This spiderweb boot was made by the Champion Boot Company. It doesn’t look particularly dated now, because in August 1964 it was ahead of its time.
The Western Horseman’s Gear Guides always came out in May. That’s the issue where you’ll find the best cowboy boot advertising and old-timey descriptions. You know, back when boots were made in rich colors of “amber and pie-crust.”
I think “triad” cowboy boots are once again picking up speed. So, what is a triad boot?
A triad boot is a cowboy boot made with three piece construction rather than the traditional four. In this style of boot, there is no heel counter. The boot top extends all the way down to the sole, and the vamp stops inches short of the boot’s side seams, giving this style the look of overlay.
In the 1980’s these were a popular style of dress boot. A couple of attributes make them fancy.
One, when you take away the fender stitching and the heel counter …the vertical styling of these make a girl’s legs look longer, not unlike a pair of uncuffed pants.
Two, these boots work well with exotic and extravagant materials. Since the vamp doesn’t wrap around the sides of the cowboy boot, you can showcase a lizard, snake or stingray skin without extra seams or patchwork piecing.
Today’s triad styles feature hand tooled leather and buck stitching. A new shorthand for luxury. Heritage Boot does a great job of filling their boot tops with stitchwork and balancing the weights of the contrasting leathers (see photo.) I like that.
Sheplers, Timsboots.com and eBay each have a selection of triad cowboy boots, go take a look.
“Riding High”
SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.: President Ronald Reagan shows off his triad cowboy boots after signing the largest budget and tax-cutting measure in U.S. history August 13, 1981 at his “Rancho del Cielo” ranch. Reagan called it “only the beginning” as he set his economic recovery program in motion with the signing at the ranch, where he was vacationing.
CREDIT: UPI 8-21-81 Ron Bennett …purchased on eBay. (Zoom)
How big a cowboy boot fan are you? Well, I know Monday’s a holiday… but I want you to get up early, grab a cup of coffee, and go sit in your truck. Tune that space-age radio of yours to Sirius 112 or XM 157 at 8am ET on Monday, 18 January 2010.
You’ll hear me talking about… cowboy boots.
(You can listen online with a free 7-day trial, or hear a replay at 2am ET.)
Yep. It’s a good thing.
If you know Michael Anthony, you know he is passionate about bootmaking.
If you don’t know Michael Anthony…let me tell you, he is PASSIONATE about bootmaking. He is precise in his craft. He is energetic… and very, very persistent. If he decides he needs moon dust to give his leather boots an unrivaled glow, then by God… he will get his moon dust! Even if he has to fill out 4 months of NASA paperwork, go to the moon himself… and bring the dust back to earth in his carry-on luggage.
(Of course, we all know that the “glow” comes from Michael’s caring dedication, not the moon dust.)
Read about Michael Anthony’s adventures “Tracing Lincoln’s Footprints.” Don’t forget to click through the photos of the boots and other presidential mementos. (Washington Post. Thursday, May 14, 2009)
Custom Boots by Michael Anthony
227 North Main Street
Sebastopol, California 95472 USA
1-707-823-7204
