Oldspeed MFG

Oldspeed MFG produces boots with a six to eight-week lead time, reflecting the extensive handwork required at each production stage.

David Corey established Oldspeed MFG with the mission to preserve and expand American bootmaking through sustainable, ethical, and local manufacturing practices. Operating from Media, Pennsylvania, Corey maintains full control over production, personally handling every step from cutting uppers to finishing edges. The company emerged within the heritage footwear community and gained recognition through participation in industry events and online bootmaking communities.

The company's name and approach reflect a commitment to traditional methods over mass production, emphasizing craftsmanship and the continuation of American bootmaking traditions that date back over a century.

Oldspeed MFG employs entirely manual construction methods across all production stages. Each boot begins with hand-tracing patterns onto leather, followed by clicking (cutting) the upper pieces by hand. Counters are cut and skived by hand to create the proper thickness for heel support. The lasting boards are trimmed and beveled by hand before the lasting process begins.

Each boot is hand-lasted on a 9 to 10 oz wet-molded lasting board with hand-skived vegetable-tanned counters. The midsoles consist of 13 to 15 oz vegetable-tanned leather. Blake stitching secures the waist and heel through the lasting board, upper allowance, and midsole. The vamp receives dual stitching: first to the midsole, then to the outsole. This construction method provides flexibility while maintaining structural integrity. Edge finishes vary by model, with some receiving natural edges and others beveled treatments.

Oldspeed MFG sources leather from multiple American and British tanneries. Upper leathers come from Horween Tannery, Wickett & Craig, S.B. Foot Tanning Co., and C.F. Stead Sheepscar Tannery. The company uses Wickett & Craig leathers from the Philadelphia tannery, which has operated since 1867.

Structural components utilize vegetable-tanned leather from Hermann Oak Leather Co., a Missouri tannery with roots extending back over 140 years, and Black Forest Pit Tan. The 9 to 10 oz lasting boards and 13 to 15 oz midsoles both use vegetable-tanned construction. Lining options include sheep, buck, or pigskin depending on the boot model and customer preference.

The Boondocker represents Oldspeed MFG's primary service boot pattern in a six-inch, eight-eyelet configuration. This model features unlined construction with contrast triple-row stitching and a natural edge finish on the midsole. The standard Boondocker retails for $550. Various upper materials are available, including S.B. Foot Cedar, S.B. Foot Sand Suede with crepe sole, and seasonal variations such as the "Dune-Docker" summer boot.

The Service Boot line offers a versatile design with medium heel lift, toe spring, and medium-high instep volume. This model maintains vintage aesthetics through forward quarters and a heel cap, providing a classic service boot silhouette. Upper options parallel those of the Boondocker, with material choices affecting final pricing.

Oldspeed MFG produces boots in U.S. Men's sizes six through 13, available in D and E widths. Women's sizes can be determined by adding 1.5 to the women's size to find the equivalent men's size. Boots are made to order with a production timeline of six to eight weeks due to the manual nature of construction. All boots are produced individually in the Media, Pennsylvania workshop.