Reshaping boot tops

[Pink]

Have acquired a pair of early 30's SA Brown "Jack type" boots from an old home clearance in Germany. Problem is the boot uppers, which are normally quite stiff, have distorted from their previous 'round' shape to a flattened shape...one boot is about half of what it should be and the other is about only 2 inches wide. I obviously want to display them with my tunic, and am afraid to just put in blocks or stuff them with old towels, or other soft items....they are quite hard and am afraid of cracking them.
I visited a shoemaker who suggested soaking them in very warm water, then stuffing them with towels, repeating the process...then a good coat of polish...but that doesn't sound like a sound idea....
How do I resurrect the boots to their original shape without wrecking them.

[schönbeck]

i have used the hot water method several times. No problem at all.
After the water they are soft but will turn hard again if you don't do anything else.
What you have to do is to put a good amount of leather grease on all parts. If it dries rapidly you have to put more on. With this method they will stay soft for a long period of time.