IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STRETCH- ING AND REPAIRING BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Blakey, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Bootmaker, for the Invention of * IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STRETCH-
ING AND REPAIRING BOOTS AND SHOES,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Blakey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th September 1868.
I, JOHN BLAKEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Bootmaker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS.
FOR STRETCHING AND REPAIRING BOOTS AND SHOES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the first place in making a last of iron or
other suitable metal (by preference) instead of wood as is now the case,
and of the following construction:-It is made in two halves (so far
as the upper portion is concerned) connected at the heel part by a hinge
joint. Each part is internally recessed (similar to those now in use) tapering.
towards the toc, to admit of the passage of a screw bolt (passing through
the heel part), to the outer end of which is a handle. A collar is re

page_text: cessed into the heel part of the last, through which the screw acts as a ful-
crum, and (a tapered guide swivelling on the inner end of the bolt) when
the screw is urged forwards, the toe by reason of the guide working
within the tapered part is opened out as much as requisite. To effect
the stretching of the instep I make the sole of three parts, that is to
say, from the heel to the commencement of the waist, and partly up one
half of the sole, of one piece, connected by a hinge with the remain-
ing portion of that side of the sole, the other half of the same fitting
alongside it. In the heel part of the other portion of the last (which
is over the sole heel) I put a screwed hole, and by passing a screwed
bolt through it I am enabled to ùrge out the sole, heel, and waist
(which are connected as before explained, by a hinge with the opposite
side of the last), and thus to stretch the instep.
The use of my apparatus for repairing is, that being made of iron or
other suitable metal it can readily be placed within a boot or shoe
requiring to be pegged. Holes may be bored in the sides of the last
to receive the ordinary "forms" used, where the boot or shoe requires
easing for corns or bunions.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Blakey in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 19th March 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Joun
BLAKEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Bootmaker, send greeting,
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in thẻ
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Blakey, Her special
licence that I, the said John Blakey, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Blakey, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the terni
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, usc, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS

page_text: FOR STRETCHING AND REPAIRING BOOTS AND SHOES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Blakey, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain tho
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Blakey, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in the first place in making a last of iron or
other suitable metal (by preference) instead of wood as is now the case
and of the following construction:-It is made in two halves (so far as
the upper portion is concerned) connected at the heel part by a hinge
joint. Each part is internally recessed (similar to those now in use),
tapering towards the toe to admit of the passage of a screw bolt (passing
through the heel part), to the outer end of which is a handle. A collar
is recessed into the heel part of the last through which the screw
acts as a fulcrum, and (a tapered guide swivelling on the inner end of
the bolt) when the screw is urged forward the toe by reason of the
guide working within the tapered part is opened out as much as
requisite. To effect the stretching of the instep I make the sole of
three parts, that is to say, from the heel to the commencement of the
waist, and partly up one half of the sole, of one piece, connected by a
hinge with the remaining portion of that side of the sole, the other
half of the same fitting alongside it. In the heel part of the other
portion of the last (which is over the sole heel) I put a screwed hole,
aud by passing a screwed bolt through it I am enabled to urge out
the sole, heel, and waist (which are connected, as before explained, by a
hinge with the opposite side of the last, and thus to stretch the
instep.
The use of my apparatus for repairing is, that being made of iron
or other suitable metal it can readily be placed within a boot or
shoe requiring to be pegged. Holes may be bored in the side of the
last to receive the ordinary forms used, where the boot or shoe requires
casing for corns or bunions.

page_text: . In order however that my Invention may be the better understood
reference is made to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus; Figure 2, an upper plan
of the same; Figure 3, an under plan; Figure 4, a partial section;
Figures 5 and 6 being details. Letters A denote the stretcher divided as
before explained down the centre, as seen in Figure 2; letter B denotes
the heel part swinging on the pin 6; letter C shows the longitudinal
stretcher screw provided with a tapered guide X working in the groove.
c', "Figure 4," c³ showing the nut which rests in the recess c³ and
through which the screw C passes; D is the vertical screw brought to
bear upon the end of the loose heel part B passing through the fixed
heel part of the stretcher A; E shews an elastic ring passed around A
and B in order to prevent the part B from shaking about; letters F
denote the ordinary "forms" used for easing boots and shoes.
Having now described the nature of my Invention I wish it to be
understood that I do not claim the whole apparatus as novel, but the
combination of the heel stretcher with the longitudinal stretcher arranged
as shewn and described,
In witness whereof, I, the said John Blakey, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Seventeenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
P. H. SHARP,
Patent Agent,
Leeds.
JOHN BLAKEY. (L.S.)