Collection
The archive
Catalogues, advertisements, trademark registrations, patent drawings and surviving objects from the Hood Rubber Company of Watertown, Massachusetts. Everything here is dated from the document itself where the document gives a date.
81 items
1890s
1894
Bell Brand rubbers, Boot and Shoe Recorder
Two trade-paper advertisements from 12 and 19 December 1894 — 'Winter is Here!' and a Christmas Santa — for Bell Brand rubbers, Boston Rubber Shoe Company. The Hoods came out of this trade.
1897
'Cut in Rubber Goods', Boston Post
16 March 1897. The Boston Rubber Shoe Company cuts prices against the United States Rubber trust; the Hood Rubber Company is named among the independents.
1900s
1903
Miner's Boot and 'Tuff' Boot
From the catalogue of 1 January 1903. Heavy weight, wool or friction lining; the Miner's Boot 'specially constructed for mining trade, with a Duck Leg, Gum Vamp and Quarter.' $6.85 the pair.
1903
Lumberman Rubbers and the 'Soo'
'Our Lumberman's in 1902 were the finest by far we ever made. Every good style will be continued in 1903.' Pure gum over, no heel, rolled edge — $2.05.
1903
Arctics and the Puritan School Arctic
'Heavy Weight. Four Buckle Snow Excluder. Bright or Dull Finish. Black Fleece Lined.' Children's, $1.45.
1903
Old Honesty, Storm King, Montana, Dakota
Four arctics from the 1903 book. Hood named its patterns after places it mostly did not sell to.
1903
The Plymouth Line
'In 1899 we made our Plymouth Overs only for Misses and Children … but in 1900 the demand came so hard for them extra quality Plymouths that we make a full line High Cuts and Low Cuts.'
c.1905
Hood's Royal Oak Boots, porcelain enamel sign
A dealer's sign in chipped and rusted porcelain enamel. The Royal Oak diamond label — 'Pure Gum' — is printed on the boot leg. Legend at the foot: 'They outwear all.'
1906
The Hood arrow, registered
Trademark registration for rubber boots and shoes, Hood Rubber Co., application filed May 1906. The arrow that ran on every Hood product for the next sixty years.
1907
Hood Rubbers, A.J. Bates & Co., New York
'Hood Rubbers invariably stand for excellence in Fit and Style, because they are made over the newest and most up-to-date lasts corresponding to every shape of leather shoes.'
1909
'An Honest Sole — That's Hood's'
The Straub-Smith Shoe Co., in the Record-Argus, 8 November 1909. 'Hood's Rubbers have never made any compromise with excellence.'
1910s
1914
Tennis Shoes catalogue
'Net Prices to Retailer of Tennis Shoes Manufactured by Hood Rubber Company, September 1, 1914.' Issued through Wm. H. Walker & Co., Pearl Street, Buffalo.
1914
Lakeside and Tuxedo brands
Marginal vignettes name the places the shoes were meant for: 'In the Adirondacks', 'Tuxedo Club, N.Y.' A men's Lakeside Bal cost the retailer 86 cents.
1914
Bayside and Riverside brands
'Bar Harbor' and 'Delaware Water Gap' in the margins. White duck with white sole, or black duck with brown sole.
c. 1915
Brown low-top and its outsole
A low canvas shoe laid beside its own outsole, the tread moulded in a dense pebble pattern. Dated to the middle teens from the collection.
1919
Canvas Footwear catalogue
Issued 2 September 1919 through Bliss & Richardson Shoe Co., Cross Street, Portland, Maine.
1919
Wurkshu: 'Built Like an Auto Tire'
Ten talking points. Tire-tread soles made by the same process as Hood tires; uppers of mail-bag duck; patented pneumatic heels; built on the Munson Army last. $3.50 for men.
1919
Weltshu and Weltshu High Cut
'A genuine Goodyear Welt Shoe, with all the advantages of canvas footwear construction.' Sizes listed on the Army last.
1919
Klaykort
White duck upper, red rubber sole and wedge heel, grey pebbled rubber forepart, red sport trim — a tennis shoe built for clay.
1919
Weltshu wordmark
The brand drawn as a single piece of lettering.
1919
Wurkshu, Saturday Evening Post
9 August 1919. 'Built for Heavy Service with Tire-Tread Soles and Pneumatic Heels. $2.50 to $3.00 a Pair.'
1919
Wurkshu: 'Welded to Heavy Duck with Live Steam'
The Hood Pressure-Cure Process, advertised to the whole country, with a state-by-state list of jobbers down the left-hand column.
c.1919
'Home of Hood Rubbers'
A dealer's card. 'Where over twelve million pairs of rubber boots and shoes are made annually.'
1920s
c.1920s
Hood Service order blank
A dealer's rush order envelope. 'Hood Service means orders shipped same day as received.'
1920
Wurkshu advertising order form
A dealer could tick a box for a window poster, package stuffers, a set of four movie slides, newspaper cuts, or a cut of the trademark.
1921
Hood Kattle King
December 1921. 'All rubber uppers, clean easily.' Grey tire-tread stock soles, fleece lining — 'what more can a man's man ask for in an overshoe?'
1921
Rubber Footwear Buying Guide
The trade edition, gold on black, issued by Hood Rubber Products Company.
1922
'8 million people will know about these shoes'
Hyscore and Centre, announced to the trade. 'Interest in basketball and many other forms of indoor athletics was never greater. Here is an opportunity to you.'
1922
Plant of the Hood Rubber Co., Watertown
A quarter-century after incorporation: the largest single plant in the world for the manufacture of rubber footwear, 46 acres of floor space in more than 60 buildings, 7,700 people employed.
1922
Hood Centre
The Centre in its ornamental frame, Hood Rubber Products Company, Watertown.
1924
Hood Greyhound
'The finest Basketball Shoe ever produced.' 15-ounce army duck, reinforced #10 brown duck lining, smokrepe heel pad, fibre insole, combination steel and fibre shank.
1924
Hood Bayside in London
April 1924. 'Ask for and INSIST on getting Hood Bayside Tennis Shoes — the shoe with the motor tyre sole.' Sold through C.W. Randall & Co., High Street, Shoreditch.
1924
The Centre
Tan and cream duck with a leather ankle patch, dark foxing and a hard toe guard. Identified from the Hood collection as the Centre — the basketball shoe Hood had announced to the trade two years earlier alongside the Hyscore.
1924
The Husky
Rust-coloured suede upper, red rubber foxing, dark toe cap. Identified from the Hood collection as the Husky — the shoe Hood would still be advertising in the Saturday Evening Post four years later.
1924
The Husky, rear
The same shoe from behind: the heel stay, the two-tone sole, and the moulded arrow plate set into the back of the foxing.
1928
'What Shoe for Summer Play?'
Saturday Evening Post. 'The youngsters themselves can answer quickly enough — Sneakers.' The Hood Husky, drawn in colour over a sandlot ball game.
after 1929
'Hood Rubber Co., A Division of B.F. Goodrich'
Woven shoe label. Goodrich acquired Hood in 1929, but kept the Hood name on the label for forty years.
1930s
1930s
'See how they run'
'— as lithe and strong as young antelopes.' Posture Foundation advertised jointly by Hood Canvas Shoes and Goodrich Sport Shoes.
1931
'The Shoes Win!'
The 1931 catalogue spread: Forward, Centre, Clyde (lace-to-toe), Co-Ed and Siak, with team photographs running along the foot of the page.
1931
Clyde (lace-to-toe)
'A low priced shoe for women's gymnasium use … imitation crepe sole with duck upper, white only. Made to sell in quantities to school classes to complete the required uniform.'
1931
Siak
'Hood's most popular all around athletic and gymnasium shoe. Excellent for all gym work, wrestling, beginner's basketball, tennis, indoor and out.'
1934
The Conference — feature sheet
Posture Foundation, loose lining, peg top, reinforced upper, shaped padded tongue, sponge cushion heel, telescopic eyelets, duck cushion insole, ventilating eyelets, light weight.
1936
The Conference, 1936
The same shoe, the same list of features, two years on.
1937
Tufts College in Conference
'The members of the Tufts College, Medford, Mass. basketball team are equipped with Hood Conference Shoes.'
1938
Detroit metropolitan champions
'The 1938 Detroit Metropolitan basketball champion was Hamtramck, Mich. High School. They wore Hood Conference shoes and were coached by Henry Collins.'
1939
Hood Canvas Footwear, 1939
Trade catalogue in orange, green and black, issued from Cleveland and Detroit. Art Deco athletes run down the margin of every page.
1939
Canvas Shoes 1939 — index
'All Prices Shown are Net to Retailer and are Subject to Change Without Notice.'
1939
The Xtrulock Molded Process
A patented method of moulding the rubber trim to a canvas shoe instead of stitching it: no seams, no trimming stitches to break, one-piece outside counter and back stay. U.S. Patent 1,658,565.
1939
What is Posture Foundation?
'A hard, rigid piece of material, directly under the large ankle bone, gives proper support to the foot and prevents collapse of the bone structure.' U.S. Patent 1,938,127.
1939
Trimmed shoes: Rambler and Caddy
Sheeting-backed duck upper, black insole, heavy grey toe guard.
1939
Men's athletic shoes, 1939
Cleat Sole, Conference, Hoopster, Dribbler, Forward and Centre on one page. The Conference is listed here sixteen years before the model this site is about.
1939
Women's athletic shoes
Wellesley and Gymshu, both on Posture Foundation.
1939
Advertising and sales: counter displays
Sportslax sandal displays, wall hangers and a sport oxford display, printed in six colours.
1939
Promotion helps
A Posture Foundation demonstration board — 'your customers can step on this board and actually feel Posture Foundation under their feet.'
1940s
early 1940s
Military trainer
Army-green duck over a black sole, no trim and no mark — an early-1940s military trainer. Hood had been building on the Munson Army last since the First World War; by 1944 the plant was also turning out rubber de-icers for fighter wings.
1941
The Conference in six colours, 1941–42
Catalogue plate for the 1941–42 model year. Lace-to-toe bal, heavy army duck upper with 'Peg Top' reinforcement, felt padded tongue, telescopic eyelets, non-skid rubalock moulded sole, Hygeen cushion insole. Black, red, gold, green, blue or white. Style 2750, men's 6–13.
1944
'De-Icers': war equipment to save lives
16 June 1944. Rubber de-icers developed and patented pre-war by Goodrich, produced in part at Watertown, 'to remove ice from the wings of fighting planes.'
1946
The P-F mark
'A safeguard for active feet: P.F. — Posture Foundation — in Hood Canvas Shoes.'
1948
'This is THE CONFERENCE'
Seven features listed, black or white, 'For College, School, Club and Professional Teams.'
1950s
1950s
'P-F TIME is Here!' pennant
Point-of-sale pennant for P-F canvas shoes, flagged 'Featured on TV.'
1950s
Flexarctic on its dealer stand
A four-buckle work boot still mounted on its yellow counter display: 'Headquarters for Work Footwear by Hood — a sure sign they're good.' Hangtags attached.
1950s
Hood arrow hangtag
A die-cut yellow arrow tag listing construction features, still wired to a rubber boot.
1950s
The Bob Cousy 'All-American' basketball shoe
The shoe annotated like a patent drawing. 'Circle Grip' moulded sole with quick positive traction for stop-and-go foot action in all directions.
1950s
'Bob Cousy, Athletic Staff Director'
A mail-in card, approved and autographed by Cousy: 'Bob Cousy, Athletic Staff Director, Hood Footwear Products, Watertown 72, Massachusetts.'
1953
Basketball Hints with Ed Macauley, 1953–54
Cousy and Macauley, both named to the National Professional Basketball Association 'All Star' team for the 1952–53 season, on a cover that also carried Football Tips.
1954
The Conference, 1954–55
'They help YOU go full speed longer.' The last catalogue statement of the shoe before the 1955 model.
1955
'The Last Comes First in Modern Play Shoes'
Looking back twenty years. Hyman L. Whitman of the Hood Rubber Division of B.F. Goodrich developed the Posture Foundation principle from a study of anatomy and hundreds of medical reports, concluding that improper weight distribution was the main cause of tired and weakened foot and leg muscles. His rigid wedge of non-resilient hard rubber was tested on the feet of hundreds of Watertown schoolchildren and went into a canvas shoe, the article says, 'as far back as 1934.'
1955
The Conference
Black army duck, cream foxing, and the moulded arrow medallion set into the quarter. This is the 1955 Conference — the shoe the rest of this site is about.
1956
Bob Cousy Basketball Hints, 1956–57
'Fundamentals, Practice Drills, Team Tactics. Compliments of Hood Rubber Company.'
1956
Rain-steps, Harper's Bazaar
'The elegance of the carriage era — new costume look in the rain.' Made by B.F. Goodrich and Hood Rubber Company.
1957
Bob Cousy Basketball Hints, 1957–58
The second of the annual booklets.
1957
'Run your fastest in your Hood P-F Flyers'
A dealer ad that carries the Hood double arrow directly above the P-F Flyers name. 'The only canvas shoes with a built-in Magic Rigid Wedge that helps prevent tired, strained foot and leg muscles' — footnoted, at the bottom, 'Posture Foundation.' $2.99 to $4.99 at Glick's Shoe Store, 23 West Broad Street.
1958
Bob Cousy Basketball Hints, 1958–59
Issued through local shoe stores; this copy from Block Shoe Store.
1959
Bob Cousy Basketball Hints, 1959–60
Cousy shooting over a defender on the cover of the last of the run.
1960s
1960
Waterproof Footwear, season 1960–1961
The arrow at full width in yellow on red — the mark at its most confident, nine years before the plant closed.
Undated
n.d.
The Hood arrow, embossed
Detail of the moulded rubber medallion set into a canvas upper. The double arrow was Hood's mark from 1906 onward.
n.d.
Hood industrial footwear wrapping tissue
Printed shoe tissue, the arrow repeating across the sheet. The kind of thing that was thrown away by the millions.
n.d.
Maroon and cream paneled high-tops
A worn pair with maroon side panels against cream duck — the paneling Hood used to distinguish its trimmed athletic line. The moulded medallion sits on the quarter; the foxing strip and toe guard have gone soft with wear.
n.d.
Three high-tops, lined up
Black duck, cream duck and a two-tone, photographed together against a scale rule.
n.d.
Blue canvas low-top
A low oxford in blue duck with a white foxing strip.
n.d.
'Proclaimed Best of 1,805 Dogs'
Boxwood Barkentine, owned by Frederic C. Hood of Brookline, Massachusetts. Photographed by a New York Herald staff photographer.
Nothing in that decade yet.