One piece of leather
Reg Williams had a sense of what was coming and why people were hungry for bush lore; for he had battled through years of hardship and had seen the tide turn in his financial affairs. And he knew there were many more lessons to learn...he took each member of staff aside and told them there would now be commercial competition. It was a new world and it would be tough. He was driven by one ethos: The quantity doesn t matter, I want the quality.
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RM diging a well in the Flinders Ranges during the Depression-the time when he met Dollar Mick and learnt the art of making boots from one piece of leather.
History R.M Williams is a name synonymous with Australia, the outback and quality. Now known and respected throughout the world, it is one of only a few companies embodying the name of its founder that brings instant recognition almost whenever or wherever it is written or mentioned. From the most unlikely and most humble beginnings - a camp site in South Australia s Gammon Ranges during the Great Depression-emerged a business that not only does what it has always done (make quality products for bush people), but in the case of boots, makes them to exactly the same original formula. To be sure, R.M Williams has changed and come a long way since the company s founder, Reginald Murray Williams, first learned from an itinerant bushman known as Dollar Mick how to make boots with one piece of leather. It is now an international company, with its own stores in New Zealand, the United States and United Kingdom. But it is still very much a peopleoriented (and once again family) company, still manufacturing in Adelaide, and still owning and operationg the original premises at 5 Percy Street Prospect - an address that itself brings instant recognition. 7
Our story begins with the birth of our founder Reginald Murray Williams in 1908 on a farm in south Australia. 9
BLAXLAND G Yearling Black
BLAXLAND G Yearling Chestnut 11
BLAXLAND G Suede Black
BLAXLAND G Suede Brown 13
BLAXLAND G Greasy Kip Black
BLAXLAND G Greasy Kip Brown 15
BLAXLAND G Vesta Brown
BLAXLAND G Suede Dusty Brown 17
The 1940 catalogue was the first produced by the fledgling company, it has become a virtual bible for people in the outback. 19
CRAFTSMAN G Yearling Black
CRAFTSMAN G Yearling Chestnut 21
CRAFTSMAN G Yearling Whiskey CRAFTSMAN G Suede z-sole Dusty Brown CRAFTSMAN G Suede Black CRAFTSMAN G Vesta z-sole Brown
CRAFTSMAN G Yearling Dynamic Flex Comfort Black 23
CRAFTSMAN G Pony Black/White
CRAFTSMAN G Pony Brown/White 25
The emphasis on the personal set RM Williams apart. It also gave the business a particular niche, which Reg encouraged on a constant basis. 27
GARDENER G Greasy Kip Black
GARDENER G Greasy Kip Brown GARDENER H Greasy Kip Black GARDENER H Greasy Kip Brown GARDENER H Desert Kip Dusty Brown 29
GARDENER H Vesta Brown
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Reginald Murray Williams was a man who knew the value of quality and tradition. 33
WENTWORTH G Yearling Black WENTWORTH G Yearling Chestnut WENTWORTH G Suede Black WENTWORTH G Suede Brown
WENTWORTH G Suede Dusty Brown 35
WENTWORTH G Greasy Kip Black WENTWORTH G Greasy Kip Brown
WENTWORTH G Vesta Brown 37
Australian boots, Australian made. 39
TURNOUT G Yearling Black
TURNOUT G Yearling Chestnut 41
TURNOUT G Suede z-sole Dusty Brown Bright Elastic
TURNOUT G Suede z-sole Mid Brown Bright Elastic 43
The RM Williams of today stays true to our founder s origins and our boots are still made by hand, using more than 80 hand-held processes to reach completion. 45
KIMBERLEY G Suede Brown
STOCKYARD H Latego Black STOCKYARD H Latego Brown RIGGER Suede Brown RIGGER Suede Dusty Brown 47
RM BABY Booties Chestnut Baby size: S, M and L
GYMKHANA Yearling Chestnut Children s 7-13 49
At the outset of his bootmaking, Reg had only the one set of lasts and, if the person ordering boots required it, he added pieces to the lasts to allow for wider feet or higher insteps. 51
THE YEARLING G Yearling Black
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HEEL High heels Ladies Block Block Flat heels Flat heel Rubber heel TOE SHAPE Wid B 530 Extra Wide B 531 Chisel square B 543 Chisel square B 525 Narrow medium toe B 522 SOLE Plain Rubber Welt Plain Leather Welt Rubber Treaded Welt Rubber Treaded Welt Gristle
SIZE CONVERSION CHART Australia & UK 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 10.5 11 11.5 Europe 35.5 36 37 37.5 38 38.5 39 39.5 40.5 41 42 42.5 43 44 44.5 45 46 47 THAT`S THE WE`VE ALWAYS DONE IT The one seam also ensures less chance of breakages in the upper, helps prevent water damage and ultimately provides more comfort for the wearer. POPULAR SOLE TYPES BENEFITS OF HANDCRAFTING The Goodyear Welt sole is incorporated into RM Williams most popular dress boots. The cork filler increases comfort and adds insulation against extreme temperatures, ensuring the wearer remains comfortable during cold or hot conditions. The welting strip is stitched to the upper using a hot wax dipped thread for durability and strength. A granulated corkalene filler offers increased cushioning between the insole and outer sole. Pull-on woven tugs firmly stitched between front and back heel lining provide ease in getting the boot on and off Thermoplastic formed laminated stiffener protects toes and retains shape. Fibreglass shank with rubber tuck reinforces shape of boot and supports the foot s arch. Moulded leatherboard heel stiffener inserted between heel lining and upper protects and maintains shape. Full leather linings mould to the foot and allow it to breathe. The stacked leather heel reduces swelling from water, and adds strength to the attachment of the heel to the boot. 55
LEATHER PONY Decorative pony hair print pattern on chrome tanned horsehide. Unique and eye catching, Pony leather is ideal for dress boots. VESTA A heavyweight, waterproof leather. Highly durable and water-repellent with a matt finish. DESERT KIP A full chrome heavy weight tanned leather suede. Usually comes unlined. KANGAROO The strongest leather for it s weight in the world. Extremely fine grained and chrome tanned, Kangaroo polishes up beautifully for a very stylish boot. YEARLING Incredibly versatile fine grained leather from Yearling aged cattle. Used throughout RM Williams most popular boot styles. Yearling is suitable for dress and light work boots. DISTRESSED A full grained, heavyweight leather that does not require lining. Suitable for dress and work boots. CAMEL Camel is a very long lasting, hardwearing and tough leather. With a distinctive and deep grain finish. BASS A heavy weight and durable leather. Highly suited to work boots. WILLOW Chrome tanned aged oxhide. Heavyweight and durable, Willow does not require lining. VEAL CALF Chrome tanned, fine grained leather with natural characteristics. Luxurious and comfortable, Veal Calf has a superb high shine finish ideal for dress boots. GREASY KIP Heavy chrome, durable tanned leather. The leather is infused with oils during tanning to make it water-resistant. Also known a Red Kip. CROCODILE PRINT A yearling leather that has been embossed with a crocodile leather effect. Crocodile print is distinctly recognisable and ideal for dress boots. SUEDE Leather crafted to a lighter weight and suede finished. Ideal for dress or smart casual boots.
SWEDEN HEAD OFFICE BOOTSKOMPANIET Långtradaregatan 10 298 32 Tollarp Sweden Phone: +46 (0) 44 23 86 16 E-mail: info@bootskompaniet.se www.bootskompaniet.se BOOTSKOMPANIET STOCKHOLM SHOWROOM Fiskartorpet Björnnäsbacken 15 115 42 Stockholm Sweden Mobile:+46 (0) 709 99 24 45 Phone: +46 (0) 44 23 86 16 E-mail: info@bootskompaniet.se www.bootskompaniet.se DENMARK HOLLAND BELGIUM LUXEMBURG DSEGNO Martijn Sengers Van Heemstraweg 42-44 6658KH Beneden Leeuwen Holland Phone+31 646216167 E-mall: info@dsegno.nl NORWAY SHOE & CLOTHE AS Postbox 5185 Majorstuen 0302 Oslo Norway Phone: +47 478 51 555 Mobile: +47 920 14900 E-mail: ak@shoeandclothe.no www.shoeandclothe.no TAILWIND TRADING Peter Bak Skelbækgade 1 (7a) Vesterbro Copenhagen Denmark Phone: +45 261 838 78 E-mail: pbak@tailwindtrading.dk GERMANY AUSTRIA SWITZERLAND APFN Angelika Pöser An der Germania Brauerei 8 48159 M ünster Germany Phone: +49 251 93255874 E-mail: angelika@ap-fn.com 57