Vintage boots

November 10, 2013 • 5:23 am

One of the most famous of all “factory” cowboy boots was the “Golden Angus,” made by the now-defunct Acme Boot Company (no, not run by Wile E. Coyote). This design was made in the fifties and sixties, and was described, as in the ad below, as “the most beautiful Western boots ever created.”  They featured a bull head inlaid with leather, including golden-colored horns and cheeks. The design and gold-leather explains the boot’s name:

Golden angus

They weren’t of course the most beautiful boots of all; there were plenty of custom makers back then turning out not only prettier boots, but sturdier ones. The Golden Angus was, after all, mass-produced. Still, they’ve assumed an iconic status among boot collectors, for they were unique among factory boots in their creative design.

And so I was excited to find a pair for virtually nothing on eBay, and in good condition, too.  The “pulls” on the boots (those straps on the top that help you put them on) have printing inside that leads me to think these were made in the very late 50s or early 60s. At any rate, they’re over fifty years old.

More art-loving boot collectors call them “the Guernica boots” for obvious reasons:

P1040777The bull in Picasso’s Guernica (1937):

guernica_all

Note the unusual “toe bug” (the stitching near the toe; each make has his/her own identifying pattern):

P1040778

 

22 thoughts on “Vintage boots”

  1. Lovely. I can see that ladies have a definite advantage in showing off ‘cowboy’ boots. Too pretty to cover up with jeans!

    Do kilt-wearers ever go for western boots, I wonder? That would be a sight. 🙂

    1. I have been known to go out on the prowl wearin kilt and boots – it’s only sensible when the snow is deep and soggy and uneven. but I’ve never been persuaded, even by Jerry, to the cowboy boot camp. While they’d probably attract attention, it probably wouldn’t be attention that I’d want.
      I really need to “invest” in a drinking kilt. My good one was far too much hassle to get to risk it on the lash.

      1. I’d think that men, needing to empty their bladders more often while drinking, would find kilts cumbersome when bar hopping.

        1. I don’t see why. Move sporran to the side, one- or two- handed lift, aim and fire. Nothing unduly complicated.

        1. Hill-walking boots. No crampons – the nightclub bouncers don’t like them because the splinter the dance floor.
          Given a choice between sartorial elegance and skiteing ass over tit in the snow, I’ll take the walking boots, thanks.

          2. Thanks for the insight. I paid special notice of the boots of the Scottish Regiment bagpipers today during the Remembrance Day parade. Love a man in kilt playing a bagpipe! They had lovely white boots that brilliantly set off the tartan, but the boots don’t look terribly warm for today’s cold wintry weather.

            Pssst.. I don’t mean to pry, Aidan, but about that other age-old mystery, is it commando or no? 😉

          3. “Traditional” refers to no underwear. Whether or not you shave is not a question I’ve ever discussed (which is the normal meaning of “going commando” in the circles I move in.)

          5. “Moving in circles” sounds salacious in the context of “going commando” no matter what the definition. 😀

  4. Ah, I remember Acme boots very well. My granddad had a department store in a small town in Kansas in the 50’s & 60’s. He sold a lot of Acme boots to the local farmers and ranchers. Brings back fond memories!

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