Books published by Old Hand Books

A collection of vintage and traditional recipes and instructions for making a variety of stains for finishing leather shoes and boots, with a particular focus on staining soles. Originally intended for contemporary shoe manufacturers and finishers, this handbook will be of considerable utility to modern readers with an interest in leather crafting and is not to be missed by collectors of allied literature.Contents include: "Enamel Stain", "Directions for Mixing", "Sediment, Dry Out, Dry Brush or Burnish Stain", "Directions for Mixing", "Directions", "To Make a Hard Finish", "Sediment, Dry out, Dry Brush or Burnish Stain", "Directions for Mixing", "Sediment, Hard Finish Stain", "Quick Brush Stain", "Quick Brush Custom Stain", "Fancy Colored Stain", etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality addition complete with specially commissioned new introductions on leather crafting and the history of shoemaking.

How to Repair Shoes is a comprehensive guide to shoe-mending with chapters on necessary equipment, how to use the tools, preparing materials, running a shop, and much more. With helpful illustrations and simple instructions, this timeless guide will be of considerable utility to modern readers with a practical interest in shoe repair. Contents include: "The Proper Way to keep a Shoeshop","Making a Waxed End", "Some Points to bear in mind about Waxed Ends", "To Make the Plain Stitch", "The Study of Different Awls", "How to Sharpen Knives", "The Square-awl like the Knife and the Chisel", "The Divisions of a Last", "The French Hammer, Welt-knife and Rhan-file", "Repairing a Heel", "How to McKay Sawed Shoe is Made", etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality addition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on the history of shoemaking.