the current offering. The color has some grey and greeny-beige in it but it appears at a glance to be a straight brown. This is the color most people might expect of the boot. This color is a rare breed and nearly extinct--Fritz may still have some odd-size stock.... oh well...

2. Pumpkin Brown: This is the aberrant colored leather that many have not liked. This leather was not used extensively and was, perhaps, a dying mishap. The color is a fiery brick with orange undertones. The leather is a soft, matt leather that is lined with a small pattern quilt-like texutre. Despite the orange look, this leather will darken and lose some of the orangey effect.

3. Brown-reddish: This is the current offering and the boot you see in the pics, including the new one. This is a brown-reddish that might aptly be described as a russet, or perhaps a sepia-brick. The color responds to brick color meltonian shoe polish. The leather is the same type as #2 including the lining. This color is pleasing to the eye and absorbs real light much better than the representation on film or digitally. In parts of the boot where the leather is stretched (front toe), the leather will partially reflect light, almost a shine, but this depends on the light and the newness of the boot. In other parts of the boot, the leather absorbs light and shows the richness of the color. Brand new, however, the boots will look stark. Given a few wears, the colour matts out even more and the toe box creases lighten, giving a dusty look. The white stiching and cork-colored sole edge also dull somewhat and the starkness, overall, decreases.

Pecards softens leather #1 and it darkens and softens #2 & 3.

Michaelson may have more to add to the issue ....

A friend of mine recently bought a pair of the current offering but is selling (see classifieds for details).

Mr. White mentioned that this leather (says they've used nothing else for years), is a very durable and comfortable leather and it ages beautifully.

I agree.

Hope this helps.

North.

....2 follows 3, as the reddish brown was the offering BEFORE the orangy leather. If you find a pair of the reddish brown versions, you're getting old stock, according to Aldens. Not sure who told you that the orange was a 'mistake' and being changedout, but I sure hope they have some clout at the factory, as according to their customer service department in a recent conversation, the only offering at this time is the orangy color in their current stock, and no plans to update anytime soon. Regards. Michaelson

interesting....

perhaps this comes down to color symantecs.

My boots came from the factory in Middleboro MA and my friend's came from San Fran.

I had ordered two sizes specifically to be certain of my size with the intent to send one back. All the colors were the same.

The only orangey color that I've seen were in New York about a year ago and they only had a few pairs left. The guys at the store said that they didn't like them but that the new shipment would have none of that.

So I wonder if these discrepancies are true or just slight color mods and discernable mostly to the discerning gearhead eye. I have only ever seen that one single pair the orangey color.

My numbering above had no chronological basis, just a referrence based on my observations.

Mr. White has expressed to me in the past, that no change has been made since the initial switch to the soft leather from the original---perhaps there was an even OLDER boot prior to the browns I saw, but I've never even heard of that possibility.

This begs some further investigating....

I own both the reddish brown AND the new 'pumpkin' orange version. This pumpkin color came about in January of this year, and corresponded with the price increase, as Aldens stated they could no longer find a source to provide the patent leather that the reddish brown paten leather version was made prior to this year. Prior to the reddish version was a dark brown version (MK found a pair of these recently squirreled away in Fritz's inventory). Those have been the only 3 versions that have been produced to date, according to the factory. The current offering is NOTHING like the reddish brown version, as the prior version accepts the brick Meletonian shoe creme, and the new 'pumpkin' orange does not, as the leather is a different source, and is more accepting of the new brown Pecards dressing. Like I said, according to customer service, there's no plan of any changes since the new leather source was found last December, but I'm REALLY hoping there is a change in the air, as I've been tilting this windmill since January, as they not only changed the color, but are using less leather in the boot, then raised the price on top of all that. Not a good thing. Still a good boot, but the product is less now than what we were receiving a year ago. Regards. Michaelson

The Aldens that I tried on with Fritz were of the reddish-brown color, they were 11 1/2 Es and I needed 11 1/2 EEs so he had to order them. I asked if they would be the same color (reddish-brown) as the pair I tried on and he assured me that they would be. I will post when I take delivery on them and let everyone know what color they are. Of course, I can't be positive if they are being made to order or just being shipped from a warehouse somewhere. I will ask him when I pick them up.
My Best, PBG

I've asked that question myself, and was told that any of the red/brown versions were old stock, whether it be from a store or factory warehouse. Recently the responses from Aldens have been spotty , if not contradicting at times. I often wonder WHO knows in the Alden circle what is and is not the correct info, let alone current. This sudden rise of orders in 405's have definitely thrown them, as it's a boot from their orthopedic catalog, and not exactly a main stream item, so they haven't had to make very many of them before we hit the door. I really think they don't know WHAT to do with us sometimes. (grins) Regards. Michaelson

Funny? I heard they changed the color to white as of November 1st.

Oh well.

junior

Throw a bucket of water on Michaelson! I think he's fainted! :shock: :wink: Regards. Michaelson

White 405's!! That's enough to drive a man to drink. (I ought to send the Alden company a thank-you card)

junior wrote:Funny? I heard they changed the color to white as of November 1st.

Oh well.

junior

Stayin' Alive, Stayin' Alive! Oooo-ooo-ooo, Stayin' Aliiiiii-iiii-iiiive!

There have been at least 4 Alden 405 colors, maybe even more. The brown pair in the pick below are old stock that Fritz (the man who sold them to Ford) of Frederick's Basic Shoe sold to me. I showed them to Lee Keppler and he told me that the original Raiders 405's were even a different brown than these. The other pair in the pics below are the very latest "pumpkin brown". Between the "regular brown" and the "pumpkin brown" came the "brick red brown" and the "orange brown". The orange brown shoes definitely have more orange than the new pumpkin brown ones. The red brown ones are the ones that you may have heard been referred to as "clown shoes". They're all pretty cool in their own way. Cheers
ps The black shoes are Alden 86's.

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About two weeks ago (or so) I believe Michaelson mentioned something about the $75 special order fee. See

http://www.indygear.com/community/forum ... php?t=1545

So, if one doesn't mind shelling out an additional $75, then s/he can special order the Alden 405's and get a factory brown color? Just a thought.

I.J.

Does Alden still make the black one?

...but it's special order. Regards. Michaelson

Oh well....

The black one is an Alden 86. They still make them. I got mine a few weeks ago. Cheers

I was speaking of a black 405. Regards. Michaelson

I should have clarified myself. Sorry. I was asking about the 86's. Rundquist, is there a link where I can see them on the Alden site. I have really been thinking about a black shoe and those would be great!

Thanks.
Pyr.

Nevermind, I just read your post on the other thread. Thanks.

http://www.indygear.com/community/forum ... php?t=1615

Michaelson,

These pics really illustrate your point about them using less leather now on the 405s.

My brother lives in Sherman Oaks and he wants a pair of Aldens. Where is Fritz's shoe shop? Thanks.

LJHood wrote:My brother lives in Sherman Oaks and he wants a pair of Aldens. Where is Fritz's shoe shop? Thanks.

Fredrick's Basic Shoes
4531 Sepulveda
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
(818)788-9359

-S

I picked up my Aldens from Fritz on Thursday afternoon. Earlier in this thread I'd report about the color when they arrived, and the color is......Red-brown! I don't know if this proves what color leather Alden is using now but is does prove that the red-brown color 405s are still floating around out there.
PBG