Pigskin putties and murder by monkey

Bits and pieces by Lois

img040 (4)I can’t at the moment find any information about the London Shoe Co., Ltd,, of Queen Victoria Street in London, and New Bond Street, also in London. H.R.H. The Crown Prince of Greece, I think may have been Constantine I, who ascended the throne in 1913, when his father George I was assassinated in Thessaloniki. Constantine was deposed, and his son Alexander was put on the throne, however due to a ghastly freak accident when he was bitten by a monkey while defending his dog, he died and his father resumed the throne. Constantine’s second reign only lasted another two years when once again a son became king instead of him as George II. Constantine died the following year, in 1923, at the age of fifty-four.

Going back to the advert, I’m not sure that putties are made at all any more, pigskin or otherwise. I know soldiers used to wear putties or puttees made from strips of cloth wound round their ankles and calves but I didn’t know there were leather ones. Putties, which originated in India, were worn by cavalry and infantry, to protect and support the lower part of the leg. They are similar in purpose to gaiters, but gaiters go over the shoe or boot. I’m not sure exactly what 14/9 (14 shillings and nine pence) would be worth today, possibly about £80.

I wonder how today’s golfers would like the golf shoe, with its heel, apparent lack of grips or studs, and very pointed toe? They look very elegant but I’m not sure how practical they would be! At 31/9, or £1 11s 9d they were probably about£160.

9 Comments

  2. Brigid
    Reply

    Hi Lois,

    I have a pair of shoes from the London Shoe Co, which I inherited from my father’s family. They had been packed away in boxes which I’ve been storing since my grandfather passed away and I unpacked them this week for the first time since 2016. I found your post while trying to find more information about the company. Aside from a few newspaper ads it’s surprisingly difficult to find information about!

    Anyway, just thought I’d chime in with my two pence!

    Brigid

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lois
      Reply

      Thanks very much Brigid, how interesting, what treasure! Are your grandfather’s shoes town shoes?
      It’s surprising how companies like the London Shoe Co., have left so little trace of themselves. I guess business directories are the only likely way to find anything about them, apart from adverts!

      Like

  3. Brigid
    Reply

    Hi again Lois!
    I’m having a busy work week here but I’ll hopefully be able to reply properly on the weekend. I’ll see if I can show you some photos, maybe I can post to flickr and link them or something like that. They’re women’s shoes, beautiful dainty little things!
    Regards,
    Brigid

    Liked by 1 person

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