Shoe and shoe buckles

[Scout]

I have a pair of colonial period shoes and now I need to find a set of buckles.
I am looking for a good pair that would work for a common working man, 1750-1800 time period. Solid brass not plated unless that is common for the times.
Any ideas where to purchase is appreciated.
Townsends has a set for $55 and they look fine to me. I would like some that will do the job and hold up for years of use.
Any personal recommendations/reviews would be great. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Thank you for your help.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Scout

[Watauga]

Scout, I have used a pair of Townsend's Shoes and Buckles for 8 years now they hold up well     The Straight last ones I have look good and work from 1740s up till 1840s.. . A really picky thread counter might disagree, but once you walk around in the Mud, Dust and Horse $hit who can even see the difference?? I will admit to cheating and putting some Dr Sholes pads in them, but they do no show and make the time spent at an event much more enjoyable for me and my feet 

[flintboomer]

I can't tell you anything about the shoes and buckles, but Watauga is right about the insoles being out of sight and making a difference. I wound up with Plantars Fascitis from wearing moccasins for a 4 day event and have been very careful ever since to take better care of my feet by using good insoles.

[Red Badger]

YES Any insole is a great help!  I have two or three different styles (form soft insoles to gell) depending on what I am wearing... and like they told us in the military - change your socks and wash your feet daily!

[hotfxr]

Having broken one foot years ago when I thought kick boxing was a great idea and crushing most of the toes on the other foot in a moment of inattention while working on steel, I have to be very careful what I wear on my feet just to be able to stay upright all day. Every item of footwear I own has aftermarket insoles in them and I cannot extol on their virtues enough. So what the others said about them times 5.

[Scout]

Thank you all for the replies.
Do the gel insoles work a lot better then the foam? I just wonder if the gel type will fill up the shoe a little too much, pushing the heel up etc.
Watauga do you have the foam type?
                                                                                                                                                    Thank you for your help.
                                                                                                                                                                                    Scout

[hotfxr]

I use Super Feet. expensive but worth every penny.

[Red Badger]

Thank you all for the replies.
Do the gel insoles work a lot better then the foam? I just wonder if the gel type will fill up the shoe a little too much, pushing the heel up etc.
Watauga do you have the foam type?
                                                                                                                                                    Thank you for your help.
                                                                                                                                                                                    Scout

IMHO - Gell does work best (until a sharp rock kills them) but you need to think about them when you order your shoe... I don't wear period shoes, but have have boots and when I bought them I tried them on with the insoles -(Never leave home without them)...  same thing when making mocc's include them in the design stage to give enough room..

R.B.

[Watauga]

(This was an answer to a Members Questions,.. But I am adding it to the thread as it could help others as well)    I actually bought the low cost Buckles from Townsend, at the Time they were $35.00?? and were plain Brass ones.
They were well made have held up well. But are more Military and less fancy...  When I fitted them the first time I watched a Video they have on how to install them and it went well.  However....
I made the mistake of just having my regular socks on when I did it.  I should have had the wool stockings on but not a big deal just 2 extra holes.
I would suggest if you are going to install Dr. Schools or other insoles to have them in and the Stockings you will be wearing on,  when you install the shoe Buckles. I also use sock liners. that I use with my hiking socks but that is just something I do with things I already have, and in the winter I put on my thick Hiking socks over the sock liners and then the wool stockings over them all,.. to keep the old feet warm and comfy..... PS. the light weight wool stockings are better in summer than the cotton ones,..  they seem to breathe better and not hold the sweat .........but they are a few dollars more...They did also tie Shoes back then,.. but I never have,.. so I can not help to much on that,...But I know the lower classes often did not have buckles and did tie them,.. if they were fortunate enough to have shoes.     I  Hope this helps and Have Fun!