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To order Shoes and/or Heel Plates,
click on this PDF icon and follow the instructions on the top of the page.
Shoes Order Form.pdf
To care for your Shoes or Hi-Lo's, click on and print out this PDF document on Shoe Care.
Shoe Care pdf.
| Mens Shoes - Made
in Canada by Robert Land (www.robertlandhistoricshoes.com). We try to
keep all sizes in stock, but occasionally we run out, so please email
me with your size and width before you place your order.
The sizes and widths available are listed with each type of shoe. No other
sizes, widths, colors, smooth-out, custom orders, or womens sizes are
available. To see if your size may be in stock please check the inventory
list. I'll try to keep this updated, especially when I receive a new shipment,
but it may not be accurate during campaign season when we bring shoes
to events. However if the list doesn't show any in stock you can count
on that being accurate. I have been asked if a foot tracing would help in selecting the correct size shoe. It won't because there are other variables, for example, the ratio of arch (heel-to-ball) to overall (heel-to-toe) length, circumference around instep, circumference around ball, circumference around heel-to-instep. All of these may cause the shoe to fit or not. My advice is to visit a shoe store and have your foot measured with a Brannock Device. The device takes three measurements: heel-to-toe, arch, and width. Compare the heel-to-toe length to the arch length and use the larger of the two measurements as your shoe size. When measuring width, if you have a thick foot or high instep you may need a wider shoe than indicated on the device. Have your foot measured while sitting down because while standing the width may increase as much as 3/8". This would result in a new shoe that may feel perfectly comfortable when first worn, but inevitably leather shoes stretch from the strain of walking and the warmth and moisture of the feet, thus with a few days use the shoes may then feel big and loose. Getting shoes of the size indicated by the Brannock Device does not guarantee a perfect fit, but it increases the liklihood. Shoe size/width relationship: There is a proportional relationship between length and width of shoe. With each increase in full shoe size (1/3") the width increases 1/4". Each increase in shoe width increases inside shoe circumference by 1/4". The system for measuring length was promulgated in 1324 at the behest of King Edward II. He decreed that three grains of barley were equal to one inch, and 12 inches equal one foot. So the standard measuring increment of a shoe is the length of a grain of barley, that is one-third of an inch is an increase of a full shoe size. American shoe sizes have a starting point of 8-19/32" (218 mm) from the heel, which is size 1. [English sizes begin 8-2/3" (220mm) from the heel.] Nowadays it's become common see shoes sold with widths marked as M (Medium) or W (Wide). The M can be compared to the traditonal D width, and W compares to the EE width.
Straight Last Shoes - These are welted mens buckle shoes with a single sole, which is typical 18th C. construction. See Sketchbook '76 pg. 22 for detail on welt construction. From a few inches away these shoes look identical to the crooked shoes. Since these shoes are single soled they are not available with hobnails (this may change as I am getting stubbier hobnails) and they do not have heel rims. The shoe uppers use the same heavy black, rough out leather as used on my other shoes. Straight last shoes are neither right or left foot until you break them in. These shoes are only available in E width, which is between a D and EE width, and in full sizes from 7 to 13. $115.00/pair Most sizes of Straight Last Shoes are out-of-stock. More may be available in August. |
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Hi-Lo's were worn by some British officers
as shown in Della Gatta's painting of Germantown and Paoli, by jockeys
as shown in George Stubb's equestrian paintings, and by some Americans
as documented by deserter descriptions in which they are called "half-boots".
For the deserter descriptions see Charles Lefferts Uniforms of the
1775-1783 ... Armies, pages 77, 113, 134, 137. |
|
 Womens
Shoes
- Robert Land is working on recreating
the shoe pictured here. The forward heel looks odd, but many womens shoes
of the late 18th century were made this way. For reference see June Swann's
book Shoes and the many shoes in the collection of the Costume
Institute at the New York City Metropolitan Museum of Art. As of September
2007 Robert Land has yet to find a manufacturer for the heels that doesn't
require ordering a thousand or so. When we do find a source and begin production
I will update this website, so until then the womens shoes are not available
nor do we have an approximate date or shoe cost. |
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If you are purchasing a pair of Robert Land shoes you don't need these heel plates or heel rims because the shoes come standard with heel rims which should last several years. Heel plates are available in eight sizes, heel rims are no longer available. To determine which size you need, please download this .pdf file which has tracings of the plates and rims, and select the size that is the closest match to your shoe heels. The heel plate sizes do not correspond to shoe sizes and are not available in any other sizes than listed on the order form. Note that 7/8 is no longer available. The stamping die for size 7/8 cracked and the die will not be replaced.
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| Shoe Buckles - I don't have them, yet. Currently the best source is G.Gedney Godwin www.GGGodwin.com. Archeological finds have revealed there were two common military shoe buckles, one used by British and one used by Continental Army soldiers. The British buckle has been found from Burgoyne's route in upstate New York to Staten Island. Continental Army buckles have been found in many places in the Hudson Valley and one is pictured in Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia pg 53, top row, 2nd from left. This buckle also is often seen in museums such as Valley Forge N.H.P. and New Windsor Cantonment. Neither buckle is currently reproduced but someday I will make them. | |
| Hobnails - Steel hobnails, similar to those found on 18th Century military shoe heels excavated at Fort Ligonier, Pennsylvania (c.1760's). Hobnails are mentioned in several runaway descriptions, ie.: "several of them have hobnails in their shoes", "shoes nailed all round, both heels and soles" (Maryland 1775); "hob-nailed shoes, with large square brass buckles", "a pair of hob nailed shoes with strings" (New Jersey 1776-79); "thick double soled shoes, tied with leather strings, small hob nails in the soles near the toe, and large ones in the heel" (Pennsylvania 1783). These hobnails are made in New England by the same company for over 175 years. Until about 50 years ago hobnails were use by lumberjacks, foresters, and similiar trades. If you live in a forested area you might find hobnails stored away in old hardware stores. The army used hobnails in World War I and if you are near an army base you might find hobnails in nearby army surplus or hardware store. Caution: Hobnails
are great on dirt and grass, but make walking on pavement and floors
very slippery. Use them at your own risk. |
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Large, Medium & Small Ground Head
Cone Head,
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Large Ground Head 40 per bag. Shank is 5/8" long, rectangular head is .12" high, .30 x .33" square. Sold Out Medium Ground Head 50 per bag. Shank is 1/2" long, rectangular head is .11" high, .30 x .33" square. Sold Out Small Ground Head 60 per bag. Shank is 1/2" long, rectangular head is .10" high, .25 x .30" square. Sold Out Large Cone Head 100 per bag. Shank is 3/8" long, head is .13" high, .25" diameter.Sold Out Large Round Head 50 per bag. Shank is 1/2" long, head is .12" high, .30" diameter. Sold Out Medium Round Head 75 per bag. Shank is 1/2" long, head is .10" high, .25" diameter. Sold Out Small Round Head 140 per bag. Shank is 1/2" long, head is .06" high, .18" diameter. Sold Out. Q: How many nails in a
1 lb box? |
FAQs |
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