A Texas tradition: Cowboy bootmaker

Dave Wheeler, owner of the Wheeler Boot Company in Houston, Texas, has been making custom boots for more than 50 years. It's not just what he makes in his rustic and simple workshop that keeps him in demand - it's how he makes it, using the same machines his dad used. Kristine Johnson reports.

[@MezzoForte4]

As long as Texas lives, there will always be boots and the need for bootmakers.

[@brianbrady9601]

Nope, soon humanity won't need or want for footwear, you'll see..

[@saab-xq8lc]

@@brianbrady9601 not in our lifetimes

[@tahoetom9932]

Someone in Mexico will always make boots by hand. Even 500 years from now.

[@southpaw602]

@Jay Caldwell says who? Have you worn a pair?

[@southpaw602]

@Jay Caldwell exactly. Nobody.

[@wobblybobbly9456]

Yep, real boots handmade by a real cobbler using two needles and shaving the leather with glass shards. Like all the proper shoemakers in Europe. Yanks don't have a clue what craftsmanship is. It don't come from machines. Arnie could have bought better boots- proper oak tanned veal leather in Bavaria or Austria but unfortunately cobblers there won't soil their name on something so gaudy and tasteless as Texas :queers and steers" high heels.

[@georgeramirez1291]

Tahoe Tom Lol, there’s always been and still will be very good boot makers in Mexico, I went to a border town once with a boot maker, he made a pair of work boots 4 me and lasted 4 years, also bought a pair of turtle skin or Caguama boots in a regular shoe store in Mexico same town and lasted 4 ever

[@saltycrotchwhiff3946]

China good good quality. America lazy quality.

[@millieatr]

When he told Arnold he had to wait 2 year Arnold said "I''ll be back" as he walked out the door

[@edthebritishguy]

brad fiser lol that’s funny

[@MrViolero]

He came back in deed!! lol ...two and half years later!

[@raramuri2013]

😄😄

[@karlalbiston429]

Thats a good one!😂😂

[@bossdawg165]

“Bootmaker” Yea in 2 years....

[@Nab00theEnigma]

no apprentice program? you are actually killing the art homeboy

[@TheClickclack1212]

Apprentice half of America’s kids don’t even want a job then the other half want to be famous

[@w.e.s.]

@@TheClickclack1212 slot of kids are artistic and skilled in that way they just dont want to work

[@LouisJasper]

@@TheClickclack1212 Ok boomer.

[@CaseyScoffieldWOW]

I’m learning it right now, and I’m blind. I found a guy out here in the State of Utah that does it. I make hats too.

[@rickynazario1969]

Laredo Boots are killing the market...There boots are made in F&*ng CHINA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@balerjohnson3099]

So many dying arts ..So amazed by the craftsmanship and dedication of Dave Wheeler ..God Bless.

[@eddiebernays514]

if he wants to teach someone i would love to learn. we dont need any more trades dying in america.

[@matthewmascorro436]

That would be an awesome art to learn.

[@georgegeorgepht]

I been there and got a wallet for my son and as a graduation present for when he finished HS. A gator skin wallet. That was over 5 years ago. He still has it and loves it. I always said I would go back and get some boots. But they aren't taking new customers and there was a waiting list to even be considered. I have travel all over the country as a truck driver and seen many many boot stores and makers. But these boots seem like it's more art then boot. So nice u don't want to wear them...just look at them and admire the quality.

[@3strll]

The price is expensive but reasonable. Since this is pure hand made.

[@Rangerman69420]

There is no way this is a "dying breed" get out of here way to many people (Me included) still wear Cowboy boots for that to be true.

[@LinkRocks]

Those boots are nice, but give me simplicity. A nice pair of black or brown boots is what I like.

[@jennifermorgan2186]

What a beautiful art and craft. Some one needs to be his apprentice. Wish I was 30 years younger .I'd be knocking on his door.

[@averagejew]

I came across this video because I just stepped out of the rat race of cube-ville. I can retire, but I want to take on something new.

[@tortuga_t4rslownsteady805]

My grandfather started making boots as a young boy he’s 72 now and still making boots by hand. It’s amazing to witness something made from raw materials.

[@Ojeramup12]

When I was in high school I worked for Mr. S. Rios of Mercedes. He insisted that "impeccable" boots go out only. When you said "one wrong move..." it took me back 50 years. Thank you for making quality boots!

[@shahjohnsarwari1978]

Do we still have these kind of great talented men in the United state or just some people to creat hate and trouble to destroys people lives?? Awesome man , amazing, thanks for sharing your nice clip. Peace

[@whiteribbonman1]

Your program took me back. I watched your program EVERY Sunday morning, early, when I was a boy in the 1960’s. My father was rarely home and the rest were always asleep. Thank You!

[@tdgdbs1]

Bought a pair from Goodwill, I did not know what it was until I did some research; for only $5, I guess I can't complain about the quality.

[@Lookup2Wakeup]

Mee too. I bought a pair of Tony Lamas from a charity shop for £8, here in the UK.

[@daxwax18]

Tony Lama is a good boot...BUT..nowhere the boot that Custom DAVE WHEELERS are.

[@Nab00theEnigma]

me too i found some laying on the ground and sold them for $25k. guess I cant complain

[@dann3410]

Fantastic craftsmanship! Respect.

[@ega0117]

There are plenty of boot makers!!!! He claims he's the only one this is his marketing pitch

[@Joetrout]

ega0117 not really, most are getting old. You might have a few here and there, but what kind of quality?? Are they that good to trust paying them that $$$. Here in Texas alot go down to mexico and its a hit or miss.

[@rgsxyz1105]

The two year waiting list might attest that there is a bit of a supply issue, but I agree, there will always be custom shoe and boot makers, just not a lot of them.

[@DoughBoy45]

There are no boot makers in my city.

[@spydergs07]

He never said he's the only one. He said it's a dying art and in time there will be no more.

[@deadwooddooley3202]

Hardly a sales pitch if he’s retiring in three years and not accepting any more orders

[@TexExpatriate1]

My Uncle Floyd Desbrow was a renown bootmaker living in Woodward, Oklahoma who made boots for working cowboys, rodeo cowboys, and as prizes for local, state, and national winners.

[@oscarcovarrubias2286]

TexExpatriate1 does your family still sell boots?

[@cheaneysaddles]

Awesome boots and craftsmanship!

[@rickweiss2793]

Even though he retired, a true legend like him will never die!

[@thomastessier4529]

I love watching real craftsman at work, no matter what the product is.

[@stoneybulldog861]

Love watching him sew and the eye in the sun symbolism at the end. see the light

[@commonmancrypto1648]

His emotions at the end were very touching.

[@kashioable]

Incredible! Absolutely fascinating.

[@victorjeffers1993]

Proudly made in the USA ! We need more people like him that has a trade to offer someone to teach our children how to make things by hand !

[@waynecollard3876]

True artisan, be proud of the legacy you'll leave behind

[@jasonduncan3532]

I wish I could apprentice with him. problem is he would retire long before I was any where near good enough to make boots on my own. it almost brings me to tears to see this. such art should never fade away.

[@jaymartin6475]

I had a pair made by Mingo's in El Paso almost 30 yrs ago. I still have them. Still dang good boots even after all the resole jobs through the years.

[@jamescooler5089]

At least 50,000 steps. Great job Sir!

[@philohara2521]

Oh I forgot the boots are looking good enough to eat. Beautiful work my friends.

[@Plumber1111]

I am lucky to have a Mexican family that has always repaired my boots. They have 6 kids and they are all in the same trade. I inherited a collection of 19 beautiful cow boy boots and motorcycle boots from my grandpa.

[@CarlosLopez-hi3pk]

That is one skill I always wanted to learn

[@pabl0esc0bar99]

This guy is the Bob Ross of boot making

[@michaelmixon2479]

Not my type of boot but the craftsmanship is wonderful!

[@alexandermata4120]

Work of art

[@brianbrady9601]

What a master boot maker! WOW

[@BjkxeDKjsje]

Master craftsmen 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@nawfmeskin3313]

God bless him cause those boots are 🔥 .

[@marlandwilliams186]

My grandpa knew somebody at Nocona boot factory in Texas I went down or they drew around both my feet and I pick them up that evening best pair of boots ever had custom made

[@daxwax18]

They might have been nice...but NOT CUSTOM...HAND MADE boots... Kinda a Huuuge difference

[@hungarianhillbilly4144]

A true craftsman. He should pass on that wealth of knowledge.

[@kingkong7617]

He is probably the last of a American boot maker and he is a real craftsman, very few of those left!

[@markm4596]

I miss news reports like these

[@LouieBee]

You have to love a craftsman

[@Landooo5]

WOW! what a legend

[@bishop2985]

Man I thought he Arnold was going to say “I be back in two years”

[@brucekirk5386]

Arnold came back two years..but for him it was a few seconds

[@jamesdouglasmortimer8823]

Am from Europe ,cowboy boots always on my foot.best shoes ever

[@nenadcubric2663]

One of the Best

[@RepoManInIndy]

That guy said it best when he said you'll be back again n again. I collect three things.. Rock Revival jeans, cowboy boots, and guns. I feel that with all these things, it's not possible to be satisfied with just one of them.

[@davidharrison6615]

surely a long lad would be happy to work as an apprentice and keep this skilled work going .

[@codiserville593]

I plan to learn some of this from a bootmaker I met

[@trumpetfriday8971]

When he's not makin boots,he's making people fight each other in his show,called the Jerry" Springer show.

[@sicknick282]

I love the anteaters he has, I thought that skin was band in the US.

[@chuygonzalez5384]

I’m a proudly a young bookmaker learn it from the old guys

[@rgmfilms5325]

You know that cgi in the beginning was their entire weekly budget 😂😂😂

[@joeygonzo]

I'd love to own a pair.

[@natedawg5886]

I would love to learn how to make custom boots!

[@humphrey4976]

Master craftsman

[@cristiandachelet179]

Esas botas son de exposicion una obra de arte de la zapateria

[@Ragnar215]

The lady who interviewed him is gorgeous

[@alpineflauge909]

thank you

[@rajpsms]

i had the opportunity to meet Mr. wheeler

[@kimjong-un4411]

American Natives make exquisite pieces by hand.

[@hawghawg381]

Lady was beautiful! True ig model

[@martiniv8924]

Hand made/custom boots are on the up, maybe not Cowboy boots , but all other contemporary styles , the boot makers are popular on the Tube, it’s a shame he hasn’t trained someone to take over

[@1Galag]

That reporter is a rocket and the boots are nice too

[@joeguzman3558]

back in the 70s i worked for a older japanise gentlemen on his shoe repair shop ,he didn't make new ones but the ones he despaired were better the new ,i remember customers stoping by just to show him their shoes he had worked on them years before ,today's shoes. like allen Edmond sre still made in very good quality they can be repair and keep on but nit very many companies remain.

[@MEGAFATG]

Awesome.

[@philohara2521]

Hello I'm from New Zealand and we had a boot/shoe maker in my hometown where you could choose the leather and style and sole. It would be measured to your foot and then crafted for you. I was in Australia at the time and when I arrived home the company went to mass produced. I was rather disappointed as I'd wanted a pair or two. As they say 'live for today'. Anyways these crafts I believe are a dying art and yes I do believe that if there is a need or your willing to pay then you may be able to find someone to make these items. Maybe the need can outweigh the reliance on technology but you also gotta find folks to carry the crafts on. Having said that walking into a shop and seeing an old timer work with their hands is a beautiful thing. For me I find it depends on where you live as to how easy it is to find these crafts. I am interested in Coopering. Making the wooden barrels for Ale's etc. A dying art I feel. Again this depends on where your looking. Nothing much in N.Z. but still active in U.K. for example. It must be difficult for old timers or anyone for that matter who has put years into their craft to find someone to carry it on. Not just as a job but someone who will carry on the name of the company. And do the person who started it all proud. I'm 47. Been a professional driver a volunteer firefighter. Sometimes no matter how keen you are age can be detrimental. I'd love a change of role. I've seen apprenticeships offered for some roles but they always want young folk. Anyways I guess there's different views for everyone on the same topic. I feel there will be a time when everything is all about technology and not possessing the manual hand skills and the ability to figure things out old school. I see that in my truck driving. Computers and Auto Trans etc. So much is done for us now days. Both good and bad.

[@davidschick6951]

I wish I could have ever justified owning a pair of cowboy boots or a Stetson. I'm just not able to make those statements about myself.

[@wobblybobbly9456]

Nothing says classy like a pair of snakeskin cowboy boots with sterling silver toe caps, spurs and heels.

[@enjo9881]

You know Jorge making 9/10 of them boots haha

[@enjo9881]

Jk they probably do 5/10

[@MC_ToyDawg]

Nice boots, a little to flashy for me. 1:20 Amaro is a rare Hispanic name. That's was my grandfather and moms last name. That name has been in Texas longer then Texas has been part of the Union.

[@teewoods9846]

An AMERICAN legend.

[@DenaWoodTheNDexpress]

The Academy of Western Artists selected Dave Wheeler as the recipient of the Bootmaker of the Year Award at the Awards Ceremony in Ft. Worth , Texas in March of 2019. awaawards.org

[@rful3981]

What a style 😂😂😂

[@Txdeerslayer1]

There's plenty of boot-makers besides him. In just Amarillo alone, we have 6 that do it.

[@arno1435]

at 1:33 really need to buy those boots

[@marcomarek9190]

I want this boot😂🇦🇹

[@bohemialite6371]

People will go to Mexico to get their boots all they make boots over there there No Lack of boot makers in Mexico.

[@wobblybobbly9456]

I like Mexicans, they remind me of how UK people used to be before they got soft and spoiled- tough, hardy, resilient of a little hardship, hardworking, humble and independent with a good dash of backbone and pluck. God bless you Mexico.

[@masonelder8575]

He did a good job talking like Arnold 😂

[@Murphy252000]

America, you are not the only country in the world!

[@edmundooliver7584]

no but its where cowboy boots come from

[@Hey_its_Koda]

I wish i could learn the art from someone.

[@angelomelville9084]

Turr Minator: -"I LL Be Boot!...I Mean Back!"

[@Alexmarshallplus]

THEY'LL STILL BE AROUND

[@w.e.s.]

People make boots every day he just does it by himself. Most people make an assembly line and work together. Even custom boots. He is very talented but hes not the only 1 even in texas that can do that

[@edmundooliver7584]

hes not didn't you see that mexican doing the work.

[@traeucity6087]

All of these Anglo cowboy boot makers are recognized by how much they charge for their boots and what big shot buys them. Mexican cowboy boot makers are judged by how great their boots are. And they don't have two year waiting lists.

[@gdiaz187]

Damn! That foot looks jacked up. 4:04

[@theghost702]

Boots are still a HUUUUGE industry, maybe even more popular today then in the past 20 years. And people that truly want a quality product will always get them custom made. I seriously doubt custom boot makers will disappear anytime soon but that’s just my opinion

[@billyharrison3985]

Made me want a custom pair Hope someone takes up and starts doing the same maybe he’ll train someone Sure was pretty boots

[@SaWuDOHC]

>soon there will be no bootmakers >2 year backlog

[@shanke300]

Sad sad end to a time honoured tradition. Handsome boots

[@joeguzman3558]

a good custom cowboy boots go for 1k and up ,but it's like buying a 20k car or 200k car after 20 years of buying 5 cars in 20 years it comes out the same price in the long run

[@TurkiyeCumhurbaskani]

There are other boot makers, also there are boot makers in Mexico

[@spydergs07]

Boots from Mexico are not up to the quality that these boots are.

[@mamelu711]

@@spydergs07 Not true at all, some of the finest leather comes from Mexico, the first real cowboy boots came from Spain and were given to Mexico, The Americans just bastardized them

[@spydergs07]

@@mamelu711 I've bought 2 expensive sets of boots directly from Mexico when I travelled there and the quality was sub-par. One pair lasted 4 years and one pair last 5. I have 3 pairs of boots from America and all 3 are over 8 years old and still have plenty of life left.

[@spydergs07]

@@mamelu711 the first cowboy boots were actually made in Kansas. They were specially designed for the wooden stirrups and tall heel and that was created in America. Other countries had some riding boots but the cowboy boots you see today were founded in America.

[@mamelu711]

@@spydergs07 Are you crazy, Kansas!! What historical proof is there for that claim? there is historical proof for the Spain claim but nor for Kansas. I think your forgetting that Spanish people also rode Horses and herded cattle, and designed special boots for the job, and even after that you can find pairs of Mexican boots made back in the 1830s that were the same as cowboy boots.

[@thejasonbischoff]

I've got some ML Leddy's around here somewhere.

[@TheRocknrolla12]

This Art form needs to be preserved. The master should take in new interns

[@n3ljs399]

BRIAN THE BOOTMAKER.....HE IS ON KZbin.

[@davidjsouth231]

I unfortunately have to settle for what you might call a mass produced boot but they sure are comfortable. Justin and Ariat.

[@BruceJC75]

All the sudden my Tecovas don’t seem so special lol. But I like em.

[@Rskyyy]

It’s not a dying breed LMFAO