Mysterious pair of Broadmoor
I just bought this unusual pair of AE Broadmoor shoes in size 11C on eBay for $99.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/406812336584
One picture from the auction:
I have a pair of Broadmoor that I bought about 1984 and loved them to death. The insoles are ridiculously dished after one re-crafting and wearing down another crepe sole. The leather on the padded collar is also worn through.
Mine were in the normal brown finish, as in the Fall 1984 catalog page:
This pair has the same 7854 style number as the brown ones in the 1984-1986 catalogs. This pair is stamped "FR" for Factory Reject. They look to have no finish on the leather. (Does still look like Kudu Antelope.) The stamping inside doesn't include a date code:
What do people think happened here? Made with the wrong leather? Rejected by quality control before the leather finish was applied? A custom pair?
Somewhat tempted to have them finished, since unfinished leather is a dirt and stain magnet.
Posted Apr 2, 2026, 10:38 PM UTC