The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-02
CAST-OFF FOOT-GEAR.
How Secondhand Shoes Are Made Over
and Sold in Large Cities.

and Sold in Large Cities.
In a dingy and ill-ventilated cohbler'i
shop, In one of the most densely popu,
lated streets of South Brooklyn, sits
from sunrise to sunset an old and dried
shoemaker. He always appears to be
busy, but the boots and shoes which
are exhibited in a showcase at the from
of the door have worn and dilapidated
appearance. The shoemaker, who is q
character in his way, makes a living
by repairing and selling second
hand shoes. There is not fortune in
the business, to besure, but the aged cob.
bier informed reporter recently that by
working from sixteen to eighteen hours
a day he was able to support his wife
and little ones. The industry of reno
waiting secondhand shoes is not new
one, by any means. The idea origin
ated in London and is carried on large
ly in all European cities in the quarters
of the poor.
Said the shoemaker: "You would
be surprised to see the class of men
who purchase secondhand shoes.
have among my customers an elderly
gentleman who comes here regularly
every three months and buys pair OF
shoes for one dollar and fifty cents.
He is wealthy, but mser. Many
men whom [ might name, and who
are well able to buy new shoes, prefer
second hand ones for economy's sake.
When pair of shoes is cast off they
are worthless to the original pur-
chaser. and can be bought for Il song.
When business is dull sometimes 90
out on a collecting tour, and in a
couple of hours will obtain enough
shoes and boots to keep me employed
for q month. Boots are much more
valuable than shoes, because they con-
tain more leather. find that they are
not worn much nowadays, and those
| occasionally come across are made of
the finest leather"
'What means are taken to burnish
up old shoes?" was asked.
The uppers of secondhand shoes
are always good, whether the lowers
are worn or not. If the body of the
shoe is not in patchable condition |
must put on an entire new instep.
Usually the upper part of the heel to
the curve of the foot remains in good
condition. Sometimes it becomes nee
essary to entirely renovate old shoes,
so that when finished they are like new
ones, with this difference, that the
leather used is not so good as the orig
inal. Soles and heels always have to
be rebuilt and the toes capped. In all
these repairs the cheapest of sole
leather is used. When finished the
shoes can be sold from seventy-fve
cents to one dollar and fifty cents. A
shoe must be of the finest leather and
be but little worn to bring two dollars. "
"Who are your customers?"
Poor people, who can afford to pay
but little for their shoes. | supply
whole families with shoes, from the
father and mother to the baby. ! dc
but little business in women's shoes.
Women usually wear their shoes in the
street until they become shabby,
when they are cut down and used in
the house as slippers. And then be.
side, women'S shoes are now so cheap
that it would not pay to make them
over
While the reporter was listening tc
the cobbler's chatter there entered the
store laboring man who, after much
dickering, bought pair of brogans
three sizes too large for him for ninety
cents.
''Those shoes which Ihave just sold,'
continued the shoemaker, "will veal
the man nearly year. You know
what he paid for them, and can est
mate about what shoe leather costs
some poor people who know where tc
purchase"
Half dozen or more cobblers make
living in Brooklyn by mending anC
making over old shoes. Brooklyn
Ea0Le