Club Obi Wan

My Aldens which I .. uh... inherited shall we say from an Indygear legend date from 1989. Tehy have been resoled several times. However recent problems:

Speedlacer fell off
Soles coming off
The leather part where the laces thread through has become compeltely dettached from the front and sides of the boot on one shoe.

My local cobbler refused to repair them. I sent them back to Alden Co who wouldn't touch them. I got them backt odaya nd dont know what to do. They are old but the leather is still intact and perfectly useable. What do I do?

Thanks!



In memorandim 1989 - 2004 (I hope not!!)



(picture taken last summer)

Ken

They look familiar. I have seen that same pair at a lot of gunshows. Am I right?

Yikes!!! I don't know Ken. Maybe it's time to let go. They look like they deserve a proper funeral. I have a pair of Doc Martens I've had for about 10 years, and they look beat to @#$%, but I can't part with them either. Too many fond memories while wearing them.
Hey, maybe you could get them bronzed!!!

Sergei wrote:They look familiar. I have seen that same pair at a lot of gunshows. Am I right?

Bingo!

I'd keep them and show them off you Irish son of a.... Ahem. Since they're beyond repair and wear, what else can you do? Somewhat a piece of Indygear history ya know. Now when you coming back to the States Ken?

Best Regards,
Jun

Baphy

Did you not get my email? And I said the boots had been refused repair - not beyond it!!

Ken

Refuse=Beyond Now don't you forget it! :evil: Email? Sorry my brother I did not get it. Please send it to me at your earliest convience. Bassist4THINE@yahoo.com

You know I may a bit off topic, but this reminds me of an Adidas shirt I have, but no longer wear, I have had it for going on 8 years, which for a t-shirt is pretty good mileage, it is still comfortable, and only has some holes, however I cannot part with it just because it is one of clothing items you get used to. If I were you Ken, I would try my darndest myself to put the shoe in better condition, just for the sake of keeping them around a bit longer. If you fail, you would have to retire them, but you were already faced with that prospect already.

I had been wearing these very day until the day I sent them off for repairs. The last 2 weeks without them has been a misery! I dont knoe what to do. I have a pair of J Crews but they are still breaking in and giving me blisters at the moment.

I will be doing everythign in my power to save these shoes!!

Ken

Ken,

The shoe clinic I get my Aldens worked on may be able to do something. The last pair of Aldens I had repaired (not 405s) the welt was totally destroyed and so they rubber cemented the sole on really good. It may be an incentive enough to come to Texas this summer.

I may need some additional photos. PM me if you are interested.

Pyro - thats exactly what my loca cobbler said. The welt was destroyed and it would cost a lot to get them fixed (which i was prepared for) but that he didnt have or know anyone who had the experience to do such a repair job.

I will take some pictures of the boots in their current form and send them to you later in the week. I might take you advice on thsi Pyro! Thanks!

Ken

"Indiana... let it go."

R.I.P. old friends.

Just a thought, but if you're prepared for high repair bills, maybe consider adding these to a display as a memorium, and get a new pair of 405's and make NEW memories with them.

I have a few pieces of Gear that had taken their share of abuse that are now a display in the Indy Room, and have been replaced with new pieces. It might be something to consider if they have a lot of sentimental value.

Sucess - rejoice!

<cue Hallejuhlia chorus>

Well I searched out another cobbler and eventually managed to find a diamond in the rough - a guy willing to attempt a repair. When he first saw them he gave me this look like 'you actually want to continue wearing these' but when he realised how much I loved them (which somewhat surprised him actually) he explained everything he could do in order to attempt a repair.

So here I am a week later - where the leather was lifting away at the side it is now fixed, the speed lacer is still broken and permanently I am told (ah well) but most importantly the sole is fixed! I can't beleive it, its beautiful job it really is.

And the best bit - the whole thign cost me £30. I prob spent 1/2 of that just shipping them off to Alden Co for them to tell em they wouldnt repair them.

So all in all I am a very happy bunny. To many further adventures!!

Ken

Congrats. But since these shoes are now part of the Legend of IndyGear, you may want to keep them for just special occations and daily wear the Crews or put a little a way for a new pair of Aldens. But those shoes should be saved for the IndyGear Archives.... if we ever set up an IndyGear Archives that is....

Congrats Ken.

Hey,

There are some shoe places here in the states that won't touch 405s even when they are new.

I agree with MJ. I'd also suggest you keep those to walk the decks of the Queen Mary, but otherwise store them in a place of honor. Regards. Michaelson

Ken, we must see some comparison pics of those babies!
I'm dying to see how they turned out.

Gee I guess I should have taken some before shots of the soles... I will take pictures of them redone but I doubt you will notice too much difference.

I think I will semi-retire these one day - they are a pecie of Indygear history, both becuase of their vintage and because of their previous owner. But there is a certain job I need them to do for me before that day.

Ken

Indiana Ken wrote:But there is a certain job I need them to do for me before that day.

I know where I've seen those shoes! They belong to the Proclaimers!

"Well I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walks
500 miles to fall down at your door..."

(And what is the next word they yell?)

Surrender!

That's what I thought, but I didn't think Scots ever surrendered.

I love that song!

Ken

Hi Ken

I´m interested how your aldens looking now after the "REBUILDING" and cleaning. Can you send me a picture ? Never seen 10 year old boots that were wearn every day . Must be very very close to Indy´s Aldens

To be honest they look just the same as in the picture above except for the sole. I will take new pictures some time and post them, I promise, but it may be a while as I dont have a digital camera and just use a normal film and then get it processed onto CD.

Ken