IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Lewis Sharman, of Wellingborough Road,
Northampton, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF SHOES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Josoph Lewis Sharman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1882.
JOSEPH LEWIS SHARMAN of Wellingborough Road, Northampton. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LASTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES."
A great defect in shoes as now made is that they do not fit with sufficient close-
ness to the foot around the ankle so that when a person wearing shoes is walking
the shoes play up and down at the heel that is the heel lifts partly out of the shoe
which is unsightly and moreover the heels of the wearer often get chafed in
consequence.
The reason why shoes are thus made too wide at the upper part around the
ankle is that with lasts as heretofore made the lasts could not be withdrawn from
the shoe unless they were made wide at this part.
To obviate this 1 make the lasts at the heel end with an inclined transverse
division in them starting from the back of the heel at the top and carried in a
diagonal direction to the forward part of the instep on the underside of the foot.
The division is preferably not made in a straight line but is a zig-zag division
so that when the two parts are put together they always come into correct
position.
The last is set up in an inverted position upon a standard in the ordinary
manner.
This standard is made to pass and fit into a slot or recess in both parts of the
last. When both parts are so placed on the standard the heel portion cannot be
slidden forwards over the other portion but the last must first be raised somewhat
so as to clear the heel portion from the standard before the heel can be thus slidden
forwards.

page_text: The portion of the last usually called the block which shapes the upper part of
the foot and instep of the shoe.is made to draw back out of the shoe as heretofore.
When a shoe has been made upon the last the last is taken off the standard to
allow of the block being first withdrawn. The last is then again put upon the
standard but is held up sufficiently to ensure that the heel portion of the last is
not held by the standard.
The shoe is then pushed lengthwise in the direction of the toe end of the last
and the shoe is thereby pushed off end wise carrying with it the heel portion of
the last.
This heel portion can subsequently be slid somewhat forwards in the shoe and
then can be easily withdrawn from it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Lewis Sharman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th August 1882.
JOSEPH LEWIS SHARMAN of Wellingborough Road Northampton. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LASTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES."
A great defect in shoes as now mado is that they do not fit with sufficient
closeness to the foot around the ankle so that when a person wearing shoes is
walking the shoes play up and down at the heel, that is the heel lifts partly out of
the shoe which is unsightly and moreover the heels of the wearer often get chafed
in consequence.
The reason why shoes are thus made too wide at the upper part around the
ankle is that with lasts as heretofore made the lasts could not be withdrawn from
the shoe unless they were made wido at this part.
To obviate this I make the lasts at the heel end with an inclined transverso
division in them starting from the back of the heel at the top and carried in
a diagonal direction to the forward part of the instep on the underside of the foot.
The division is preferably not made in a straight line but is a zig-zag division
so that when the two parts are put together they always come into correct
position.
manner.
The last is set up in an inverted position upon a standard in the ordinary
This standard is made to pass and fit into a slot or recess in both parts
of the last. When both parts are so placed on the standard the heel portion
cannot be slidden forwards over the other portion but the last must first be raised
somewhat so as to clear the heel portion from the standard before the heel can be
thus slidden forwards.
The portion of the last usually called the block which shapes the upper part of
the foot and instep of the shoe is made to draw back out of the shoe as heretofore.
In the Drawing hereunto annexed I have shewn a last constructed as above
described.
Figuro 1 is a side elevation of the last, Figure 2 is a plan view of the last
when in the position shewn at Figure 1. Figure 3 shews the inner face of the beel
piece and Figure 4 the inner face of the block.
A is the body of the last. B the heel piece and C the block each of these parts
is preferably made of mild cast steel. The inclined zig-zag division between the
body of the last and the heel piece is clearly shewn at Figure 1. Along the inner
face of the heel piece is also a groove into which a projecting rib or feather on the
abutting face of the body of the last enters.
D is a slot or recess formed in the body of the last and also partly in the heel
piece for the stud upon which the last is to be mounted to enter.
Preferably I carry this stud by a supporting standard constructed in the manner
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to John Keats No. 2521 in the
year 1881 such supporting standard being provided with an adjustable rest for
supporting the toe end of the last. Other forms of supporting standard may how-
ever be used. The face of the block C which abuts against the body of the block
has as is usual a groove C¹ formed along it for a corresponding rib or projection on
the body to enter.
When a shoo has been made upon the last the last is taken off the standard to
allow of the block being first withdrawn. The last is then again put upon the
standard but is held up sufficiently to ensure that the heel portion of the last is not
held by the standard. The shoe is then pushed lengthwise in the direction of the

page_text: toe end of the last and the shoe is thereby pushed off end wise carrying with it the
heel portion of the last. This heel portion can subsequently be slid somewhat
forwards in the shoe and then can be easily withdrawn from it.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same I would have it understood that I claim. The construction
substantially in the manner herein described of lasts used in the manufacture
of shoes.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Lewis Sharman have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Third day of August in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
JOSEPH LEWIS SHARMAN. (L.S.)