IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR BRUSHING, BLACKING, AND POLISHING BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Steil, of Purbrook, in the County of Hants,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR BRUSHING, BLACKING, AND POLISHING BOOTS AND SHOES."
1000 and died the 96th November 1970
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Steil at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th November 1879.
WILLIAM HENRY STEIL, of Purbrook, in the County of Hants, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR BRUSHING, BLACKING, AND
POLISHING BOOTS AND SHOES."
My Invention relates to an improved arrangement of machinery or apparatus for
brushing, blacking, and polishing boots and shoes, and consists, firstly, in dispensing
with all unnecessary framing by the use of a vertical standard or pedestal, the base
of which rests near one of the angles or corners of an open triangular shaped sole
plate, and its top is formed with a forked bracket, the forks or arms of which
project horizontally at right angles from its front side. Through the end of each
fork or arm passes a centre pointed screw, and between these two screws the brush
spindle is pointed, whilst upon the triangular sole plate are fixed the lugs or centres,
to which are pivoted the bars or rods carrying the treadles for working the brush
spindle as hereafter more particularly described.
Secondly. In lieu of a fly wheel commonly so termed, and used for preserving tho
momentum in this class of machinery, there is substituted the lightest wheel
(consistent with the strength required to drive the machine) which can be obtained
and which wheel is hereafter termed the driving wheel.
In the face of the vertical standard or pedestal is an aperture within which the
driving wheel revolves, the size of the aperture depending upon the shape of the
driving wheel, which is preferably, in the present case, of an elongated diamond
pattern flattened on its narrowest points, but otherwise if preferred. Through the
centre of the driving wheel and through bearings in the sides of the aperture passes
the driving wheel shaft, and at each end of the latter is secured a single throw
crank the pins of which are connected by links or rods with the outer ends of the
bars or rods carrying the treadles, the said bars or rods being pivoted to the lugs or
centres on the further side of the sole plate as before mentioned. The two cranks
Pasina B11

page_text: are so arranged relatively with each other that the centre of one crank pin is in a
vertical line with the centre of the shaft, whilst the centre of the other crank pin
will be about one inch (more or less) out of the vertical line, one side or the other.
By this means the driving wheel practically is a balanced wheel with an easy
motion, and the machine will start no matter in what position it is stopped, the
momentum or velocity of the driving wheel depending on the pressure applied to
the treadles.
In the centre or other convenient part of the brush spindle before mentioned is
fixed a rigger or pulley, to which motion is imparted by band from the driving wheel,
and each end of the spindle is screwed and fitted thereat with a nut and washer.
On the spindle are arranged four (or more if desired) circular brushes as follows:-
1, a hair brush representing an ordinary hand dirt brush; 2, a coir brush for
removing mud and dirt; 3, the polishing brush; 4, the blacking brush; and
between these brushes are placed distance pieces of wood, and the whole being
adjusted and tightened up by the nuts and washers, the brush spindle is ready for
work. By this arrangement the brushes are interchangeable and removed or
replaced, if desired, in a few moments.
At the back of the blacking brush there is mounted between centres a roller, to
which motion is given by belt friction or other gearing from the brush spindle, and
the speed of which is less than that of the blacking brush. Upon this roller is
placed diagonally or in a semi-spiral form a single row of hairs, which during one
part of the revolution of the roller passes through the blacking holder, and
afterwards before the revolution is completed a wiping process goes on between it
and the blacking brush owing to the difference of their speeds. This roller may
remain stationary, if desired, and when not in use the hairs need not remain in the
blacking. The great advantage of this machine over those hitherto made, is the
simplicity and lightness of its construction combined with strength, portability and
easy working.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Steil in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th May 3
1880.
WILLIAM HENRY STELL, of Purbrook, in the County of Hants, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR BRUSHING, BLACKING, AND
POLISHING BOOTS AND SHOES."
My Invention relates to an improved arrangement of machinery or apparatus for 3
brushing or cleaning, blacking and polishing boots and shoes, whereby greater
simplicity and lightness of construction combined with the necessary strength is
obtained than is the case with machinery hitherto constructed for this purpose,
besides other advantages hereafter enumerated. And in order that my Invention
may be well understood reference is made to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, 4
like letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved boot brushing or cleaning, blacking
and polishing machine, and Figure 2 an end view thereof.
My Invention consists, firstly, in dispensing with all unnecessary framing by the
use of a vertical standard or pedestal A, the base of which rests near one of the
angles or corners of an open triangular shaped sole plate B, and its top is formed
with a forked bracket C, the forks or arms D of which project horizontally at right
angles from its front side. Through the end of each arm Ď passes a centre pointed
screw E, and between the two screws E, E, is mounted the brush spindle F, whilst
upon the triangular sole plate B are fixed the lugs or centres G, G¹, to which are
pivoted the bars or rods H, H¹, carrying the treadles I, I, for working the brush
spindle Fas hereafter more particularly described. Secondly, in lieu of a fly wheel
commonly so called and used for preserving the momentum in this class of
machinery, there is substituted a wheel j as light as possible (consistent with the
strength required to drive the machine) and hereinafter termed the driving wheel..
In the face of the vertical standard or pedestal A is an aperturo K within which
the driving wheel J revolves; the latter may be of any desired shape, but preferably,
in the present case, of an elongated diamond pattern with grooved edge or periphery
for receiving a gut or band. Through the centre of the driving wheel J and
through bearings I, I, in the sides of the aperture K passes the driving wheel
shaft L, at each end of which is secured a single throw crank M, M', the two cranks
being connected at their pins by links or rods N, N¹, with the outer ends of the
bars or rods H, H', carrying the treadles I, I¹, before mentioned. The two
cranks M, M', are so arranged relatively with each other that the centre of one
crank pin is in a vertical line with the centre of the shaft L, whilst the centre of
the other crank pin will be about one inch (more or less) out of the vertical line,
one side or the other. By this means the driving wheel J is practically a balanced
wheel with an easy motion, and the machine will start no matter in what position
it is stopped, the momentum or velocity of the driving wheel J depending on the
pressure applied to the treadles I, I. In the centre or other convenient part of the
brush spindle F is fixed a grooved (or other) rigger or pulley O, to which motion
is imparted by band or gut from the driving wheel J, and each end of the spindle F
is screwed and fitted thereat with a nut and washer, as shown. On the spindle F
are arranged four (or more if desired) circular brushes as follows;-P, a hair brush
representing an ordinary hand dirt brush; P', a coir brush for removing mud and
dirt; P, the polishing brush; P³, the blacking brush; and between these brushes
are placed distance pieces Q of wood or other material. The whole being adjusted
and tightened up by the nuts and washers, the brush spindle F is ready for work.
By this arrangement the brushes P, P1, P2, P3, aro interchangeable and removed or
replaced, if desired, in a few moments. At the back of the blacking brush Ps is
arranged horizontally a spindle R (Figures 1 and 3) centred and revolving at one
end in the fork or arm D of the vertical standard or pedestal A, and at its other
end on centre screw E¹ which is carried by the sliding or adjustable bracket S
working through the front side of the forked bracket C as shewn, or in any other
suitable manner. On the spindle R is a roller T upon which is fixed diagonally or
in a semi spiral form a single row of hairs U (Fig 1), or if preferred there may be
fixed at suitable intervals upon the roller T, as shewn in Figures 3 and 3ª, knife
edged and round ended blades or pieces of metal U', the hairs U or metal
blades U (as the case may be) being for the purpose of transferring the blacking
to the blacking brush P³ by means of a wiping process between them, and the
latter produced when required by bringing the druin or rigger V (on spindle R) in
contact with the distance piece Qbetween brushes P2 and P3, which causes the
roller T to revolve in the reverse direction to the brush spindle F, and at a different
speed therefrom. The distance piece Q is covered with india rubber or other
suitable elastic material, and the edge of the rigger V is kept to its work against it
by a spiral spring W. When not in use the cam shaped lever X with its handle
is caused to act on the bracket S so as to draw the latter with the spindle R;
roller T, and rigger V, away from the brush spindle F, whereby the roller T ceases

page_text: to revolve, and the supply of blacking from the hairs U or from the metal blades
or pieces U to the blacking brush P³ is stopped until the roller T is again set in
motion, when the wiping process begins again. The blacking is contained in a
hanging tray or vessel V secured to the forked bracket C beneath the roller 'T, as
shewn, the hairs U or blades U¹ dipping into the blacking at each revolution, and
transferring it 'to the brush P³ without splashing or unnecessary waste. The
polishing and blacking brushes P2 and P3 instead of being ordinary brushes, as
shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, with their bristles radiating from the centres, may
be made as seen in Figure 4 in such a manner that the rubbing ends of their
bristles which come in contact with the boot are above the axial centre line
passing through the centre of the spindle F and through the centre of the hole into
which the bristles are centred, thereby giving to the brush a motion over the boot
identical to that given by hand polishing, and so obtaining a perfect polish to the
boot and obviating the danger of removing the blacking therefrom whilst polishing,
as is more or less the case with the ordinary shaped brushes.
Amongst the advantages of this machine over those in present use are its
extreme lightness, compactness, and portability combined with few working parts,
and easy working with a minimum amout of friction and freedom from noise."
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I claim as my Invention is:-
1. The combination and use of the vertical standard or pedestal A with the
driving wheel J, shaft L, and cranks M, M', substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing.
2. Balancing the driving wheel J, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing.
3. The construction and use of the triangular sole plate B with lugs or
centres G, G¹, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawing.
4. The construction and use of the forked bracket C with arins D and centre
pointed screws E, E', in combination with the brush spindle F, substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawing.
5. The arrangement and mode of carrying the brushes P, P1, P2, P3, on brush
spindle F, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated
by the accompanying Drawing.
6. The construction and general arrangement of blacking apparatus for producing
a wiping process (or not) ou the blacking brush P³, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Steil, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
747
718 CANTT