The Osceola times., 1882-09-16
OLD FOOT GEAR.
a Man Who Reviyes worn-Out Shoes and
Resells Them.

Resells Them.
New York Times
Rows of shoes stand at the head of
basement stairs on the lower side of Bax-
ter street, all the way from Chatham to
Canal street, from early in the morning
until late at night They are patched
and pieced, and the soles and heels on
them are new, but their appearance tells
of long and hard wear. There is not an
unworn shoe TO be seen along the entire
street They are all secondhand, and in
the worst possible condition at that for
the most part. Peering down into the
gloomy Easements other pairs will be
seen on the floors, while on insecure
benches from one to four cobblers will be
seen stitching, patching, soling and heel
ing dilapidated shoes. Here, scarcely a
minutes walk from the busiest part of
the metropolis, in the lowest quarter and
in the most unpretentious manner, is
conducted a business the proportions Of
which one would never suspect.
The old shoe trade is confined almost
exclusively 10 Baxter street, although
here and there in Sixth and Seventh ave-
nues are places where better grades of
this class Of secondhand articles are
sold. Both mems old boots and shoes
and women's shoes are dealt in. From
five cents to 81 pair is paid for mems
shoes. Boots are worth little less be-
cause the sale for them is not so large.
For women's shoes from five TO thirty
five cents pair is paid. So long as the
uppers are not completely spoiled the
shoes can be utilized. Shoes that most
people would suppose were entirely past
redemption can be patched up and made
presentable. After soles and heels have
been put on the shoes, and the rents con
coaled by patches, the price is increased
about fifty cents on the average. A pair
of shoes for which twenty-five cents was
paid are sold, when repaired. for 75 cents.
The profit TO the dealer is from 10 to 30
per cent. The dealers pay their cobblers,
rs rule, 80 cents q pair for reconstruct
ing shoes, and in addition to this they
count the cost Of leather in their eXpen-
ses, and thus it will be seen that their
profit is not heavy. One of the shop-men
was asked how long the shoes would last
1--WE don't like TO sell shoes in wet
weather" he replied. "The soles are LA
bic to float off and leave the uppors with
out any bottoms. Maybe they will wear
for one day, and maybe they will last for
one month. We guarantee no goods, be-
cause the profits are SO small. The cob
blers can't afford to put in many pegs,
and we can't afford to put in much leath-
er." The reporter picked up pair of
shoes, and he was not long in reaching
the conclusion that, like glass, they must
be handled with care. The business is
not restricted to the retail trade, but in
cludes the wholesale. A great many cases
of the shoes are shipped to Baltimore,
Washington, Boston and other cities on
the orders of secondhand clothes deal
ers. The profits in the wholesale trade
range from to 10 per cent. under those
in the retail.
The patrons of the places are from the
poorer classes. The busiest days in the
retail trade are Saturday and Sunday,
more particularly the latter. Some of the
shops open as early as five o'clock in the
morning, and many Of them do not close
until midnight. The rent of the base
mcnts is from $25 to $50 month. This
is the greatest expense to the proprietor,
and little wonder is il that he pulls his
customer in by main force TO make up for
this heavy drain. Up in Sixth and Sew
enth avenues, where better business is
done, from 81 to Si pair is paid for
shoes. Only the best shoes, not much
worn, will be bought.