Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-01
SHOES THAT SQUEAK.
Cause of the Noise Fully Explained
by Local Shoemaker.
Once Upon a Time Saueakina Shoes
Were Fashionable.

What is it that makes my shoes
creak?''
The shoemaker looked up and smiled
for moment and then went on for a
time with his ta2ping. 1t was an old,
Old question and it was not easy to
answer it with anything new.
Take them Off, first one, then the
other he said, @and I'll see if l. can
fix 'em-while you wait"
on came one shoe and the owner of
it sat down with his stockinged foot
over the knee to watch the squeak
curing process. The shoemaker simply
pulled the shoe over an iron last and
drove four or five nails straight up the
middle OF the sole, covering perhaps
three inches. Then he thanked this
row with two on each side. --1
TRY that" said he. n-
The man tried it and found himself
walking around the shop with one ST.
lent shoe and the other a mass of
squeakings. So the process was re-
peated on the noisy foot covering and
the man went off down the street in
silence and in comfort
The next day, when he had more
time the man sought the shoemaker
for more information.
Once said this man of last and
waxed string, people seemed to think
you had not given them their moneys
worth if the shoes you made or mended
for them did not squeak. That was
about the time that swells were re-
luctantly giving up hair oil and SINH
lar things.
1T is usually easy enough to make
shoes that viii! not squeak and all but
the cheapest kinds are supposed to be
anti-squeakers. The noise comes
from the chatting of the two pieces OF
leather that compose the sole, not
counting the welts. If left to them
selves these pieces will sooner or later
part sufficiently to make space about
the point where the ball Of the foot
comes, where there is not perfect con-
tact-and this is where the noise
comes from.
The cheapest shoes should be the
noisest. for the leather their soles are
made of is tanned in hemlock bark.
This makes what we call red leather.
1t is rough and harsh. The next grade
is Union, a combination of hemlock and
oak bark for tanning giving it it's
name. The next highest grade is white
oak, and with this we have the least
trouble so far as squeaking is con-
cerned.
When the public made up it's mind
that its shoes must not squeak, we had
to stir about and find something to put
between the soles. For the cheaper
grades we use leather chips and for
more expensive shoes we have cork,
and then there is this specially pre-
pared tar paper. We put little of
any of these materials between the
| Two soles and there's an end to the
squeak usually. Sometimes, however,
| the chips of the paper get out of place
| or are ground into powder and then the
creaking is heard from.
1T is very strange how some shoes
will wear for six months without a
| murmur and their owners will tread
life's pathway in peace and comfort
Then, without the slightest apparent
| reason for it, they will set up such a
din that the wearers life will be made
almost uncomfortable if he be a nervous
man.
TT seems almost as if they were
| tired and wanted a rest. and honestly
believe shoes do get tired. Sounds odd
but I'm satisfied ii is a feet. Chuck a
pair of shoes into the closet and let
| them alone for a couple of weeks and
see how comfortable they'll feel when
you put them on again."