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Shoe Repair

in the News

Fixing Footwear
A Florida cobbler repairs worn soles and broken heels

The Sharp End: Cobblers to the gentry
In a day's shift at a Chelsea shoe-repair shop, Dave Waller discovers his sole. The story is that shoe repair is a goldmine in a recession.

Broken in, but not worn out
Richard Purpora began working at the shop when he was only 14 years old, under the tutelage of his uncle, Frank. Richard agreed to take over the family business in 2007.

Ukrainian cobbler finds destiny in shoe repair
Alex Marshtein opened Alex's Shoe and Repairs in 1985 in Charleston but moved to Mount Pleasant two years ago for cheaper rent and better parking.

Snapshot: Shoe repair is all in the family for Raymond Torcaso
Raymond Torcaso , 51, is a seventh-generation shoe repairman and has been practicing the trade in Kenosha for 40 years.

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Convert Rubber Soles To Leather

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T O P I C R E V I E W
houserichichi	Posted - 09/26/2006 : 09:54:54 AM Hello!! I just purchased a pair of relatively inexpensive rubber soled dress shoes but adore the shape although I detest rubber soles. I figured rather than send myself on a goose chase I may as well pop the question online - is it possible to have a shoe repair shop (or a string of talented cobblers) take my terrible rubber soles off the shoe and replace them with leather? Alternatively, I suspect that my soles are also glued, etc, as they are not of the highest quality. Would a repair shop be able to also stitch/nail the new leather soles on properly or am I banished to the world of glues for all eternity (or until these shoes die out)? ALSO, can you please tell me what the purpose of steel caps on the toes/heels on the soles of shoes are for? Does it just help the longevity? Would it be worth the investment to have them added on, at the very least for aesthetic purposes Thanks in advance!
3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Randy Lipson	Posted - 09/28/2006 : 6:31:09 PM The noise could be coming from the heel base which many times is plastic with a leather wrap around it, then a rubber or combination rubber leather toplift. Ask your repair shop for a solid leather base and the toplift of your choice, or you can have a solid rubber loafer or whole heel depending on the heel height.
houserichichi	Posted - 09/26/2006 : 10:51:16 PM Thanks Randy. I am also wondering why it is that the heels of my rubber soled shoes don't make the same "clack"-ing sound on the ground when I step as those with leather soles. I have a pair of leather soled shoes where the heel appears to be half rubber (at the back) and half leather at the front. I suspect that the leather-half of the heel doesn't make the clack as it's not necessarily the part that's hitting the ground first so is there a difference in rubber quality that makes the noise or is it actually something about the leather? I just really like the sound of "proper" shoes on non-carpeted floors. Maybe I'm just pretentious.
Randy Lipson	Posted - 09/26/2006 : 7:18:26 PM Most shops can replace the rubber soles with leather. Shouldnt be a problem stitching them on as well. The steel caps are are probably heel and toe plates. They extend the life for those who are harder on those areas of the shoe.

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