IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHNG BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Beresford, of Macclesfiold, in the County of
Chester, Cotton Spinner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHNG BOOTS AND SHOES."
LOWA
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Beresford at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th December 1879.
HENRY BERESFORD, of Macclesfield, in the County of Chester, Cotton Spinner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING
BOOTS AND SHOES."
My Invention relates to arrangements for cleaning and polishing boots and shoes
by the aid of rotatory brushes. These brushes I construct of a spherical or other
forin approaching that configuration, so that the article under operation may be
held to one side thereof and passed along it at different angles, and then trans-
ferred in a similar manner to the other side if required. The method I at present
adopt is to employ two of these brushes placed side by side upon an axis, and
between which the boot or shoe is applied, and moved by hand as required; and I
propose to divide one of them, so that a portion thereof may be used to convey
blacking or other polishing material fed from a trough, a "doctor" being applied to
regulate the quantity, but separate brushes may be used. For cleaning..blacking,
and polishing I propose to place the brushes side by side on a horizontal shaft
mounted in a suitable frame or upon separate shafts, and driven by means of a
treadle through the medium of friction rollers. A cover is adapted to catch the dirt.
Instead of the above form of brush I also in the same manner adapt double cylin-
drical brushes, but in this case the boot or shoe is always adapted parallel to
the axes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Beresford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th June
1880.
HENRY BERESFORD, of Macclesfield, in the County of Chester, Cotton Spinner.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING
BOOTS AND SHOES,"
My Invention relates to arrangements for cleaning and polishing boots and shoes
by the aid of rotatory brushes. The brushes I construct of a spherical form or
131

page_text: approaching that configuration, so that the article under operation may be held to
one side thereof and passed along it at different angles, and then transferred in a
similar manner to the other side thereof if required; and I also propose to employ
two brushes placed side by side on an axis, and between which two brushes the boot
or shoe is applied, and moved by hand as required. In my Provisional Specification
I proposed to convey blacking by a portion of one of these brushes, but I have since
found that such an arrangement is not of practical use, and lay no claim thereto.
Fig. 1 and 2 represent in side and end views the description of brush I employ,
1 being a shaft on which is mounted a spherical block 2 covered with bristles 3.
Fig. 3, 4, and 5 represent the machine I employ in connexion with these brushes.
At 4 is the frame provided with bearings 5 consisting of slots in which is situate
the shaft 1 provided with a roller 6 covered with india rubber, and which rests by
its weight upon a driving pulley 7 on a shaft 8, which has a crank 9 jointed to a
connecting rod 10, the other end of which is jointed to a treadle 11 mounted on a
centre 12, and by these means the shaft 1 may be caused to revolve. Upon the
shaft 1 are mounted three brushes A, B, C, constructed as above described in
reference to Figs. 1 and 2. That shewn at A is supposed to be used for the removal
of dirt from the boot or shoe, which by being held to the said brush may be caused
to be moved around it in any direction by hand, there being no obstruction to such
movements, and the spherical form allowing access to any part; this having been
done, blacking or other polishing medium is applied to the boot or shoe, for which
purpose any suitable hand brush or other apparatus may be employed, there being
a receptacle for the said blacking at 13. The boot or shoe is now adapted by hand
between the two brushes B, C, and as the said brushes revolve it may be moved in
any direction, the form of the brushes enabling every part to be operated upon and
polished, and by their rotations in the same directions keeping it in place; or it
may be transferred to the outsides of the said brushes. At 14 is a cover for the
machine when not in use, but when open, as shewn, it catches the dirt from the
brush A, and this may be removed from time to time along a ledge 15. I have
above spoken of the brushes as of a spherical form, by which I desire it to be under-
stood that they are substantially of that form, and I would also observe that the
cleaning and polishing brushes may be on separate shafts driven in any suitable
manner, but I prefer the arrangement shewn. Having thus described and ascer-
tained the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, I desire it to be understood that I claim as secured to me under the above
in part recited Letters Patent, and for the purposes above set forth, firstly, the use
of the cleaning and polishing brushes of the form and adapted substantially as
described; secondly, adapting brushes side by side upon a shaft so that the boot or
shoe may be adapted between two of them, and acted upon by both at the same
time.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Beresford, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
night hundund and nighter