JOHNSTON & MURPHY CROWN ARISTOCRAFT

Here are a fantastic vintage pair of JOHNSTON & MURPHY CROWN ARISTOCRAFT # 23767f The Last of the Mohicans Full leather heels or dovetail top lifts over stacked leather heels are the pairs you want. Avoid the more contemporary pairs that have the "man-made insole" stamps, you want a nice full leather inner sole. I don't know the dates of production but that really doesn't matter, it's just about the quality of the materials used. RELIABILITY I have a good range of shoes from both lines, spanning the 1980-late 1990s. It's obvious as you get closer to 2000, the shoes get decidedly less RELIABLE. The fit and finish are unmistakable in the early shoes. You can just tell by looking closely at the stitching, brogueing, and wheeling. It's just better. I have a pair of Crown Aristocraft wingtips that have LOTS of brogueing and stitching and there are practically zero tool marks on the leather. Very nice workmanship. Crown Aristocraft and Custom Select lines are VERY nice. $375 and $475 respectively nice back in the day. Today $750-$900 a $1000? This is Johnston & Murphy’s much-loved and much sought-after signature “Aristocraft” Shell Cordovan Tassel Penny loafer, a loafer like few other, with hand-sewn apron. Until its decline and move overseas, Johnston & Murphy was Horween’s second largest customer for shell cordovan (after Florsheim) and the quality of the hides used in making this shoe can be said to be, simply, the best. This shoe is marked “Aristocraft”