Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Dobson
Yes - there were two main types of fastening - Laces and clasps/ The latter were two thin pieces of metal which locked into each other. Working men favoured laces. Younger folk and women would have clasps. Women would usually have 'rubber irons'. Irons were also called 'cokers' or 'caulkers'. The button fastening would be for children and women.It wasn't a round button but one which was higher and had a rim around the middle to hold the leather strap. 'Fancy' clogs, highly polished or in brown or red leather would be for Sunday or best use and were also known as 'dandy' clogs.
To tell if a sole has been hand-cut rather tjhan machine made, look to see if the heel has a definite edge (hand-cut) or a smooth flow at its front, caused by an automatic machine.
'Clogs have souls as well as soles' (Bob Dobson 197?)
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I remeber wearing clogs when I was young. They had the clasp fastenings, and were made by a clogger on Barnes St., not too far down from the square. We used to run along the sidewalk ... oops, pavement, striking sparks from the irons. This was more fun in the dark. Oh, for the days when kids could go out to play, unsupervised, after dark. Unfortunately, this wore out the irons. And it cost brass to replace them; and is those days, brass was hard to come by. The punishment for wearing out the irons was to have them replaced by the rubber irons
