Best Boots

Subject: Best Boots 27/11/2011, 23:52

Right here is a question which should start a torrant of replys.....How did you Bull up your Best Boots..............................................

Subject: Re: Best Boots 27/11/2011, 23:56

For myself it was a candle, spoon and Kiwi
that was in 66 don't know if they found a better way later

Les

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 07:45

Gave mine to the SUS! Very Happy

Guest

As an apprentice..Got rid of the pimples with an electric iron,..lots of Kiwi, water and little circles applied with a yellow duster.Finished off with running cold water and cotton wool..

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 09:36

I was crap at bulling boots, and paid someone to do mine in training, but managed to do my second pair (DMS) myself, but not a task I enjoyed.

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 13:38

the hard way untill i discovered morello( not sure of spelling ) german shoe makers stocked it,toes and heels like mirrows.

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 13:50

Yes used this Guys, however it cost me a best dress parade when a Morello toe cap fell off during a parade on the Square infront of the RSM.....LOL

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 14:01

Sometimes does not pay to take shortcuts

Les

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 16:52

Maverick52 et al,
Please define 'bull up boots' and what tool was used?
The term in Canada and probably elsewhere was 'boning' one's boots
Bob

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 17:17

ritter wrote:: Maverick52 et al,
Please define 'bull up boots' and what tool was used?
The term in Canada and probably elsewhere was 'boning' one's boots
Bob

Bob, "Boning" ones Boots has a completely different connotation in this neck of the woods! Embarassed

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 17:33

Unlike Mike I used to actually love doing my boots and often earned money doing them for others, I have seven brothers and used to show off by bulling just one of their shoes to see if they could bring the other one up the same, usually ended with the first being brushed back down

Les

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 17:56

See Les! Always someone willing to do them for you LoL

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 18:05

Absolutely correct, I loved learning how to bull and press my kit and continued through my service, it was the achievement, I just loved looking at it finished
probably totally mental

Les

Guest

Probably??????????

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 19:30

From the late 50s, bees wax and meths gave the final finish top coat gloss

What about aerosol furniture polish for a last minute panic shine though our Generals will doubtless confirm that on occasions this could induce cracks in the Sam Browne with the final result looking like maverick's boot toecap

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 19:49

Absolutely, as did things like over burning to get rid of the dimples on DMS, quite often ruined the toecap stitching and caused cracks around the sides

Les

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 20:01

Gunner Generals wear Cross Belts - sniff. Rolling Eyes

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 20:19

I bought a pair of "Army parade shoes" from a mail order firm recently, (my '70s pair were falling apart).

These modern shoes had (gasp !) patent leather toecaps !

I kid you not ! cheers

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 20:41

Still never mind Brum, I expect you still use them when you go Ballroom Dancing Embarassed

Les

Guest

When bulling a Sam Brown,i accidentaly spilt water on said belt.Oh dear what a mess.How was i to know that brown leather hated water?The owner was a complete Barsteward so i was a bit of a hero.In the loosest posible sense..

Subject: Re: Best Boots 28/11/2011, 23:58

Certainly marks up very easily that brown leather Embarassed

Les

Subject: Re: Best Boots 29/11/2011, 00:27

very much the same as you Gordon, but got rid of the dimples by heating up the handle of a spoon over a candle. and used brown polich for every second "coat", gave great depth of shine.

Subject: Re: Best Boots 29/11/2011, 01:11

The difficulty I think was not the bulling but renovation of those areas near a crease, after a heavy drill session it always seemed to flake away

Les

Guest

Quote :: brown polich for every second "coat",

Only used brown polish for chinstrap.One tin lasted me the three years i was at Harrogate.I would be rich if a tin of black lasted the same time. Laughing

Subject: Re: Best Boots 29/11/2011, 09:46

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :: brown polich for every second "coat",

Only used brown polish for chinstrap.One tin lasted me the three years i was at Harrogate.I would be rich if a tin of black lasted the same time. Laughing

A flashback !

Thanks Gordon.

To bull our chinstraps we used to have a piece of wood with a nail at one end to hold it still. It was called a Bulling Stick.

Total madness but what could you do ? silent