Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-06-26
BUILDING A RUBBER BOOT.


the Average PersOn Thinks.
It IL forty years sincefhe flrst Tisbber boot
was made, and a very clumsy specimen OF
footwear it was. Prior to this the old
fashioned rubber shoe was in existence, but
not much worn, and it was called galoshe.
The style Of boots now made are nearly
identical in all of the leading rubber
COMPANIES, each, however, having some
strenptheninQ device of more or less excel
ience upon which they pride themselves.
An boots are made by hand upon wooden
trees" which are prepared of carefully
seasoned maple. The seasoning is neces4
gary. else the trees would shrink in vulcan
izafiom and become worthless Iron trees
have been used, but are practically barred
out'1 by their great weight.
A well arranged boot room has first
wide center circle running its whole
length. through which run car tracks for
the EASY removal of the finished boots to
the .beaters." Running from this main
nnssageway are the "alleys" of the work
men, in front of each of whom is a long
table fitted with rack capable Of holding
fifteen pairs of boots. A portion OF this
table Is padded and reserved for the work
of making up, the tools for this being sim
and cement cup and brush.
AS the various pieces that are to be
Joined together to make the perfect boot
are brought in 'books" to the bootmakeri
| they are first laid over the table and CO
mented with paste made of rubber and
benzine. The first step then is the lasting
A tree is put upon the "block" with the
foot upward, and the leg lining, OF fell
usually, is wrapped upon it, and con
nected at the heel by a bit OF piping
The edges are then Tapped one upon thu
inner sole, where they stick fast. The lin
ing is then scanned up the back by draw
ing up the piping edge over the rubber
coating. Next the lining is fastened at tn
top of the tree to make it firm, and ais
to take out any looseness that may be in It
Then the foot lining is connected at TIN
instep and Tapped over on the inner sole
A rag filler is the next necessity, to fill tn
space left on the sole between the lowe
edges of the leg lining. Over this, and in
deed on the whole bottom of the foot,
placed tough sole made of rubber an
fiber called the "rag sole" This is "skived
and all round, and then both rag sole an
lining are brushed over with fine qualit
of rubber cement and left to dry.
When the benzine has fully evaporate
from the cemented surface the process C
trimming" is next in order First tn
holes are cut for the straps and they al
placed in position. Then a small "het
: stay' of cloth is added, followed by a
"ankle piece" of rubber cut without "laI
ming" at the back. A heavy counter {
, rubber and fiber is put around the het
. next, to be followed by a "back strip"
rubber that runs up the seam in the linin
! from the heel to the top of the boot Til
Il succeeded by a toe strip of piping, tc
niece of rubber and side stays of the SAM
when the boot is ready for the ''cover."
All this time the boot has the look {
l some of those felt boots that car drivers
4 Chicago fancy, only this is decorated wit
q cement and trimmings and the other
plain. The leg cover is rubber and go'
= over the whole with the exception of tt
|. sole and part of the toe. 1t is put c
n with great care, back seam being ru
down in the middle of the back strip,
!. "binding" put arou:d the top, vamp lii
ing the sides extending over the counte
Q secured, and the "outer filler" added to tt
T bottom of the foot
The third stage known, MS covering
+ now follows. In this counter of hea'
e rubber is put around the heel, the poll
g being in line with the back seam, the edg
being carefully rolled down. Then van
u of heavy rubber-'the tongue"~-exact
It covering the vamp lining. The sides
this extend around to the counter and n
distinguished by two side seams, The
seams are then run over with "doub
e stitcher," which is similar to pair
II sharp tracing wheels, and which not on
: help fasten the rubber to the cement'
surface beneath, but also make very ne
l. finish. After this the vamp is cut o
h around the outfiller, and the bottom of t.
: boot receives coat of cement which Is
hold the sole on.
When the boot is dry it is ready for t
j. fourth stage, which is "soling." To digre
a little "A sole is in four pieces and is ma
up for the bootmaker in the selling ROOF
These four parts are fiber and rubh
l. "form," thin rubber sole piece" n to
Ie and heel These are put together al
vi sent to the boot room to be covered wi
the strongest possible rubber cement
ie the bottom and edges. The sole Is attach
y to the partly finished boot ut the toe, a
brought over to the heel that the latt
may sit straight Then the heel is ha
mered, the sole rolled, the edges roll
y down in the vamp and counter, the IL
Mt seams are stitched and the boot passes
a to the vanishing room and then to
vulcanzer. India Rubber World.