Shoe polish: thoughts, fun facts, questions

[kilted redleg]

Tobus

I was taught to shine shoes by my dad [WW2 vet and NYPD member] who taught me and my brother the fine art of button
polishing and shield [badge] polishing. In the military I always got compliments on my footwear but, to Nomad's point when
I was in law enforcement I had guys chide me about my shoes. When I pointed out their shoes I would get the reply "I want
people to know that I work for a living." Apparently sloppiness is associated with being able to work.
The best shoe polishing story I've ever seen was on you tube involving a BBC documentary I think it was called Guarding the
Queen. A new solider get assigned to his unit whose turn it is guard her majesty at Buckingham Palace, a corporal sends the newbie
outside with his dress shoes. There stands three sergeants one has like a paint buck full of shoe polish over a sterno fire can he stirring
with a paint brush. Next to him is one with a blow torch, next to him is one with a mountain of rags. As the newbie hands over his shoes
they get painted with polish the next guy blow torches them then hands them to the third guy who wipes them down leaving a mirror
shine and says something to the effect of welcome to the unit son like this every time you guard her majesty understood! I've never
seen that done in my life!