Boot and Shoe Closers' Seam-finishing Machine.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1890-Accepted 22nd Mar., 1890
C
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Boot and Shoe Closers' Seam-finishing Machine.
ARTHUR GARRETT High Street Towcester Watchinaker & Jeweller, and GEORGE
WEBSTER of Astcote near Towcester Shoemaker do hereby declare the nature of this
nvention to be as follows :-
The object of this invention is to facilitate the rubbing down of the seams in the
uppers" of boots and shoes, and also to render it easier for the "closer" to plough
off the "welting."
These operations, with the tools at present in common use, are difficult and laborious
especially upon heavy materials. The operator placing the "upper" upon a block,
has to hold it down with one hand and to manipulate the "hammer
plough or
"welt iron" with the other.
"
Our invention places at the service of the "closor" a simple but effectual machine
that firmly secures the "apper" upon the "block" in any desired position, by the
means of a lever worked by the foot of the operator, thus leaving both hands at
liberty to use tho necessary tools upon the seam. By the use of this invention, the
work is done in a very superior manner, and it also effects a considerable saving in
time and labour.
The machine consists of an oblong iron base, about twelve inches long, four wide
and one inch thick, one end of which can be secured to a table or work bench. This
base supports the " seam block "upon which the "upper" is placed. The upper is
secured on the " seam block," by a fork projecting from an axis that is fulcrumed or
jointed between two lugs or elevated projections on the back end or rear of the base
plate, the free ends of the fork pointing towards the operator. The "
seam block "
which can be detached and changed to suit the curves of either back or front seams,
is supported by the base plate and lies beneath and between the arms of the fork.
The free ends of the fork are elevated above the level of the seam block by means of
a spring. This fork is connected by a cord or rod, to a lever worked by the foot of
the operator, and when the " upper "is placed upon the seam block this lever is
depressed, and pulls down the fork. One arm of this fork being on either side of the
seamblock, draws down the " upper" tight on the block, and pinching it upon the
base plate through the pressure of the foot on the lever, firmly secures it in position,
when the seam can be easily and quickly finished. The pressure of the foot then
being removed the fork rises by means of the spring before mentioned, and the upper
can be immediately removed.
Dhin 10th Jan Nanchan 1000
ARTHUR GARRETT.
GEORGE WEBSTER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Boot and Shoe Closers' Seam-finishing Machine.
ARTHUR GARRETT High Street. Towcester, Watchmaker and Jeweller, and GEORGE
WEBSTER of Astcote near Towcester Shoemaker do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The machine is preferably made of iron and consists of a base plate preferably
about fifteen inches long, four wide and one thick, which can be screwed to a table or
work-bench, about half the length of the base projecting from the edge of the table
towards the operator.
Running partly down the centre of that part projecting from the table, is an oblong

page_text: The
slot which holds in position the rubbing blocks used for finishing the seams.
rubbing blocks, whose upper surfaces are shaped to fit the curves of the front and the
back seams of i uppers," are provided with a tenon or projection on the bottom.
This tenon fits in the slot of the base, the block when in position resting on the
surface of that part of the base projecting from the table towards the operator. The
blocks, one of which is used on the machine at one time, are easily changed when
required, being securely held in position by the tenon fitting the slot. At the end or
rear of the base plate, rising from its surface are two lugs, one at each corner, about
one inch high. Between these lugs is pivotted an instruinent like a huge "tuning
fork," the free ends being towards the operator, and the extreme length being about
equal to the length of the base plate, the space between the tynes of the fork slightly
exceeding the width of the rubbing blocks. This fork, pivotted at the back of the
base plate is poised above the base at an angle of about 35 degrees, and leans towards
the operator. It is held up in that position by a spring.
At a point about midway between the free ends and the pivotted end of the fork a
cord or strap is fastened, this cord passing through a hole in the base plate and
lescending to and being connected with a treadle fastened to the floor.
"
The action of machine is very simple. The operator places the "upper
on the
block in the machine the seam being uppermost, then pressing his foot upon the
treadle the cord draws down the fork to the base with one tyne on each side of
the block, thus holding securely, the "upper" by pinching it between the tynes and
that part of the base which projects on either side of the block, so fixing firmly, and
holding secure at leisure the "upper" to be operated upon.
The operator thus has both his hands available to apply any desirable pressure to
tho seams.
The manner in which our invention is carried out is more fully explained by a
reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a view of the machine partly in
section. Fig. 2 a plan. A is the fork B the base plate and C Fig. 1 is a rubbing
block in position ready for use, the curve of () being suitable for the back seams of
uppers." The base plate B is provided with a slot E into which the tenons of the
rubbing blocks fit. Fig. 3 and 4 is a rubbing block with a curvature suitable for
the front seams of "uppers" and like C Fig. 1 is provided with a tenon to fit the
slot E when in use on the machine. At the rear of the base plate Fig. 1 and 2, are
two elevated lugs, between which the socket end of fork A is jointed by a pin F
passing through the two lugs and the socket end of A, the fork A turning freely on F.
This fork would now lie flat on the base plate, with one tyne on each side of the slot E,
but the free ends of the fork A are poised above the base B at an angle of about
35 degrees by the means of a spring H Fig. 2. The spring that we prefer to use to
poise the fork in that position, is a coiled wire spring, wound round the joint pin F on
both sides of the socket of A, the coils on either side filling up the space between the
socket of A and the lugs on B. This spring H, H Fig. 5 and 2 is wound with half
the coils as a right spiral and half as a loft one, with a space in the centre wide enough
to admit the socket of A. The free ends of spring H resting on the base plato. The
power of the spring is communicated to the fork A by the wire connecting the two
spirals H H crossing the socket and pressing on a pin G Fig. 2 projecting from the
socket of fork. The reason we adopt this system of jointing A to B and poising A
by the peculiar spring H H is, that the parts forming an
" upper" will sometimes be
found to vary considerably in thickness, and therefore when an upper of that kind is
placed in the machine it is necessary that the fork A should be allowed a slight
rocking motion, a motion at right angles to its motion round the joint pin F in order
that the tynes A A of fork A, Fig. 2 may accommodate themselves to any irregularity
in the thickness of the leather beneath them.
This necessary rocking motion of the fork is obtained by counter sinking on both
sides the hole in A, through which the pin F passes, so that the socket of A only
bears on the pin at its centre. That part of the spring H H which crosses the
socket of fork A bears with all its force on a round pin G projecting from the back of
socket.

page_text: Therefore when the fork is drawn down by the treadle and cord the spring
offers no resistance to the ty nes adjusting themselves so as to bear with equal force on
either side of the rubbing block quite independently of the thickness of material
under either tyne.
Having now particularly described the nature of our said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is
First. A machine for holding down boot and shoe "uppers" by means of a pivotted
or hinged fork worked by a treadle substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Second. Closers rubbing blocks used on a base plate and resting between the tynes
of a fork, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Third. A base plate bearing a hinged or jointed fork or levers having a motion
perpendicular or angular to the base and used with or without a block, for the purpose
of holding down the "uppers" of boots or shoes substantially as herein described
and illustrated.
Fourth. The combination of the various parts as a whole constructed and arranged
substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 17th day of February 1890.
ARTHUR GARRETT.
GEORGE WEBSTER.