Improvements in Bootmakers' Lasts.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bootmakers' Lasts.
I, THOMAS RUSHTON, of 334, Old Kent Road, Surrey, Bootmaker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to bootmakers' lasts, and is designed to dispense with the
use of the large number of such implements at present required to constitute a
bootmaker's stock thereof, it being usual to have one of such implements for each
different size of boot or shoe to be made or dealt with thereon.
To the end aforesaid, the invention consists essentially in an adjustable last
which can be made to accommodate a number of different sizes of boots and
shoes made and dealt with thereon, so that a much less number of the implements
will be required to constitute a sufficient stock thereof for all usual requirements,
say, one for men's boots, one for women's boots, and one for children's boots, each
of such lasts having a wide range of adjustment so as to be suitable for all
ordinary sizes of its kind.
In one way of carrying out the invention, I make the last in parts respectively
adapted for the toe and heel ends of the boot, and rigidly apply the toe part of the
last to a block adapted to support the whole and to locate it on the bootmaker's
bench, and apply the heel part of the last in an adjustable manner to said block so
that it may be made to occupy any desired adjustable relation to the toe part of
the block.
I can shift the movable heel part in relation to the fixed toe part of the last by
forming the base end of the heel part with a tang or tongue adapted to engage
with a slot made in the said block, and with squared shoulders adapted to rest
thereon, and by making a series of holes transversely of the slot and through the
sides of the block and a corresponding hole through the tang or tongue of the heel
part, and locating the parts as desired by a bolt and nut; or, I can cause the heel
part to slide in the block by a screw action or in any other suitable manner. Or,
can pivotally connect the heel part of the last to the block and adjust it as
required relatively to the fixed part of the last by a screw applied to the
latter and adapted to work in a slot in the former or in any other suitable
manner.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1896.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Bootmakers' Lasts.
I, THOMAS RUSHTON, of 334, Old Kent Road, Surrey, 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:-
This invention relates to bootmakers' lasts, and is designed to dispense with the
I, THOMAS RUSHTON, of 334, Old Kent Road, Surrey, 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:-
This invention relates to bootmakers' lasts, and is designed to dispense with the

page_text: use of the large number of such implements at present required to constitute a
bootmakers' set or stock thereof, (it being usual to have one of such implements
for each different size of boot or shoe to be repaired or dealt with thereon,) by
substituting therefor a last holder, and a set of adjustable lasts each of which
latter can be adjusted to accommodate a number of different sizes of boots and
shoes to be dealt with thereon, whereby a much less number of the implements will
be required to constitute a sufficient set or stock thereof for all usual requirements,
say, one for men's boots, one for women's boots, and one for children's boots, each
of such lasts having a wide range of adjustment so as to be suitable for all
ordinary sizes of its kind.
On the accompanying drawings:--
Fig. 1, represents, in side elevation, a last-holder and one pair of such set of
adjustable lasts constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2, represents
an end elevation of the same.
Fig. 3, represents a plan of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, represents a sectional plan on the line A-B, Fig. 1. And
Fig. 5, represents a sectional elevation of a modification, on about the line C-D,
Fig. 1.
The improved last consists of two adjustable parts a, b, respectively adapted for
the toe and heel ends of the boot, and of an adjustable holder c, for the same, and
of a base-plated, by which latter the holder and the last-parts a, b, are carried
and the whole device is screwed or otherwise secured to the work-bench, such parts
being respectively adapted and arranged to co-operate as will now be more fully
described.
The last-parts a, b, are separately and adjustably applied to the holder c. The
toe-part a, is made with a tapered spigot a', adapted to engage with a tapered
socket c', made in the holder, and is shouldered at a, and adapted to bear on the
top side of the holder, which ensures it being rigidly supported when in position.
The heel-part b, is made with a tang b', adapted to engage with and to be slid
along a slot c, made in the holder c, and is shouldered at 6, and adapted to bear
on the top side of the holder, and is laterally distended at its lower part b³,
so as to be adapted to engage with the underside or an under part of the holder,
which ensures the part :b, being rigidly supported in whatever position it may be
located. The same result may be obtained in other equivalent ways, such, for
example, as that represented in Fig. 5, where the lower part of the part b, is made
to surround the holder.
The part a, is also formed or fitted with a projecting part a³, and the part b, is
made with a through aperture , and is fitted with a thumbscrew 6. By such
means, the part b, may be rigidly located in any desired position relatively to the
part a, according to the length of the boot to be dealt with on the last. The
slot, and extension a', allow of a wide range of adjustment of the last-part b,
so that one set of the parts a, b, will suffice for say, all ordinary men's sizes,
another for all ordinary women's sizes, and a third set for all ordinary children's
Bizęs.
The holder c, is formed with a pivot-stud c, which is adapted to fit a socket d',
made in the base-plate d, so as to permit of the holder and the last-parts carried by
it being easily turned by the workman to any position, for the time being, most
convenient to him, vide Fig. 4:
The base-plate may be secured to the work-bench'e, by screws e¹, or otherwise
in any convenient manner.
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
Claim is :-
17
14:
1.
1. In bootmakers' lasts, in combination, a base-plate, a last holder, and
adjustable toe and heel, last-parts, the holder being adapted to turn in the base-
plate and to support the heel last-part adjustably in relation to the toe last part,

page_text: and means of locating or setting the heel last-part in the desired relation to the
toe last-part, as set forth.
2. In bootmakers' lasts, in combination, a last-holder, and adjustable toe and heel
last-parts, the holder being adapted to support the heel last-part adjustably in
relation to the toe last-part, and means of locating or setting the heel last-part in
the desired relation to the toe last-part, as set forth.
Dated this 1st day of December 1896.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.