Meltonian shoe cream - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

60 oldjohn · 6th May 2020, 4:58 pm

I have used Meltonian Shoe Cream a few times over the years with great success on Rexine. I need some in light brown, searching the net it seems Meltonian is unavailable in any colours. Is this true? What do you use on Rexine? I do not want the 60+ year old radio to look like new just rejuvenate it a bit. I would just like to get it back to near the original not faded colour under the handle fittings.

John.

chriswood1900 · 6th May 2020, 6:16 pm

I used Meltonian but as you say it is no longer available as far as I can see, so I just Google shoe cream and use one of the other brands like Woly or TRG from Timpson, and have found them as good.

McMurdo · 6th May 2020, 6:44 pm

is that the stuff in a tin, or the stuff in a bottle with the sponge on top?

Radio Wrangler · 6th May 2020, 6:50 pm

Half-way between, Kevin. The liquid in the bottles with the sponge top is thin and runny, the stuff in the tins (Kiwi? trad stuff) is a softish wax, the creams have the consistency of mayonnaise.

For leather care stuff there is Autoglym leather cleaner and care balm in car accessory shops, which is quite good. But the selection you'll find in a saddlery is quite a lot better. if you're dealing with real leather on handles etc.

David

David G4EBT · 7th May 2020, 12:54 pm

Meltonian has a convoluted history going back to the early 1900s, which you can read at the link below.

It no longer makes retail shoe care products, though you might find a few offerings on eBay.

Do a search for Meltonian, and this is the result, as you've no doubt found John:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meltonian-S.../dp/B00KUREWCA

When their Watford works was shut down (early 60s?) the manufacture of Meltonian products was transferred to Reckitt’s site at Hull. However, in 1991 the Meltonian brand name was bought by the Sara Lee Corporation, along with Reckitt’s entire UK shoe care product portfolio. The Meltonian brand name is now licensed by Italian company Iexi Srl for bulk shoe trade leather treatment creams (who also make and sell trade products under the Wren’s and Propert’s brand names of old).

https://www.blancoandbull.com/boot-c...brown-and-son/

Search on Wren shoe-care products, and disappointingly, no coloured products:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wrens-Leath.../dp/B01ERPXGNQ

There is now only one UK shoe care product manufacture in the UK, namely, 'Cherry Blossom and Grangers International' who used to manufacture products in Alfreton, but in 2019 relocated to junction 29a of the M1, to new purpose-built premises with new 'state-of-the art' machinery, so they seem to be very much in business.

Their range of products can be found here, but not unsurprisingly, are all out of stock at present as the factory is closed for the time being due to pandemic restrictions:

https://cherryblossom.co.uk/products...ng-shoe-polish

Like Meltonian, Cherry B has an interesting history, but that's only of academic interest - it doesn't solve the problem of how to find suitable products right now.

https://cherryblossom.co.uk/pages/our-heritage

Not much help at all, but I guess there will be all sorts of products that would fill the bill, if they can be winkled out in a google search.

Hope these notes are of interest.

Station X · 7th May 2020, 1:12 pm

I use KIWI SELECT SMOOTH LEATHER PELLE LISCIA SHOE-CREAM. Comes in screw top jars. I have black and navy blue versions. I probably bought it in Timpsons.

https://www.fruugo.co.uk/kiwi-select...23?language=en

60 oldjohn · 7th May 2020, 5:40 pm

Thank you everyone for your responses. I will try to find what Graham has mentioned above in light brown.

John.

McMurdo · 7th May 2020, 7:36 pm

As a child I was made to spruce-up my school shoes with Scuff Stuff, whoever makes that, wonder if that's still around?

Cherry Blossom will definitely have something, I've done work in their factory. Good stuff!

6th May 2020, 4:58 pm	#1
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,987	Meltonian shoe cream I have used Meltonian Shoe Cream a few times over the years with great success on Rexine. I need some in light brown, searching the net it seems Meltonian is unavailable in any colours. Is this true? What do you use on Rexine? I do not want the 60+ year old radio to look like new just rejuvenate it a bit. I would just like to get it back to near the original not faded colour under the handle fittings. John. __________________ My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again"

6th May 2020, 6:16 pm	#2
chriswood1900 Octode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dorridge, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,483	Re: Meltonian shoe cream I used Meltonian but as you say it is no longer available as far as I can see, so I just Google shoe cream and use one of the other brands like Woly or TRG from Timpson, and have found them as good. __________________ Chris Wood BVWS Member

6th May 2020, 6:44 pm	#3
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,271	Re: Meltonian shoe cream is that the stuff in a tin, or the stuff in a bottle with the sponge on top? __________________ Kevin

6th May 2020, 6:50 pm	#4
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,876	Re: Meltonian shoe cream Half-way between, Kevin. The liquid in the bottles with the sponge top is thin and runny, the stuff in the tins (Kiwi? trad stuff) is a softish wax, the creams have the consistency of mayonnaise. For leather care stuff there is Autoglym leather cleaner and care balm in car accessory shops, which is quite good. But the selection you'll find in a saddlery is quite a lot better. if you're dealing with real leather on handles etc. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

7th May 2020, 12:54 pm	#5
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,761	Re: Meltonian shoe cream Meltonian has a convoluted history going back to the early 1900s, which you can read at the link below. It no longer makes retail shoe care products, though you might find a few offerings on eBay. Do a search for Meltonian, and this is the result, as you've no doubt found John: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meltonian-S.../dp/B00KUREWCA When their Watford works was shut down (early 60s?) the manufacture of Meltonian products was transferred to Reckitt’s site at Hull. However, in 1991 the Meltonian brand name was bought by the Sara Lee Corporation, along with Reckitt’s entire UK shoe care product portfolio. The Meltonian brand name is now licensed by Italian company Iexi Srl for bulk shoe trade leather treatment creams (who also make and sell trade products under the Wren’s and Propert’s brand names of old). https://www.blancoandbull.com/boot-c...brown-and-son/ Search on Wren shoe-care products, and disappointingly, no coloured products: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wrens-Leath.../dp/B01ERPXGNQ There is now only one UK shoe care product manufacture in the UK, namely, 'Cherry Blossom and Grangers International' who used to manufacture products in Alfreton, but in 2019 relocated to junction 29a of the M1, to new purpose-built premises with new 'state-of-the art' machinery, so they seem to be very much in business. Their range of products can be found here, but not unsurprisingly, are all out of stock at present as the factory is closed for the time being due to pandemic restrictions: https://cherryblossom.co.uk/products...ng-shoe-polish Like Meltonian, Cherry B has an interesting history, but that's only of academic interest - it doesn't solve the problem of how to find suitable products right now. https://cherryblossom.co.uk/pages/our-heritage Not much help at all, but I guess there will be all sorts of products that would fill the bill, if they can be winkled out in a google search. Hope these notes are of interest. __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.

7th May 2020, 1:12 pm	#6
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Meltonian shoe cream I use KIWI SELECT SMOOTH LEATHER PELLE LISCIA SHOE-CREAM. Comes in screw top jars. I have black and navy blue versions. I probably bought it in Timpsons. https://www.fruugo.co.uk/kiwi-select...23?language=en __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

7th May 2020, 5:40 pm	#7
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,987	Re: Meltonian shoe cream Thank you everyone for your responses. I will try to find what Graham has mentioned above in light brown. John. __________________ My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again"

7th May 2020, 7:36 pm	#8
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,271	Re: Meltonian shoe cream As a child I was made to spruce-up my school shoes with Scuff Stuff, whoever makes that, wonder if that's still around? Cherry Blossom will definitely have something, I've done work in their factory. Good stuff! __________________ Kevin