William Lennon Boots
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TOW [tug of war] model in reverse kip butt. they're built tough really & not easy to break in. 'my entry for the HBC challenge, as it turned out, became [my] personal challenge.
i have not posted anything with regards to [my entry] boots on HBC except the initial post cuz i was having 2nd thoughts about the boots. i almost gave up when they developed an annoying squeak [on the outside side seam], on both. 'wondered if [this] was just a normal "stage" of the break in process, or maybe the choice in leather &/or model … or prolly i just gotta accept i might have gotten a lemon, plain & simple
thought it might be damaging to WL to post my experience w/o checking with them 1st, so i emailed WL a couple of times. ... but, queries were ignored. 'almost gave up if it weren't for the advice of simonc & michaeljcr. thanx for the heads up guys!
fast forward: after 6mos = 3mos effective wear, the squeak is suddenly gone. "farting", as simonc's son described it, was just a break in "stage", indeed … at least for [these] kind of boot build, i suppose.
the "farting stage" is finally over, TG! the leather has softened quite a bit & the triple sole is giving some flex. with the "Superfeet" half-insoles, the wearing experience have greatly improved. i've been wearing them a lot more lately.
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talk about boots "fart" … 'just posted about couple of weeks back that the annoying squeaks were gone.
anyway, 'put them aside for a week & took the LW Wireman instead for a trip to the west coast. came back & wore them for work a week later__ squeaks are back :o. but, after the 3rd consecutive day of use, squeaks went away
,,, damn boots are begging to be wornnoisy boots get more attention, after all
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Hey BrownIcon,
The noise might be coming from the material they use to fill the space where the upper meets the insole. Usually cork, leather or even cardboard is used and the later two can squeak when rubbing between the insole and outsole. I only know this because it happened when I made my first sample boots.
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@Hemi_ hey, tnx for the insight. initially, i was worried maybe its a production flaw, like sole separation or something. but, i've been constantly checking/closely examining the bottom construction__ from a non-bootmaker point of view, i think, [damn!] they're built solid tight.
anyway, i noticed that the squeak returns every time i oil them. although, not as pronounced as when boots were new. then, after a few wears, once the oil gets absorbed &/or dry out, [it] dissipates & eventually goes away
interesting quirk, since this is the 1st time i broke in a pair that cusses back every step i made
but, that was then.
"foot rebellion" has been quelled & now [we] walk in harmony -
Are those the William Lennon Boots?
I was looking for some decent ones but found this blog with the exact ones I wanted
http://skip-ratting.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/william-lennon-boots.htmlthey look a bit different than on the manufacturers website but still
http://www.williamlennon.co.uk/footwear/78tc-traditional-work-boot.htmlDoes anyone actually own a pair of these? I need feedback before buying.
(oops missed the TOW boots posts,slow browser….they look solid..but I couldnt see em on the site...?
Cheers
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tideswellman, I own 3 pairs.
I have the standard 78TC,
(here's an old pic, I'll get some more recent ones up next week.)
https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3287.msg172941#msg172941
a roughout pair with internal steel toecap, and a pair in calfskin with a double mid-sole.
Also have a pair on order in the rough out waxed kip used in the hill boot, again with a double midsole.
Apart from the first pair they all have vibram commando soles.
The pair you're after is in a zug grain leather.If you drop them an email you'll no doubt end up dealing with Libs who is very helpful.
extra midsole costs £9.00. and £40.00 for a resole.
I find the fit perfect, and had no issue with quality. I can't imagine you'd be disappointed. -
No, unfortunately not. I asked for that for my steel toe pair. It's a really dark brown, pics coming….
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Just ordered myself a pair of Hill Boots (268D) in
reverse tanned waxed kip butt with leather soles (untreated edges) and metal tips
no nails though!lining was not possible:
Due to the natural thickness and the fact the kip leather used for the boots is already tanned on both side, we can not offer to line the boots for you as the upper would be far to thick to work with and shape to the last.Will post pics when I get them
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Back in early February I made the trip down to Stoney Middleton to see the styles and leathers on offer. These are the results.
When there I thought I'd chosen a colour closer to that of British tan. However this being a natural product and my memory not being what it was. I've come to accept my new tangerine coloured footwear.
Early impressions; Solid! Yet surprisingly comfy and supple. Plus a totally different style to what I already posses. Quality not quite up there with my Whites or Wesco's though. Overall I'm pretty pleased with them. Having thought they were going to be more of a light brown colour, I'd talked myself out of purchasing a pair of White's SD in Brown HH. It's safe to say those are now back on the cards.
The only disappointments were the gouging in the side of one of the boots, presumably from when the sole was trimmed to size. And placement of the leather insole not being flush with the rear of the boot.
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Having had boots from both, I would definitely say they are.
