The death of the cobbler - the ultimate proof of consumer society

[bluethrunthru]

The adidas/nike thread got me thinking as the wankest trainers from our youth are mentioned how when a pair of hit-tec or even school shoes would before worse for wear, replacements weren't casually bought, but your mam would nip down the cobblers (when one was always about 10-15 minutes walk away).

Re-soles, studs, laces, straps, heels, holes all were sorted by some leather approned gent.

But not just shoes, hand bags, holdalls, small cases, keys cut and watches repaired could all be fixed if you found the right one.

Now bar the top names (and ovbiously Urmston) are really previlent in most Manchester suburbs, though those that remain have hehalthy custom it is said.

Something got minor damage, off to the cobbler? nah just buy a new one, like no **** can mend socks anymore ;-)

I wouldn't worry too much I listened to an interview with James Timpson and their chain is expanding and doing well. They do good work there too helping ex-prisoners back into society.

 

[lefty goldblatt]

 

[Tuearts right boot]

I wouldn't worry too much I listened to an interview with James Timpson and their chain is expanding and doing well. They do good work there too helping ex-prisoners back into society.

Is that where the term...a swift pair of heels comes from then

 

[snorky]

My girlfriend was telling me the other day about her grandad who was a cobbler straight after the war, Enfield way, and he worked from his back garden and people in the local community used to come round to have their shoes repaired and there was often a queue.

It’s actually another world.

My Grandad was a cobbler. He had a shop in Ludlow for many years.
Six day week and evenings too.
He still managed to get to the pub every night though.
He was always proud of the profession being known by the term 'a drunkship of cobblers!'

He was great.

 

[nw42]

I wouldn't worry too much I listened to an interview with James Timpson and their chain is expanding and doing well. They do good work there too helping ex-prisoners back into society.

I heard that on 5live yesterday, he came across so well, must be brilliant to work for the company.

 

[BrianW]

Once when I was really flush I bought a pair of expensive leather shoes. They needed soling and heeling after about three months. So I went back to cheap, ordinary shoes, that last much longer and can be binned once they're too bad to be worn in the garden.

Hence the death of the cobbler. Apart from the King and the Duke of Westminster who in 2024 wears leather shoes and sends their valet to get them cobbled every few weeks?

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

We have a local cobler and repair shoes boots etc. Got a new metal eyelet put on my walking boots only last week for £12. Good value I thought.

 

[remember arthur mann]

There's a charity shop next door to our cobblers, It'd be cheaper to get some shoes from there than pay the repair prices.

 

[Tuearts right boot]

Segs.

We used to put them on our Gibsons because they were leather soled, slippy as fuck on lino surfaces and school coridors. They used to make a right din but you were ' dead 'ard '

 

[Kompany Car]

I remember the time before designer this and designer that, poor kids who's families could not afford expensive thing

What most people these days classify as designer, is clothing manufactured out in Bangladesh but with a "designer" label, the vast majority of which is poor quality.
Back in the day, designer brands were manufactured in western europe using high quality fabrics, made in limited production numbers and with top notch quality control. Some brands still have ranges where this happens but they are not the ones you see at your local "designer outlet".