The Crown Aristocraft line is still made in the US, and so were several other lines until the Nashville factory closed a couple of years ago.

 

How do J&M's compare to AE's?

The Crown Aristocraft line is still made in the US, and so were several other lines until the Nashville factory closed a couple of years ago.

Thanks Jcusey, I didn't know that.

This might have come up before. But, it's nice to buy American when possible. How do J&M Aristocrats compare to AE's?

 

How do J&M Aristocrats compare to AE's?

not as good. objectively, AE's are better. only reason to buy J&M would be that they have a last that fits.

 

The Crown Aristocraft line is still made in the US, and so were several other lines until the Nashville factory closed a couple of years ago.

So who in the USA makes the Crown Aristocrafts if the TN factory is closed?

This is not what I heard from the manager at the Tyson's Corner J&M last year, BTW. I asked about US manufacture and he said that the Crown Aristos which he then had in stock (a black wingtip and black captoe style) were US-made, but that once those were sold, that was it, and all future shoes would come from offshore makers.

That said, I'd like to hear that he was wrong.

 

At what kind of price was the Crown Aristocrat line typically retailed.....perhaps comparable to AE firsts ???

 

I have a pair of J&M Passports (I think they're made in the US) - Oxfords in tan with a rubberized sole. I know that they're not meant to be as good as they used to be, but these shoes are growing on me - very comfy and have polished up nicely - or rather, they've coloured very well. I used some leather creme, then black shoe cream to darken the leather to a chestnut like colour - it's shiny, it's got depth and character. Very nice indeedy. I wear it a lot.

 

J&M Crown Aristocraft $350 "Westchester"

>>> www.johnstonmurphy.com/catalog_detail.aspx?PLOID=21777

 

I have a pair of J&M that have Made in the USA stamped on the bottom. It is my understanding that J&M make their shoes offshore. These are older shoes but i am not sure how old. When did the brand go from a quality shoe maker to a budget line? Do they still make some shoes in the USA today?

As to when J&M went downhill, their slide started in the late 80's/early 90's when they began making their basic Aristocraft line shoes with the rubber "Trampoline" innersoles. At this same time, the leather used for the rest of the shoe also seemed to go south.

 

So who in the USA makes the Crown Aristocrafts if they TN factory is closed?

This is not what I heard from the manager at the Tyson's Corner J&M last year, BTW. I asked about US manufacture and he said that the Crown Aristos which he then had in stock (a black wingtip and black captoe style) were US-made, but that once those were sold, that was it, and all future shoes would come from offshore makers.

That said, I'd like to hear that he was wrong.

I have no information other than that the Crown Aristocraft shoes currently in my local J&M store are made in the USA. I don't know if they are old stock; and if they are not, I don't know where in the US they are actually made.

 

How do J&M Aristocrats compare to AE's?

They used to compare quite favorably, ten years ago. That was before the dark times. Now, they are more than US$55 more expensive and, in all honesty, they are not nearly as nice. The biggest difference in quality is in the leathers...the AE's are so much nicer. The construction, though, isn't as refined, either.

 

They used to compare quite favorably, ten years ago. That was before the dark times. Now, they are more than US$55 more expensive and, in all honesty, they are not nearly as nice. The biggest difference in quality is in the leathers...the AE's are so much nicer. The construction, though, isn't as refined, either.

It is very sad the way the majority of US shoemakers have gone. I used to have some old Nettletons and Florsheims that were superb but the latters offerings now are quite frankly, cheap and nasty by comparison.

Alden and AE are the only RTW makers worth mentioning. Alden cannot be beaten for Cordovan but are only within my price range when I travel to the States. If you can get them here in the UK, they are more expensive than Edward Greens!!!