The Original Sneakers

Below is an original pair of Ked sneakers made circa 1917.

These are the great-great granddaddy, the Adam and Eve, the Quark of the modern sneakers, running shoes and basketball shoes most of us wear everyday.

This is where it all began for Sneakers.

click photos to enlarge

The U.S. Rubber Company created the Keds shoe brand in the early 20th century. By 1917 Keds was manufacturing and selling the very first rubber soled canvas shoes which they called "sneakers" because of the way they allowed the wearer to sneak around unheard.

The bottom of the soles read:

"U.S. Rubber Co.
Keds
Trademark
Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.
Champion U.S.A."

The Edwardian appearance as well as the primitive but quality construction of these sneakers points to them being some of the first sneakers ever created. This is a rare find, especially in such good condition and with matching shoes.

They are, however, a very small size 6. For a young boy, no doubt. An oddity of childhood at the time.

Next time you slip on a pair of sneakers or running shoes, remember the original Keds sneakers and think of how far things have come and how much things have changed.