Replacement buckle for my mess brogues

**WolfmanJack** · 31st January 11, 04:20 PM

I wore my Prince Charlie and my mess brogues/Mary Janes to a Burns night celebration this past Saturday. The dancing and tomfoolery went on until late in the evening.

When my wife and I got back to our room at the hotel, I found that the buckle on one of my brogues was missing. The buckles are attached with snaps and apparently this one detached sometime late in the evening. These shoes are very hard to find and they are useless without the buckles.

For those of you unfamiliar with these shoes, here is a pic:

A search is out for the lost buckle, but I don't hold out much hope of finding it.

I bought these on eBay, so I have no idea of the maker; probably through a military contract. There is no identification on the inside or on the soles.

Gosh, I really need help with this; I really love these brogues with my Prince Charlie.

**McMurdo** · 31st January 11, 05:41 PM

I have a similar pair mine are from Nicol brothers and are called kilties. I also got mine on ebay. I just searched and found these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pair-Genuine-R...item2eb2fa7bfe

**Chas** · 31st January 11, 05:47 PM

Hi Wolfman,

Try this eBay vendor. This is where I got my buckle brogues. Mine are the same - the buckle unclips.

200360179047

Regards

Chas

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 31st January 11, 07:58 PM

How fortunate that you lost one of the stamped out of sheet metal buckles. Seriously, I mean it. You can now hang out on eBay, or browse your local antique malls, in search of a pair of nice 19th/early 20th century shoe buckles which will enhance you shoes, no end.

My ancient shoes (well, 40 year old shoes) don't have removable buckles, and replacing the stamped tin buckles with proper cut steel buckles was a brass bound bitch of a job. That said, it was absolutely worth the effort.

A good pair of antique buckles should cost between $25 and $75-- and will look like a million dollars on your shoes!

**WolfmanJack** · 31st January 11, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown

How fortunate that you lost one of the stamped out of sheet metal buckles. Seriously, I mean it. You can now hang out on eBay, or browse your local antique malls, in search of a pair of nice 19th/early 20th century shoe buckles which will enhance you shoes, no end.

My ancient shoes (well, 40 year old shoes) don't have removable buckles, and replacing the stamped tin buckles with proper cut steel buckles was a brass bound bitch of a job. That said, it was absolutely worth the effort.

A good pair of antique buckles should cost between $25 and $75-- and will look like a million dollars on your shoes!

Yes, quite true; but you see I need the leather assembly that attaches the buckle to the shoe, viz.:

**Andrew M. Stewart** · 31st January 11, 09:11 PM

I've got a pair of Thistle brand buckle brogues. My buckle came off as well....the first time I wore them! The buckles were held on by a string! I took the to a cobbler and had them put on a bit better but I was totally unimpressed with the workmanship done by Thistle Shoes.

**MacCathmhaoil** · 31st January 11, 09:45 PM

Any decent shoemaker should be able to make you a replacement leather piece with the snaps. Shouldn't cost you any more than $20., then you can hunt for the replacement buckles.
I have a pair as well and have been looking for just the right antique buckles to replace mine.

**WolfmanJack** · 2nd February 11, 02:17 PM

Following up on the tip from Chas, I contacted M. H. Geoffrey & Co. to see if they could help me with a replacement buckle assembly. They offer a mess brogue that appeared to be very similar to mine.

It is quite rare in my experience to encounter a firm so dedicated to serving the customer as is M. H. Geoffrey & Co. Mr. Geoffrey was so kind and helpful that I am moved to quote his reply to you here, to wit:

Dear Dr. John,

Thank you very much for your time and message.

Please don't worry. Your replacement buckle will be sent today and it will be with you in 10 days time.

Please get back to us for any further assistance. Always here to assist you.

Always at the house of Geoffrey.

Yours truly,

M. Hassan Geoffrey
M.H.Geoffrey & Co

I cannot attest to the quality of the products offered by M. H. Geoffrey & Co., but the quality of the service I received was simply excellent. I hope you will consider M. H. Geoffrey & Co. the next time you need an item for your kit.

N.B.: This is not the firm Geoffrey (Tailor) of Edinburgh.