Milton Florsheim was a cobbler’s son who started the company in Chicago in 1892, hoping to produce high-quality men’s dress shoes at moderate prices. Early on, he proved to be a visionary entrepreneur: instead of selling his shoes wholesale and allowing stores to put their own labels on his products, he decided that his company’s livelihood should be in establishing direct ties to customers. As a result — and to the chagrin of retailers — he put the Florsheim name directly on the shoe’s pull-strap and sole, a move that in the coming years would become standard at other shoe companies.
Ron Stodghill
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1923 | The Florsheim Shoe The Exception Proves The Rule |
Written, lead and directed by Woody Allen, The Curse of The Jade Scorpion is set in 40s New York. Woody's character, C.W. Briggs, a North Coast Fidelity and Casualty Insurance Company veteran investigator is being accused …
Detective:
After a careful search using some of the most up to date technics, we have found some interesting clues.
C. W. Briggs, veteran insurance investigator (Woody Allen)
Yeah? Leading to who? Eleanor Roosevelt?
Detective:
We got a shoe print off the parapet at the Kensington place.
C. W. Briggs (Woody Allen)
So?
Detective:
An 8 1/2 C Florsheim cordovan.
C. W. Briggs (Woody Allen)
Only worn by more than twenty million Americans. I wear an 8 1/2 C cordovan shoes. And let me tell you: for the money you cannot get a better shoe.
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One of the twenty millions Elvis Presley stage-worn Florsheim shoes | Sold for $ 46,875 Source: Julien's Auctions |
A pair of Elvis Presley stage-worn Florsheim shoes in white and black leather. The shoes were gifted to fan club president Gary Pepper and inscribed on the sole of the left shoe “To Gary Thanks for everything your friend Elvis Presley.” Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Charlie Hodge, who was present when Presley inscribed and gave the shoes to Pepper.
Source: Julien's Auctions 2013
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Early to mid Fifties | Elvis Presley shoed in Florsheim Source: Julien's Auctions |
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April 16, 1928 Lehman Brothers Florsheim stock offering |