Improvements in Stands for Supporting the Wooden Lasts used in Manufacturing Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stands for Supporting the Wooden Lasts used in
Manufacturing Boots and Shoes.
I, WALTER MORRISON, of Sydney Road, Brunswick, near Melbourne in the
Colony of Victoria, Bootmaker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
"
Heretofore in "bespoke or
"ordered" work it has been usual to make the
boots or shoes upon wooden lasts, which the workmen held between or on their
knees with the aid of a stirrup.
This, however, necessitates their assuming an unhealthy position, and makes it
impossible to work so quickly as when standing at a bench.
Now the object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and con-
venient stand whereby these wooden lasts may be supported upon a bench in such a
manner as to enable the workmen to manufacture boots and shoes in a more
convenient and expeditious manner than heretofore, and without having to stoop
over their work.
It consists of a rigid vertical standard having a sided stem adapted to fit either
into a correspondingly shaped hole in a universal support constructed as hereinafter
described, or into one of the usual holes or sockets provided in the bench for the
support of iron lasts.
The upper end of this standard is provided with a pivotted heel-supporting block,
having an upwardly projecting pin adapted to fit into a hole in the rear end of the
last. This said heel-supporting block is provided with two spiral springs whose
normal tendency is to draw said block down so as to keep the toe of the last pressed
down tightly upon a concave adjustable support which is pivotted at the upper end
of a curved arm or quadrant shaped bar which slides through a slot provided for
it in the fixed vertical standard above referred to, and which can be clamped in any
desired position according to the varying sizes of the lasts by means of a set
scrow passing through a boss on said standard. The universally adjustable support
into which the sided stem on the lower end of this said standard fits consists of a
pedestal having bearings to receive a pair of trunnions projecting horizontally from
either side of a socket which I shall hereinafter refer to as socket No. 1, into which
is fitted another socket formed with a hole adapted to receive the sided stem on the
lower end of the rigid standard above referred to.
This universally adjustable support is so constructed as that my improved stand
for supporting lasts can either be turned round or can be swung over to one side or
the other in order to facilitate the finishing operations.
In a last stand constructed according to my invention, the main vertical standard
is formed with a stem adapted to fit either into the ordinary sockets formed in the
bench to receive the ordinary iron lasts, or into a hole formed in a socket which
I provide for the purpose. On the upper end of this standard is pivotted the
heel-supporting block provided with an upwardly extending pin (which may be
either round or square) adapted to be fitted into a hole in the rear or heel end of
the last. This said heel-supporting block is formed with a projecting web, arm or
lug, to whose outer end are secured a pair of spiral springs which always tend. to
draw said heel-supporting block down into an inclined position, the effect being to
press the forward or toe end of the last down upon an adjustable supporting piece
which is pivotted on the upper end of a curved or quadrant shaped arm, which
latter is passed through a slot in the main standard, and is secured in position by
means of a set screw passing through said standard and bearing against same so as to
alinit

page_text: It will be obvious that the sided stem above referred to can be fitted into a
correspondingly sided hole in the bench, in which case the stand will be perfectly
rigid or it can be made round and fitted into circular holes, in which case the stand
will be free to rotate, and in either case the stand will admit of boots and shoes
being conveniently pegged.
When the stand is required to support a boot or shoe last in such a manner as
to enable finishing operations to be readily performed, I make its stem square.or
otherwise sided, and fit it into a hole in a socket fitted into a second socket, or if
preferred this stem can be made round, means being provided to prevent it turning
when not required.
The second socket above referred to is formed with trunnions which rest in
bearings in a suitable pedestal or casting so that said socket can be turned over
into different positions when required, whilst the first mentioned socket can be
turned round horizontally within this second socket in order to adjust the position
of the last to suit, the convenience of the workman.
In order to regulate the ease with which the first socket can be turned over in
its bearings, I pass a small set screw through one of the bearings of the pedestal,
and arrange said set screw so that it bears against a small plate-and presses it with
more or less pressure against one of the trunnions, thus as it were brakeing the
first socket and preventing it from being moved too easily.
In order to secure said socket in its vertical or normal position, I arrange a small
spring bolt within a groove in the pedestal, so that its end can engage within a
recess in one of the trunnions when said socket is in its vertical position, thus
retaining it in such position until the bolt is withdrawn and the socket released.
In order to prevent the second socket from turning round too easily, I pass a set
screw through one of the trunnions and arrange it to press a small plate of brass
or other material against said socket, so that it acts as a brake, and in order to hold
said socket in its fixed. position ĺ pass a small spring bolt through the other
trunnion and arrange it to engage in a recess formed for the purpose in said
socket.
It will of course be understood that my improved stand for supporting the
wooden lasts used in manufacturing boots and shoes may be made of any suitable
material.
Dated this Tenth day of February One thousand eight hundred and ninety-
two.
WALTER MORRISON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stands for Supporting the Wooden Lasts used in
Manufacturing Boots and Shoes.
I, WALTER MORRISON, of Sydney Road, Brunswick near Melbourne, in the
Colony of Victoria, Bootmaker, 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 :-
Heretofore in "bespoke" or "ordered" work it has been usual to make the
boots or shoes upon wooden lasts, which the workmen held between or on their
knees with the aid of a stirrup.
This, however, necessitates their assuming an unhealthy position and makes it
impossible to work so quickly as when standing at a bench.
Now the object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and con-
venient stand whereby these wooden lasts may be supported upon a bench in such a
manner as to enable the workmen to manufacture boots and shoes in a more
convenient and expeditious manner than heretofore and without having to stoop
over their work.
It consists of a rigid vertical standard having a sided stem adapted to fit either

page_text: into a correspondingly shaped hole in a universal support constructed as peremanter
described, or into one of the usual holes or sockets provided in the bench for the
support of iron lasts.
The upper end of this standard is provided with a pivotted heel-supporting block
having an upwardly projecting pin adapted to fit into a hole in the rear end of the
last. This said beel-supporting block is provided with two spiral springs whose
normal tendency is to draw said block down so as to keep the toe of the last pressed
down tightly upon a concave adjustable support which is pivotted at the upper end
of a curved arm or quadrant-shaped bar which slides through a slot provided for
it in the fixed vertical standard above referred to, and which can be clamped in
any desired position according to the varying sizes of the last by means of a set
screw passing through a boss on said standard. The universally adjustable support
into which the sided stem on the lower end of this said standard fits consists of a
pedestal having bearings to receive a pair of trunnions projecting horizontally from
either side of a socket which I shall hereinafter refer to as socket No. 1, into which
is fitted another socket formed with a hole adapted to receive the sided stem on the
lower end of the rigid standard above referred to.
This universally adjustable support is so constructed as that my improved stand
for supporting lasts can either bo turned round or can be swung over to one side or
the other in order to facilitate the finishing operations, as will be well understood
on reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a front elevation of my improved stand for supporting wooden lasts
used in manufacturing boots and shoes.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the upper or removable part of the said
stand, and
Figure 4 is a rear elevation thereof, whilst
Figure 5 is a rear elevation, and
Figure 6 is a plan of the universally adjustable support into which the stem of
said stand is fitted, as above described, and which enables said stand to be turned
about into any desired position.
Figure 7 includes a side elevation, front elevation and plan of the pivotted
heel-supporting block above mentioned, whilst
Figure 8 includes similar views of the curved or quadrant-shaped arm, together
with the pivotted block which serves to support the front or toe end of the last.
Figure 9 includes side and rear elevations and a plan of the standard above
mentioned.
Figure 10 represents a side elevation and a front elevation of the pedestal of my
improved stand.
Figure 11 is a front elevation and plan of the socket having trunnions fitting in
bearings in said pedestal.
Figure 12 includes a side elevation and a plan of the second socket which fits
into the first one, and is provided with a hole adapted to receive the sided stem of
the rigid standard above referred to.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A represents the main vertical standard whose
stem is adapted to fit either into the ordinary sockets formed in the bench to
receive the ordinary iron lasts or into a hole b formed in a socket b' clearly shown
in Figures 5 and 6. On the upper end of this standard A is pivotted the heel-
supporting block C provided with an upwardly extending pin c (which may be
either round or square) adapted to be fitted into a hole in the rear or heel end of
the last. This said heel-supporting block C is formed with a projecting web, arm
or lug c¹ to whose outer end are secured a pair of spiral springs which always
tend to draw said heel-supporting block down to the position indicated in full lines
in Figure 1, the effect being to press the forward or toe end of the last down upon
the adjustable supporting piece D which is pivotted on the upper end of the curved
or quadrant-shaped arm d, which latter is passed through a slot d in the standard A,

page_text: and is secured in position by means of a set screw d² passing through said standard,
and bearing against same so as to clip it, as will be well understood on reference to
either Figures 1 or 2.
It will be obvious from Figures 3 and 4 that the sided stem a can be fitted into
a correspondingly sided hole in the bench in which case the stand will be perfectly
rigid, or it can be made round and fitted into circular holes, in which case the stand
will be free to rotate, and in either case the stand will admit of boots and shoes
being conveniently pegged.
When the stand is required to support a boot or shoe last in such a manner as to
enable finishing operations to be readily performed, I make its stem square or
otherwise sided and fit it into a hole in a socket & fitted into a second socket E,
or if preferred this stem can be made round, means being provided to prevent it
turning when not required.
The second socket E is formed with trunnions e, which rest in bearings in a
suitable pedestal or casting F, so that said socket E can be turned over into
different positions when required, whilst the first mentioned socket 6' can be turned
round horizontally within this second socket E in order to adjust the position of
the last to suit the convenience of the workman.
In order to regulate the ease with which the socket E can be turned over in its
bearings, I pass a small set screw e¹ through one of the bearings of the pedestal F
and arrange said set screw so that it bears against a small plate and presses it
with more or less pressure against the trunnion e, thus as it were brakeing the
socket E and preventing it from being moved too easily.
In order to secure said socket in its vertical or normal position, I arrange a small
spring bolt within a groove in the pedestal F so that its end can engage within
a recesse in one of the trunnions e when said socket is in its vertical position, thus
retaining it in such position until the bolt is withdrawn and the socket released.
In order to prevent the socket 61 from turning round too easily, I pass &
set screw through one of the trunnions e and arrange it to press a small plate b³
of brass or other material against said socket so that it acts as a brake and in
order to hold the socket in its fixed position, I pass a small spring bolt 6ª through
the other trunnion e and arrange it to engage in a recess formed for the purpose in
said socket b¹.
It will of course be understood that my improved stand for supporting the
wooden lasts used in manufacturing boots and shoes may be made of any suitable
material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
* First. A stand for supporting the wooden lasts used in manufacturing boots and
shoes consisting essentially of a standard (such as A) provided at its upper end
with a pivotted adjustable heel supporting block (such as C) and fitted with a
projecting arm (such as d) provided at its upper end with another adjustable
supporting block (such as D) in combination with an universally adjustable support
or socket (such as 61) constructed in such a nanner as to enable said stand to be 4
either rotated or leaned backwards or forwards, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of
my drawings.
Second. In a stand for supporting the wooden lasts used in manufacturing boots
and shoes the combination with a standard (such as A) having a sided stem 5
(such as a) adapted to be fitted into a correspondingly shaped socket, of a heel-
supporting block (such as C) pivotted on the upper end of said standard and
provided with a spring or springs (such as c³) whereby it is normally held in such
a position as to keep the toe of the last pressed down firmly upon its support,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as 5
illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of my drawings.

page_text: Third. In a stand for supporting the wooden lasts used in manufacturing boots
and shoes the combination with a standard (such as A) having a sided stem
adapted to be fitted into a correspondingly-shaped socket of a heel supporting
block (such as C) pivotted on the upper end of said standard and having a
projecting pin (such as c) adapted to fit into the heel or rear part of the last
together with a supporting arm (such as d) fitted at its upper end with a pivotted
toe support (such for instance as the block D) said arm being adjustably secured
to said standard by means of a screw or the like, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of my
drawings.
Fourth. The combination of a pedestal (such a F) with a vertical socket
(such as E) having trunnions (such as e) adapted to fit into bearings in said
pedestal, together with a circular socket (such as 6¹) formed with a sided hole
(such as 6) adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped stem on the main standard
of a stand for supporting wooden lasts used in manufacturing boots and shoes,.
the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 11 and 12
of my drawings.
Fifth. In a stand for supporting the wooden lasts used in the manufacture of
boots and shoes the combination with a pedestal (such as F) of a socket (such as E)
having trunnions resting in bearings in said pedestal, a spring bolt (such as e³)
being arranged to engage in a recess in one of said trunnions and a set screw (such
as e) being arranged to force a small piece of brass or other material against
the other trunnion, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, and 10 of the accompanying
drawings.
Sixth. In a stand for supporting the wooden lasts used in the manufacture of
boots and shoes the combination with a socket (such as E) which can be turned
over into any desired vertical position of another socket (such as 6') fitted inside
said first socket so that it can be turned round horizontally, a spring bolt (such
as 6) being passed through one of the trunnions supporting the outer socket, and
being arranged to secure the inner socket in its fixed position, a set screw (such
as 6) being passed through the other trunnion supporting said outer socket and
being arranged to press a small plate against said inner socket, the whole being
constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and explained and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, and 10 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this Twentieth day of September One thousand eight hundred and