MEMORIAL DAY - 2010

If you can read this, thank a teacher.  If you can read this in English, thank a Servicemember.

Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service. In observance of the holiday, many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at national cemeteries.

 

YES!!!

Just listed - I can't get over the 17" height, though.  Based on the lower half's profile, they are sure to bring in some descent scratch - then again, the height is questionable. 

WWII USMC HBT P44 CAP

I've been searching for fuctional gear to bring "foward" with me to Afghanistan and happen upon this cool original Herringbone Twill (HBT) Cap. You've got to be a serious collector to pay this much scratch for a Marine Corps "Cover" - not sure if they were called "Cover's" back then, but that's we call our uniform caps now.

$455 / 25 Bids

 

DENNIS HOPPER - RIP

MAY 17, 1936 - MAY 29, 2010 

Here are a few of my favorite films he's been in:

Rebel Without A Cause - 1955

Giant - 1956 

Easy Rider - 1969 

Hell Ride - 2008

KNAPP ENGINEER BOOTS

Knapp Bros. was cofounded by Elwin and Clarence Knapp in 1921; however, their Engineer Boots got their start as early as the 1940's.  Many later models from around the 1980's/1990's emerged recently and have brought less than desireable scratch.  I'm unsure as to when production on these boots ended, but as indicated below, I'm guessing as late as the last decade.

I'd love to to see how these boots will look with the Okuyama (Hukurokuju) sole treatement - Cat's Paw half sole and stacked/Woodsman Cat's Paw heels.

The following four photographs are from Rin Tanaka's My Freedamn! 5

$350 - 1950's

$224.50 - 1960's

  

Size 9D, $47.00 - Circa 1980's/1990's?

 

Size 13D, Offered for $60 Buy It Now

 

WHAT'CHOO TALKIN' 'BOUT

Diff'rent Strokes was one of my favorite shows growin' up. All the main child actors appeared to have been cursed during their adult lives.

RIP, Gary Coleman!

TALL WESCO BOSS ENGINEER BOOTS

Aside from the height, I'm really diggin' these boots.  Definitely an older model (80's/90's?) and obviously well crafted.  Not sure if these lasts are still available, but I'd like to get this exact look in a 12" height and #705 soles.   

VIBRAM SOLES

In 1935, the deaths of six of Bramani’s mountaineering friends in the Italian Alps was partly blamed on inadequate footwear. The tragedy drove Vitale Bramani to develop a new climbing sole. Two years later, he patented his invention and launched the first rubber soles on the market with a tread design called the ‘Carrarmato,’ with the financial backing of Leopoldo Pirelli of Pirelli Tires. The sole was designed to provide excellent traction on the widest range of surfaces, have a high degree of abrasion resistance and was made using the latest vulcanized rubber of the time.

Traditional Carrarmato lugs

In 1954, the first ever successful summit of K2 was made by an Italian expedition wearing Vibram rubber on their soles.

Here's an early example of Vibram soles on a pair of 1950's Engineer Boots

Little known fact...to me: Vibram is pronounced "Veebrum" where the "Vi" in Vibram sounds like a hard "V" and the "bram" ryhmes with "drum." The name Vibram was created from the name of the company's founder, Vitale Bramani.

NOW THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT

This seller surely does know how to capture the beauty of a great pair of vintage Engineer Boots.  These were just posted - ufortunately, they are a large size.

Perfect wear, half-soles, brass hardware, toe tracks - what else can one ask for? 

RETURN OF THE CATALINA GRAND PRIX

Racing on Santa Catalina Island, an island community situated approximately 22 miles south-southwest of greater Los Angeles, began in 1951 with 1958 as the last year professional racing was conducted on the island. The Grand Prix was considered an influential event in terms of bike sales following the race.

1957

Efforts by the American Motorcycle Association and other major motorcycle related companies have secured December 3 through 5, 2010 as dates for the event, with a 100-mile professional race held on the 5th.

1952

1956 - Notice the white Catalina Island Grand Prix shirt.  Lucky Brand reproduced these some years ago using vintage-style shirts. 



















Major manufacturers, like Yamaha, made serious efforts to win on Catalina.

ACME ENGINEER BOOTS

Brand: "Acme"
Circa: "1940's - 1950's"
Color: Black
Size: "7D"
Measurements:
Sole: 10 1/2" x 3 7/8"
Sole: Tapper (molded)
Hardware: Brass
Leather: Unknown
Condition: Very Good
Sold For: $500.00 / Buy It Now
Seller: catsforhands

Not sure what to say about these boots.  A good looking pair of Engineer Boots, but shoe trees don't do them much justice.  As for the date of origin, I'm on the fence - The molded soles and the possible replacement heels discount them as being from the 1940's - 1950's.  Either way, I feel the price was a bit steep.  I would not have bid anything over $200 for them.  The rivetted reinforced top straps are uncommon, but definitely not a price breaker.  Other than that, nothing to hoot and hollar about.