The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-24

New York, Feb. 2S--Worries about
shoe ratloning coupons should not
be entertained by those who have
ample shoes to last O. few weeks
more. BY that time a new shoe
ought to be in production. Ladies'
styles particularly will be on O type
Of manufacture that will be evolu-
tionary as the button to the zip
per and may make leather as OBJ
Solete as the old fashioned hooks
and eyes.
DR.. oscar Chez, an energetic,
poppy sort Of man, with offices in
Radio City has invented a manu-
featuring technique to create flex-
ible Soles from stiff materials such
as wood, hard, synthetic resins and
other materials Of durable quail
ties.
First big scale manufacture Of the
new shoes is being concentrated on
woods. The process consists Of an
ingenious Slotting or cutting with
bands saws. This makes wooden
soles more resilient than leather
and equal rubber.
Heels and arches OF the various
shoes are cut to last styles from
the same solid wood form, the fleX-
ible features starting from the bal
Of the foot and extending the toe
It is not very giveable lengthwise
The elasticity Is in the elongated
portion Of the last. No hinges are
used anywhere. The new shoes
should not be confused with ersatz
hinged wood that can only be
classed as q substitute.
! examined o worn shoe. It looked
as attractive on the foot as any
other shoe that might have beer
sold during our effusive days Of
being able to buy six or eight pairs
at clip. This footwear was navy
blue in color, sporting an open toe
Inspection Of the foot revealed
material to be a closely knit canvas
on the outside and soft cloth CLOSED
material inside. A substantial fell
pad inner sole cushions all contact
with the ground. The major portion
Of the heel, I was informed, Is made
Of wood. It was covered with thu
blue material and sported a sub
stitute rubber heel tread that look
like the real thing. The soles o.
the shoe were unconcealed wood witt
the unusual slottings or cuttings
that make them every bit as prac'
teal as leather. The white wooC
in contact with the ground wa
assuming grayish-amber color.
, DR.. Chez stated to the writer tina
he had been informed by reliable
Washington authorities that shoe!
Of this make will not require ra.
tioning stamps at time Of purchase
1t is obvious that they do not use
any Of the normal shoe materials
of which there Is a great shortage
The shoes are no longer in the
experimental stages. Manufacture
Is in process and shoe outlets will
eventually have q wide range OF
unlimited quantity footwear styles
to offer for every dress occasion.
Nor will the effort be confined to
women'S shoes. In the search for
brand new type Of footwear, DR.
Chez has uncovered more than 20
different processes which he has
patented or copyrighted. For ex-
ample, he states quite emphatically
that wooden soles can be stitched
Just like leather. The inventor be-
lieves it to be the first time such a
feat has been accomplished. At
taching of wooden soles to shoes can
be done In numerous ways. A very
satisfactory way Is to cement them
to the shoe tops. Another Is &C
complished by a mold method
which seems a practical one to sup
ply hundreds Of thousands Of soles
for working mems shoes. These
seem tough enough TO equip Army
shoes and might prove a great
leather saver.
This latter process Is q continual
lion OF the original modern design
from wood. After the sole has been
prepared with its peculiar notch
Ings or cuttings TO make the elon-
gated toe entirely flexible. It Is
placed IN q mold, at least q quar-
ter inch wider than the form Of the
last, Then melted substance
that looks like rubber Is permitted
70 OOze through and around the
wooden sole. When " " cooled
the finished product looks like any
other full sole for shoes. The re-
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