Under Construction. . .

Some items below are incomplete and are only in draft form.

By now, you should be an expert in Chippewa identification from the answers on "the Answers" page.  On this page, you will see more examples of the traditional Chippewa construction and a few more not covered on the previous page.   You will see some of the other brand names that were used on Chippewa made boots.   The various sole patterns will also be featured.  See the first Chippewa label above and compare to the three below.

Above, pictured in chronological order, are the various labels used in the Chippewa engineer boot.  The very first label, that I can find, is pictured at the top of this page.  Label #2 was used later on the original Chippewa Boots.  It looks the same as the label at the top of this page, but the lettering is printed on label #2.  On the label at the top of this page, the lettering is embroidered into the label fabric.

Can you see the difference between label #2 and label #3?  The lettering is printed on the same material on both labels.  Have you seen the difference yet?   On label #3 Chippewa Falls, Wis. is removed.  This represents when Chippewa was purchased by Justin Boot Company.  Label #4, again embroidered, is used on the Engineer boots purchased today (at least 1998 when this pair was purshased).

Here is an interesting variation of the top buckle.   Notice the one on the left does not have the metal roller (sleeve).  The one on the right is very common today in all brands.  The one without the roller is found on the very old Chippewa engineers.  I don't know when Chippewa added the roller, but any Chippewa engineer without the roller are definitely very old and very heavy leather.

A very common sole that is used on Chippewa engineers that were made for other companies.  This was to my knowledge the only pattern used on the Sears engineers made by Chippewa in the 60's, 70's, and 80's.  It is also the only sole used on the Easyrider Brand boots made by Chippewa in the 70's and by Red Wing in the 80's and early 90's.  I believe that I have never seen this sole used on an engineer boot with the Chippewa name. 

Very early Chippewa sole with the Chippewa logo.

This is the sole used frequently in the late 70's and 80's.

The long wearing sole used today.  This sole was used on some earlier Chippewa boots also, especially the short ones.  This sole was used on all the Harley Davidson engineers made by Chippewa during the 70's and 80's.