Jump to content

Engineer boot: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
History: Adding info, removing biased info from trivial source
Line 10: Line 10:
== History ==
== History ==
=== Origins===
=== Origins===
During the 1930's, [[Chippewa Boots|Chippewa Shoe Manufacturing Company]],<ref>[http://www.chippewaboots.com Chippewa Boots<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> of [[Chippewa Falls]], [[Wisconsin]], developed a pair of boots with stovepipe leg and was fashioned over their "English Riding Boot" last. Designer John Lofgren maintains that engineer boots were originally developed for [[Fireman (steam engine)|firemen]] working on [[steam locomotive|steam railway engines]], a possible source of the name.<ref name= heddels>{{cite web| url = http://www.heddels.com/2015/03/history-engineer-boots-john-lofgren/| title = The History of Engineer Boots with John Lofgren| last = Old| first = Forrest| date = 16 March 2015| website = heddels.com| publisher = Heddels| access-date = 12 July 2016}</ref>
During the 1930's, [[Chippewa Boots|Chippewa Shoe Manufacturing Company]],<ref>[http://www.chippewaboots.com Chippewa Boots<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> of [[Chippewa Falls]], [[Wisconsin]], developed a pair of boots with stovepipe leg and was fashioned over their "English Riding Boot" last. Engineer boots were originally developed for [[Fireman (steam engine)|firemen]] working on [[steam locomotive|steam railway engines]], a possible source of the name.<ref name= heddels>{{cite web| url = http://www.heddels.com/2015/03/history-engineer-boots-john-lofgren/| title = The History of Engineer Boots with John Lofgren| last = Old| first = Forrest| date = 16 March 2015| website = heddels.com| publisher = Heddels| access-date = 12 July 2016}}</ref><ref name= menswear>{{cite book| last = Boyer| first = G.| title = True Style: The History and Principles of Classic Menswear| publisher = Basic Books| date = 8 September 2015| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=T_cqCgAAQBAJ&dq=&source=gbs_navlinks_s| isbn = 9780465061594}}</ref>


The [[West Coast Shoe Company]] (Wesco) began manufacturing the '''engineer boot''' in 1939. A large portion of their sales began with the [[shipbuilder]]s in Portland, Oregon, building ships for [[World War II]]. On the overall basis, engineer boots were subverted in the market by the production of lace-up [[combat boots]].<ref name= heddels/>
The [[West Coast Shoe Company]] (Wesco) began manufacturing the '''engineer boot''' in 1939. A large portion of their sales began with the [[shipbuilder]]s in Portland, Oregon, building ships for [[World War II]]. On the overall basis, engineer boots were subverted in the market by the production of lace-up [[combat boots]].<ref name= heddels/>


=== Widespread use ===
=== Widespread use ===
Both Chippewa and [[Wesco]] heavily increased sales of the boots in the late 1940's. There was a post-war production boom for the boots, with high demand coming from returning veterans and [[bikers]].<ref name= heddels/> The footwear's popularity was furthered by its use by celebrities such as [[James Dean]] and [[Marlon Brando]].
Both Chippewa and [[Wesco]] heavily increased sales of the boots in the late 1940's. There was a post-war production boom for the boots, with high demand coming from returning veterans and [[bikers]].<ref name= heddels/> The footwear's popularity was furthered by its use by celebrities such as [[James Dean]] and [[Marlon Brando]] in their respective films '''[[Rebel Without a Cause]]''' and '''[[The Wild One]]'''.<ref name= menswear/>


The boots would became heavily associated with American [[Greaser (subculture)|greaser]]s and British [[Rocker (subculture)|rocker]]s in the 1950's and 1960's.
In the 1960s, [[Sears]] carried the Sears branded "Chippewa Engineers" and showed them as worn by land surveyors, a possibility as of how the name came about.<ref>[http://www.classicboots.com/trivia/engineer.htm Engineer Boot History<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


== In Popular Culture ==
== In Popular Culture ==

Revision as of 17:52, 12 July 2016

Knee-high, low-heel Engineer Boots
Wesco crotch-high Engineer Boots

Engineer boots are one of many styles of leather boots; this type of footwear is often worn by motorcycle riders. The boots are most often made of heavy weight black leather, have a rounded or squarish toe and range in height from short (10") to extra high (38"). The most typical height is between 10 and 18 inches.

Description

Engineer boots are designed to protect the wearer from injury to the foot and leg. For motorcycle riders, in the case of an accident while riding and to prevent burns of the rider's legs and feet from the heat of the motorcycle parts while riding. For other wearers: this style also provides similar protection for the leg and foot. They may include a built-in steel toe cap and metal shank in the sole, and often are double layered with leather for stiffness. Engineer boots typically have an adjustable leather strap across the ankle as well as an adjustable leather strap at the top of the shaft to adjust the fit. Multiple straps at the top of the shaft are also not uncommon. Soles and heels are usually made of hard rubber and may either be relatively flat or may have lugs for increased traction. The straight solid shaft with few seams could be readily waterproofed for those working in wet environments or around concrete pouring operations. Additionally lack of protruding fittings, nails or laces prevented snagging injury when working around belt drive and line shaft machinery as well as motorcycle drive belts. This was the main reason for this style being adopted by the motorcycle sub-culture.

History

Origins

During the 1930's, Chippewa Shoe Manufacturing Company,[1] of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, developed a pair of boots with stovepipe leg and was fashioned over their "English Riding Boot" last. Engineer boots were originally developed for firemen working on steam railway engines, a possible source of the name.[2][3]

The West Coast Shoe Company (Wesco) began manufacturing the engineer boot in 1939. A large portion of their sales began with the shipbuilders in Portland, Oregon, building ships for World War II. On the overall basis, engineer boots were subverted in the market by the production of lace-up combat boots.[2]

Widespread use

Both Chippewa and Wesco heavily increased sales of the boots in the late 1940's. There was a post-war production boom for the boots, with high demand coming from returning veterans and bikers.[2] The footwear's popularity was furthered by its use by celebrities such as James Dean and Marlon Brando in their respective films Rebel Without a Cause and The Wild One.[3]

The boots would became heavily associated with American greasers and British rockers in the 1950's and 1960's.

Billy Joel refers to the popularity of the Engineer Boot in '50s and '60s Greaser culture in his song "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" with the line "I remember those days hanging out/At the village green/Engineer boots, leather jackets/And tight blue jeans"

References

  1. ^ Chippewa Boots
  2. ^ a b c Old, Forrest (16 March 2015). "The History of Engineer Boots with John Lofgren". heddels.com. Heddels. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b Boyer, G. (8 September 2015). True Style: The History and Principles of Classic Menswear. Basic Books. ISBN 9780465061594.