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We note boys mostly wearing high-top shoes in 1907. The Eaton's Spring and Summer catalog (page 79), offers six styles of boys' footwear. They are all lace-up style rather than button shoes. The six styles are shown in two categories of sizes: 1 to 5 (for smaller boys); 11 to 13 for youths' or teenage boys. All but one of the six styles are high-top shoes which come up over the ankle. The styling was all quite similar. Only one style is an "Oxford" or low-cut style. High-top shoes were obviously much more common that low cut shoes for boys of every age durng the 1900s. This can be seen clearly in the various catalog illustrations.
This Canadian retailer began publishing mailorder catalogs in 1881, at least that is we begin noticing them. We have catalogs from the 1970s, although we do not know about the company's current status. The 1970s catalgs were full of clothes which look like American styles. Timothy Eaton, founder of the huge all-Canadian department store chain bearing his name, was an Irish immigrant born on a tennant farm in northern Ireland. He was born in 1834 and followed his brothers to Canada in 1854. His brothers had opened a small dty goods store in St. Marys. Timothy Eaton began his business with a small dry goods business in Toronto during 1869. He built a giant retail store in Ontario’s capital city along with a country-wide mail-order business and a big new branch store in Winnipeg, by the time of his death in 1907. The Winnipeg branch was the first of many branches. Eaton Company business establishments eventually spread all across Canada when Timothy’s family successors extended the Eaton empire. Timothy masterminded the company during the crucial period of its early development, spanning nearly 40 years. It was Timothy who implemented the concept of the "Department Store", in Canada, a concept which were already flourishing in London, Paris, and New York.
We note boys mostly wearing high-top shoes in 1907. High-top shoes were obviously much more common that low cut shoes for boys of every age durng the 1900s. They look rather like a boot to modern eyes and Eaton's used the term "boots" for the high-top shoes. This can be seen clearly in the various catalog illustrations. These styles seem quite similar to those worn by adult men. Many girls also wore hight-top shoes.
The Eaton's Spring and Summer catalog (page 79), offers six styles of boys' footwear. They are all lace-up style rather than button shoes. The six styles are shown in two categories of sizes: 1 to 5 (for smaller boys); 11 to 13 for youths' or teenage boys. All but one of the six styles are high-top shoes which come up over the ankle. The styling was all quite similar. Only one style is an "Oxford" or low-cut style. The page is captioned "Boys’ Boots, Men’s and boys’ Sporting Shoes". The six styles of boys' footwear come in boys’ and youths’ sizes.
The Eatons ad copy read, "H2-405. A Box calf skin, Laced boot for boys, made in extra stout bodywear, weltsewn, medium round toes with tips, very serviceable, as perfect fitting and good in quality as a man’s $3.50 shoe. Sizes from 1 to 5 ½ $2.50. H2-406. Youths’, same style. Sizes from 11 to 13 ½ $2.25."
The Eatons ad copy read, "H2-411. A Laced boot for Boys, very suitable for summer wear, made from best quality of dongola kid, fairly heavy soles, extension edges, neat and perfect fitting, lighter in weight than box cal skin and will give good wear. Sizes from 1 to 5 $1.50. H2-412. Youths’ same style. Sizes from 11 to 13. $1.25."
The Eatons ad copy read, "H2-407 An Ideal boot for boys made from good quality box calf, skin blucher style, fairly stout soles, extension edge. A boot suitable for school or best wear, reinforced with back stays and will give good satisfaction. Sizes from 1 to 5 ½. $2.00. H2-408 Youth’s, same style. Sizes from 11 to 12 ½. 1.75."
The Eatons ad copy read, "H2-413 A Stout Oil Grain calfskin Book, one that will stand the hard knocks of boys, heavy solid leather soles, pegged heels well slugged. We recommend this boot for country wear or rough service in wet weather. Sizes from 1 to 5 $1.25. H2-414 Youths’ same style. Sizes from 11 to 13. $1.15."
The Eatons ad copy read, "H2-409 Our special school Boot for boys, made from good, plump Canadian buff leather, extra heavy soles, quilted with nails, which means additional wear, back straps, uppers well sewn, all solid leather and thoroughly reliable, a boot we highly recommend. Sizes from 1 to 5 $1.75.
H2-410 Youth’s, same style. Sizes from 11 to 13 $1.60."
The Eatons ad copy read, " H2-415 Boys’ Low Oxford Shoe, the correct thing for summer wear, made from choice durable kid, medium light weight soles. A serviceable, neat fitting shoe and one that is very popular. Sizes from 1 to 5 $1.50. H2-416 Youths’, same style, Sizes from 11 to 13." Nore that Eatons only uses the term "shoe" forthe low-cut footwear. And the low-cut oxford was seen as a summer style. There was no age/size difference.
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