New Vintage Scotch Grain
Norwegian
by the eminent erstwhile American Shoemaker
Nunn-Bush
Circa 1980
Euro 480

Out of the over 200 American Shoemakers clustered around New England at the start of the 20 Century, only a handful remain, among them Bostonian, Cole-Haan, J &M and, here in Europe, the better known Alden and Allen-Edmonds. The great Florsheim and Nunn-Bush exist today as marketing firms, the bulk of their wares being produced off-shore. Lamentable and a far cry from the excellent hand-finished shoes for which they were once known and of which the present shoe is a prime example.

The Nunn-Bush Norwegian in this listing, dating from the 1980s appears to have been produced in the custom workrooms of this once great shoemaker. Nunn-Bush, like Florsheim, Cordwainer, Hanover, Footjoy and others, produced more than one price and quality level of product, in some cases even taking orders for custom shoes, extremely desirable rarities today. This pair, although marked for size, appears to be on that custom level, utilizing the finest skins and Goodyear welted (of course). This is a marvelous classic model in the old tradition of workmanship, a handsome and extremely durable shoe, almost on a par with the great Florsheims of the day and, in my view, superior to most modern examples of this classic model.