Below is the content of a vintage Hanover catalog from the beginning of the decade of malaise. As far as shoe catalogs content goes, this is the best one I have seen. Instead of just listing shoe models, this catalog has a number of interesting shoe related articles that provide details on how the shoes were manufactured and sold. The photos and descriptions of the shoe models are excellent as well. Just ignore the goofy catalog cover art.
Hanover was once the largest or one of the largest direct shoe sale companies in the United States. Direct shoes sales worked a bit like buying a pair on Amazon but instead of a computer, a human was your interface and the shipping time was weeks instead of days. This direct sales model was still going strong in 1970 but by the end of the decade, suburban malls had killed door to door sales. Why wait weeks for a pair that might fit when instead I could drive to a nearby store with easy parking, lots of stock and the ability to buy the shoes that day? Hanover couldn’t compete with this and in 1978, the company was sold to Clark’s. Clark’s ended direct sales and moved Hanover to a catalog based retail channel. Which, of course, failed as well. Hanover RIP.
Other things to note in the catalog include: exotic leather shoes made in alligator, sharkskin and camel; pairs from Britain; corfam pairs; official NBA basketball shoes (who knew?); a Ripple sole pair; the sweet Dupont Dacron Hanover blazer; and that the Washington state sales tax was once 4.5%. A number of the premium Hanover models used leather from the legendary German Freudenberg tannery. And given the current high prices of Horween Shell Cordovan shoes, it is remarkable to see Hanover selling pairs for $22.95. I assume they were selling them for a profit. But probably not enough profit.
Great info. I wish they were still around.
Hanover is/was a great brand..
And the purchase of shoes would have been a good investment..
The prices appear incredible, even from Swiss point of view. The Dollar was 4.50 Swiss Francs then today its about 1:1.
I’ve bought and sold Hanover, Florsheim, and Nettleton shell shoes and Hanover has been one of my favorites yet.
Very interesting read. Couldn’t help but notice my favorite, the Yuma style “Carefree” loafer. Would love to run across a pair of those. Thanks for sharing.
There is one pair of tassel loafers shown I have these but mine are in Shell cordovan I really love them.
Thanks for the memories. When I was a young man there were Hanover, Florsheim, Freeman, Regal, Flag Bros. and Thom Mcan shoe stores here in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. Now there is only one legitimate shoe store (Sherman Brothers) in the entire city. For those of us who love shoes there is a tremendous sense of loss.
Man, they really left no stone unturned with that catalogue. Nice find.
I’ve been searching for “years” trying to find a pair of Hanover “Comforts” one of the most comfortable shoes in the world. The one on Germantown and Lehigh Ave. in North Philly nestled between “father & Sons, Flag Brothers Across from Howards Men Clothes” was my shop. Man those were the day’s, thanks.
Just got my first pair of Hanovers–they’re quite nice. What I love about this catalog (apart from the fact that I want half of what’s in it) is how it jumps from one groovy font to another. Ah, the Seventies.
The sheer amount of money that was spent in designing this catalog, wow…
We should all wear the Hanover Blazer.
and the Hanover Management Team look like a bunch of badasses.
Concerning LWBs, how, or when did Hanover determine what shoes would have 6 eyelets vs. 5? I notice none pictured in the 70 catalog have 6. Didn’t Bostonian also produce 6 eyelet LWBs at some point? I may be mistaken, but I seem to recall seeing 6 eyelet bluchers on the Alden website c. 2002, but not since.
On some long wings models Hanover had five eyelets for sizes less than 9 and six eyelets with sizes 9 and greater.
Dude. Shoe porn. I remember my uncle ordering Hanover shoes from the catalog in the ’70s. There are some serious styles here that need a reboot, or at least, a in my closet boot. Classic lines and quality materials will out. Your posts about the vintage market are spot on from quality and design standings, thank goodness for the intermittent supply which comes from the closets and underbeds of our brethren.
Totally dig your site. Thank you for your passion and time.
The shoe store I worked at in Kalamazoo, MI (Okun Bros.), in 1982-83, carried Hanover shoes in stock.
I own a pair of black uppers style 3101 as shown in the catalog. I’m really surprised that the Hanover shoes are so much ahead of their time, today’s famous shoe brands really have taken Hanover as the standard for a “top” western shoe that is being aimed at.
David,
I see someone finally purchased that pair of Hanover 2312 in 9.5. 1/2 size bigger than my brannock size. Just wondering, in your experience, how does Hanover fit as compared to the benchmark 93602?
Should fit the same. Hanover ads said they used the same lasts as Florsheim.
Good to know. Thanks.
David,
Have you run across any dates stamped inside on the insole of any Hanovers? I have 2 that have very similar date stamps. The one is the 2304 LWB (FEB 4 1967) and the other is 2410 NST (FEB 26 1971). I have 3 other Hanovers that don’t have any visible. 2 LB Sheppard line and one imperial line. I have seen one other online but can’t remember the model. Thanks for any insight and for all the work on this site.
Yes, Hanover dated their shoes during for a period of time but appears to have stopped in the 1970s. Its nice when you find a pair with a date because you know exactly when it was made.
Great. Thanks
I recently(2 days ago)purchased a NOS Hanover model 2377. I thought I was buying a leather shoe, but it appears it is Corfam. First I thought it was in such great condition for an unused pair of leather shoes. Then, I read that Sears once sold Hanover Corfam shoes. After reading your piece on Corfam, David, I realised I just spent $90 plus too much on a pair of plastic shoes. Just one question: how do these shoes, which have leather linings and soles only, form to one’s foot? Does this plastic ever change shape to mold to one’s foot? I have yet to wear them, as I was waiting to figure out how to condition them. Haha! Imagine putting Saphire or Venetian Cream on Corfam! I don’t THINK so. – Thanks for your posting on Corfam.
Never mind – I found more about Corfam here:
https://museumcollection.hagley.org/topics/16/the-short-life-of-duponts-corfam