Red Goose Shoes began as Gieseke-D'Oench-Hays in 1869. The company was named after its founders, but in the early 1900s an appreciation for advertising had begun and the founders wanted an easier name for people to remember. Since "Gieseke" is German slang for "goose", the goose image was a natural.
During the 1904 St. Louis World's fair, bored stock boys started painting the goose red on the cartons of shoes. The company liked the little red goos so much, they changed the name of the company and was trademarked in 1906.
In 1911, Roberts, Johnson & Rand Shoe Company merged with Peters Shoe Company and formed International Shoe Company. International then took over Red Goose, which it soon dropped.
In 1953, International became Interco and bought Floursheim Shoes.
Interco bought Ethan Allen in 1980. By 1984, Interco got rid of most of its footwear and retail businesses. Last of its footwear was sold of by 1994. In 1996, Interco became Furniture Brands International and focused on furniture. And that's how you change a shoe company into a furniture company!
**3/4 inch wide**
**Coated metal top has the trademark red goose in the center on a field of yellow with "Red Goose Shoes" on its belly. Button has a dark green band around the outer edge with "Red Goose Shoes for Boys and Girls"**
**Center dips down but can't tell if that is how it was manufactured or if it is from being removed from the shoe**
**Has expected amount of wear for having been on a shoe and for being an antique, please click on photos to enlarge for detail**
P-448
