IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MACHINERY FOR MAKING AND FINISHING BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Southall, of Staleybridge, in the
County of Lancaster, and John Blakey, of Leeds, in the County of
York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MACHINERY
FOR MAKING AND FINISHING BOOTS AND SHOES."
Sealed the 19th May 1871, and dated the 21st November 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Southall
and John Blakey at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 21st November 1870.
We, CHARLES HENRY SOUTHALL, of Staleybridge, in the County of
Lancaster, and John Blakey, of Leeds, in the County of York, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN
SELF-ACTING MACHINERY FOR MAKING AND FINISHING BOOTS AND SHOES," to be
as follows:
Our Invention consists of four parts, and the machines are worked by
steam or other power.
In the first machine we screw the soles and heels to the uppers or
coverings; in the second we rivet or nail them instead of screwing
them; third, we pare, black, and glaze the edge of the sole, and

page_text: In each of these
fourth, pare, black, and glaze the edge of the heel.
different processes the principle of placing the boot in the machine
is the same, and we therefore desire it to be thoroughly understood.
The principle we adopt is to place a rack with straight sides and a
semicircular end underneath a table made of metal or other suitable
material, and so arrange the boot that by drawing a straight line from
the centre of the circle of the toe to the centre of the circle of the heel
that line will correspond with a line drawn down the centre of the rack;
in other words, we want the centre of the circle of the toe to be placed
as near as possible over the centre of the circle of the rack, so that they
will each move in a similar manner. To do this we make a table the same
form as the rack, down the middle of which we make a dovetailed or
bevelled slot, which slot is fitted to a correspondingly bevelled slide with
a centre on which the whole may revolve. The slot is made long enough
to accommodate the largest sized boot. The centre stud of the slide is
turned and fitted into a bearing prepared for it in an upright pedestal.
The same pedestal carries the shaft and pinion for giving motion to the
rack and table. The length of this pedestal is about three feet, but can
be made any other length, and the lower end works in centres to allow
it to work to and fro with ease. It is also made to work up and down
casily by means which will be hereafter described. On the top of the
table we screw fast to the slide a cam plate, flat on the bottom and
planed with two upright sides having cams upon them, one to suit
women's boot soles, and the other men's. We also screw on the table
outside the cam plate two brackets to support the box in which we hold
the boots. This box has two turned centres, which fit and work in the
bearings prepared for them in the said brackets. The box, therefore, can
oscillate, each end lifting up and down, and to enable it to do so we
place small rollers at each corner or other suitable place, and as the table
travels along these rollers enter the grooves in the cam plate, and the
proper motion is thus given to the boot. If a line be drawn down the
centre of this box parallel with the centre of the table and rack, and a
taper pivot of oblong shape be fitted in it, so that its centre line will also
correspond, and if it be placed in a fixed place, say seven inches from
the centre of the circle of the rack and table, it follows that a taper hole
being made in the last on which a boot is about to be made seven inches
from the centre of the boot toe circle that all the centres must come
opposite each other. This, then, is the plan we adopt for the sake of
accuracy, and by this means we are enabled to make any sort or size of

page_text: boots without change, although we are not bound to be so exact as our
other motions hereafter described render it possible to work the machines
if they were placed otherwise; so far, therefore, we get the boot to move
in straight lines, and turn half round at the toe. The inequalitics
sideways we overcome by the pedestal already mentioned as working on
centres on the bottom, having its upper end kept steady by a slotted
plate. The pedestal table and boot we may say now form one pedestal,
the boot sole being the highest point. We therefore place a spring at
the back of the pedestal and a guide to receive the edge of the sole, and
the result is it moves in and out according to the shape of the sole. The
up-and-down motion we get by means of a balance lever with a weight
at one end sufficient to balance and just raise the pedestal table and
boot. The screws are made from a coil of brass or any other wire placed
on a hollow spindle, down which one end passes. The wire then passes
through dies and finally through shears; the various length of screws we
get by means of change wheels. The stop motion for stopping the
spindle we get by means of a check strap worked by a cam, another cam
first lifting a catch box out of gear to allow the stoppage of the spindle.
Another cam also works the shears, which cut the screw off when it has
penetrated the proper distance, another cam works the feed motion,
which is placed on the foot plate of the machine, and which we shall
describe more fully hereafter. Another cam placed on a horizontal shaft
is so arranged that by working on the end of a jointed lever any amount
of pressure in reason can be given to squeeze the soles, heels, and upper
together whilst the screw is penetrating. We place all these cams on
the main shaft of the machine except the one for adding pressure.
This we place on the horizontal shaft, but it moves precisely in unison
with the main shaft, being geared to it with a pair of bevel wheels.
The action of the machine is as follows:- Every time the main shaft
revolves once whilst a boot is in the machine to be operated upon one
screw has been completely inserted into the boot sole, and the boot has
been moved the required distance to receive another screw. A train of
wheels in connection with the main shaft causing the screw to be made.
First, however, one cam squeezes the boot sole firmly against the shears,
then the screw penetrates the sole; another cam now causes the catch
box to be lifted out of gear; the next tightens the check strap, and
thereby stops the spindle from revolving; the next closes the shears,
which thereby cut the screw off, and the next causes the boot to move
the proper distance required, so that the opciation is performed without

page_text: manner.
the assistance of any human labour, and the heel is put on in a similar
In nailing or rivetting boots we use the same form of machine
and same cams, with the exception of two, in place of which, however,
we make use of another. The spindle and coil of wire in this case is
required to remain stationary, we therefore dispense with the change
wheels and catch boxes. We make the shears of such a form that they
will cut a point every time on. the wire. We fit a tube inside the
spindle forced upwards by a strong spring. To this tube and extending
through slots made for the purpose in the spindle we joint two levers,
one on each side, and at their opposite ends we fix hardened steel
nippers, and place them inwards in slots in the spindle. These nippers
rest against the wire, and are so thick that they throw the outside of the
levers in the form of a wedge. The slots in the spindle are long enough
to allow the levers to work up and down a proper distance. On the
spindle, but above the levers we place a weight to act as a hammer
bored out so that in falling it will cause the wedge-shaped levers to grip
the wire and carry it forward into the boot sole. To raise the hammer
we employ a lever, and work the end thereof with a cam on the main
shaft. By making the guide adjustable the whole surface of the boot
may thus be brought under the spindle and nailed. In finishing the
sole edges we use exactly the same boot motion as in screwing or nailing
but make its motion continuous instead of at intervals. In this case we
overcome the irregularity of the edges of the boot sole by employing an
arm lever bored at the end to receive the tools. This is so arranged that
it will move backward and forward and the end up and down with ease,
so that it will follow any form of boot sole against which it is brought
to bear. The tools for paring the soles are on the principle that there
shall be three points, the working or centre point, the cutting point, and
the guiding point. We prefer to place the cutting point a quarter of an
inch in front of the centro point, and the guiding point half an inch
sideways from the cutting point, so that when the cutter begins to cut it
will cause the guiding point to take its proper place and position and
keep it. We prefer that these two points should work just underneath
the sole, as by so doing the soles will be cut true to the lasts. The
glazing tools we make to work on a centre similar to the paring tools;
they are both made to work in cranked holders for the purpose of
bringing the centre right, and they move universally. We use the
same form of table for finishing heels, but instead of the toe we place
the heel over the centre of the rack.

page_text: The tools used for finishing heels are on the same principle as those
used for the soles, and therefore need not be described. To vary. the
shape of the heels we employ a cam, which causes the arm lever which
carries the tools to rise and fall to suit the style of heel required by the
operator. The finishing tables are supplied with cams, which can be
adjusted to suit any size or sort of boots; these act on levers, which act
on catch boxes properly arranged in connection with bevelled wheels,
which cause a change or return motion so that in paring or finishing the
edge of a boot sole a person may so arrange the cam that the tool will
commence at one corner of the heel, and traversing the distance to the
opposite corner the cam will act on these various arrangements and
cause the boot to return. In finishing or glazing therefore the table and
its adjuncts keep moving backward and forward till a proper polish is
obtained, the machine thus being self-acting. To finish the bottoms of
boots we place a stand upon a table with a boss at right angles placed
sufficiently high from the table to allow of the largest sized boot turning
round. On the top of the stand we place a taper pivot the same size and
form as those used in the machines. The boss is bored to receive a short
shaft, on one end of which we fix another taper pivot, and on the other
end a pulley, round which we place a belt or strap connected with a
treadle. By this means we can place a last either in an upright or
horizontal position, so that the operator is enabled to hold the boot in
any position he may desire.
The paring and finishing tools herein mentioned may be used by hand
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Henry Southall and John Blakey in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th May 1871.
'
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
0 HENRY SOUTHALL, of Staleybridge, in the County of Lancaster, and
JOHN BLAKEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
5 fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,

page_text: give and grant unto us, the said Charles Henry Southall and John
Blakey, Her special licence, that we, the said Charles Henry Southall
and John Blakey, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Charles Henry Southall and John Blakey, our
exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, excrcise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SELF-ACTING MACHINERY FOR MAKING AND FINISHING BOOTS AND SHOES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Charles Henry Southall
and John Blakey, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Charles Henry Southall and John
Blakey, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
:-
Our Invention consists of four parts, and the machines are worked by
steam or other power.
In the first machine we screw the soles and heels to the uppers or
coverings. In the second we rivet or nail them instead of screwing
them. In the third we parc, black, and glaze the edge of the sole, and
in the fourth pare, black, and glaze the edge of the heel.
The manner in which our Invention is to be performed will be clearly
understood by the following particular description thereof, reference
being had to the figures and letters on the accompanying two Sheets of
Drawings in which Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of the machine
used for screwing the soles and heels to the uppers or coverings; Fig. 2,
a plan of part of the same; Figs. 3 and 4 are side and end elevations of
part of the machine used for rivetting or nailing the soles and heels to
the uppers or coverings; Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are various views of the
holders or apparatus for holding the boots and shoes in the several
machines; Figs. 10 and 11, Shect 2, are side and end elevations of the
machine in which the edge of the sole is pared and glazed, and the only

page_text: difference between this machine and that used for paring and glazing
the edge of the heel is in the apparatus. for holding the boots or shoes;
Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15 are different views of one of the tools for
paring the soles; Figs. 16 and 17 are side and front views of one of
the glazing tools; Figs. 18 and 19 are end and side views of one of the
tools for paring the heels, and Figs. 20 and 21 are side views of different
tools for paring by hand.
In the various machines the framework is marked a, the driving
shaft, b, the driving pulley c, and the driving strap d. In cach of the
three different processes the principle of placing the boot in the machine
is the same, and we therefore desire it to be thoroughly understood.
The principle we adopt is to place a rack g, Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,.
and 11 with straight sides and one-half circular end underneath a
table made of metal or other suitable material, and so arrange the
boot i that by drawing a straight line from the centre of the circle of the
toc to the centre of the circle of the heel that line will correspond with
a line drawn down the centre of the rack; in other words we want tho
centre of the circle of the toe to be placed as near as possible over the
centre of the circle of the rack so that they will each move in a similar
manner. To do this we make the table the same form as the rack,
down the middle of that of which we make a dovetailed or bevelled slot
in which is fitted a correspondingly bevelled slide k, Fig. 6, fixed to a
stud to enable the whole to make a semi-revolution, and the slot is
made long enough to accommodate the largest sized boot. The centre
stud of the slide is turned and fitted into a bearing prepared for it at the
top of the upright pedestal shaft 1, Fig. 1, and this pedestal also carries
the shaft m and pinion n for giving motion to the rack g and table h.
The length of this pedestal is between two and three fect long, but it
can be made any other length, and the lower cnd works in bearings o
to allow it to move to and fro with case and it is also made to work up
and down easily by means which will be hereafter described. On the
top of the table h we screw fast to the slide a cam plate p, Figs. 6 and 11,
planed flat on the bottom and having two upright sides q, Figs. 1, 6, 10,
and 11, with grooved cams in them, one to suit women's boot soles
and the other men's. We also screw on the table outside the cam plate
two brackets having bearings to support the box t, in which are held.
the boots, the box having two turned studs u fitting the bearings.. The
box, therefore, can oscillate up and down, and to cuable it to do so we

page_text: place small rollers at each corner or other suitable place on the women's.
or men's side as required, and as the table travels along these rollers
enter the grooved cam in the corresponding side q, and thus the proper
motion is given to the boot. If a line be drawn down the centre of
this box parallel with the centre of the table and rack and a taper, pin,
or plug v, Figs. 5 and 6, of oblong shape be fitted in it so that its centre
line will also correspond, and if it be placed in a fixed place, say, seven
inches from the centre of the circle of the rack and table, it follows that
a taper hole being made in the last on which a boot is about to be made
seven inches from the centre of the boot toe circle that all the centres
must come opposite each other. This then is the plan we adopt for the
sake of accuracy, and by this means we are enabled to make any sort
or size of boots without change, although we are not bound to be so
exact as our other motions, hereafter described, render it possible to.
work the machines if they were placed otherwise. So far, therefore,
we get the boot to move in straight lines and turn half round at the toe.
The last of the boot is not only placed on the taper pin but the toe of the
boot rests on a padded prop w which can be raised or lowered as required
and the boot is held firm by the screw x, Figs. 1, 10, and 11, which.
acts on the presser y jointed to the bracket z connected to the box t,
there being a clamp j to prevent the bracket from turning back. The
inequalities sideways we overcome by the pedestal shaft 1, Fig. 1,
working on centres at the bottom and having its upper end kept steady
by a slotted plate a². The pedestal 1, table h, and boot i, Fig. 1, we
may say now form one pedestal, the boot sole being the highest part. We
therefore place a spring b¹ at the back of the pedestal shaft and fix just
below the shears c¹ a guide d¹ to receive the edge of the sole. The up-
and-down motion we get by means of a balance lever e¹, Fig. 1,
a weight f¹ at one end sufficient to balance and just raise the pedestal,
table, and boot. The screws are made from a coil g¹, Fig. 1, of brass or
other metal wire placed on a reel at the top of a hollow spindle h¹ down
which one end passes onwards through dies to be screwed then between
the open shears and through the soles and uppers and finally cut off
by the shears, the various lengths of screws being obtained by means
of change wheels k¹. The stop motion for stopping the revolution of
the hollow spindle h¹ when the wire is screwed in consists of a check
strap worked by a cam m¹ on the main vertical shaft n³, another cam o¹
on the. wheel p³ first lifting a catch box 7' out of gear to allow the
stoppage of the spindle, the shaft n' being made to revolve by the bevel
with

page_text: wheel m³ geared into the bevel wheel na fixed to the driving shaft b.
Another cam r¹ also works the shears c¹ which cut the screw off when
it has penetrated the proper distance, and at the bottom of the shaft n'
there is another cam s¹ for working the feed motion which is placed on
the foot plate of the machine and which we shall describe more fully
hereafter. Another cam t¹ fixed on the horizontal shaft u² is so arranged
that by working on the end of a lever v¹ jointed to the fulcrum of the
lever e¹ any amount of pressure in reason can be given by means of the
friction clips to squeeze the soles and uppers together whilst the screw
is penetrating and all these cams are fixed on the main shaft n¹ except
the cam & for giving pressure, which cam moves precisely in unison
with the main shaft n¹ by being geared to it with a pair of bevel
wheels. Every time the main shaft n' has made a revolution whilst
a boot is in the machine to be operated upon one screw has been com-
pletely inserted into the boot sole and the boot has been moved the
required distance to receive another screw, the train of wheels k¹ in
connection with the main shaft n' and dies causing the screw to be
made. First, however, the cam squeezes the boot sole firmly against
the shears c¹, and then the first screw penetrates the sole at one side
near the heel, after which the cam o' causes the catch box q' to be lifted
out of gear, the cam m' tightens the check strap P and thereby stops |
the spindle from revolving. The cam 7¹ next closes the shears to
cut the screw off, and the cam 8¹ causes the boot to move the distance
required, and so on, until the last screw is screwed in and cut off on
the opposite side near the heel, after which the machine is stopped, the
boot removed, and another put in its place, and thus the screwing
and cutting off operations are performed without the assistance of
any human labour.
There are various ways of giving and regulating the feed, but in that
shown in Figs. 1 and 2 we cause the shaft m to be jointed by a universal
joint to the boss o' on a disc wheel w' to which is fixed the ratchet
wheel x¹ below which there is a lever y¹ carrying two friction clips =¹,
and the lever a² which has at one end a bowl 6, and at the other end an
adjusting screw c². The lever y¹ is connected at one end to the spring
d, and on the bed plate there is a catch e³ in connection with the ratchet
wheel x¹, and a screw f* for regulating the movement of the lever and
friction clips. When the feed has to take place the bowl is quickly
moved by the cam s¹ to the largest radius of the cam, the effect of which

page_text: is to compress the clips against the periphery of the disc and give it a
short circular movement which is transmitted to the shaft m, and pinion
n gearing into the rack g, and thus the rack table and boot are moved
as required. As the cam revolves the lever y' and clips are gradually
moved back by the spring & until the lever is stopped by the screw c²,
and by turning the screw to allow the lever to move back more or less
the feed is lengthened or shortened.
After the soles have been screwed on to the uppers or coverings of
any number of boots or shoes the heels have to be screwed on, and for
this purpose we substitute for the table rack and boot holder shown in
Figs 1, 5, and 6, the boot holder shewn in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, with the
exception that the metal block g², Fig. 8, is changed for a taper pin or
plug similar to that marked v, Fig. 6 to fit tho taper hole at the heel
end of the last, and the centre of the heel is made central with thic
centre of the rack by the adjusting screw h³, Figs 7 and 8 when required,
and according to the lengths of the screws required in the heels, the
toothed wheels ', Fig. 1, are changed to give the hollow shaft the
necessary number of revolutions.
In nailing or rivetting soles and heels to the uppers or coverings of
the boots or shoes, we use the same form of machine and same cams as
that just described with the exception of two, in place of which, however,
we make use of another. The hollow spindle h', Figs. 3 and 4 in this
case is required to remain stationary, and as the reel carrying the coil of
wire only revolves the change wheels, and catch boxes are dispensed
with. The shears are so made, that before they cut off a rivet or nail,
they squeeze a point on the wire, and outside the spindle there is a
boss forced upwards by a strong spring 1. To this boss are jointed
two levers m² one on each side, and at their opposite ends we fix
hardened steel nippers n² and place them inwards in slots in the spindle.
The nippers rest against the wire and are so thick that they throw the
outside of the levers in the form of a wedge, and the slots in the spindle
are long enough to allow the levers to work up and down a proper dis-
tance, the nipping action of the nippers being caused by the cam,
lever j³, and cone o². On the spindle, but above the levers we place a
weight p² in connection with spiral springs to be used as a hammer; so
that in falling it will act on the top of the cone of and carry the wire
forwards into the boot sole. To raise the hammer we employ a lever q²,
and work the end thercof with a cam on the shaft n'.

page_text: In Figs. 10 and 11, Sheet 2, representing the machine used for paring
and finishing the edges of the soles, we use exactly the same boot motion
as in the screwing or nailing machine, but the motion is continuous
instead of being at intervals. On the shaft carrying the driving pulley
c, there is a pinion ² gearing into the toothed wheel w² at one end of
the shaft, there being at the other end two bevil wheels y³ running
loose on the shaft but gearing into the bevil wheel on the vertical
shaft carrying the pinion b³. Each bevil wheel y³ has a half clutch
box, and between the two working on a key there is a boss c³ with double
clutches, so that when one bevil wheel is clutched the shaft a³ and pinion
will be turned in one direction, but if the other bevil wheel is clutched
the shaft and pinion will be turned in the reverse direction, and when the
clutches are out of gear the shaft and pinion are stopped. The pinion b
gears into the toothed wheel on the shaft d³ carrying the spur wheel c",
and pinion f gearing into two wheels g³, ³ having half clutches and
running loose on the shaft ³, on which is held by means of a feather or
key the boss with double clutches, so that when the boss is clutched
by means of the lever m³ into the wheel g³ the shaft will turn quicker
than if the boss is clutched into the wheel ³ and thus different speeds
can be given to the pinion n, the rack g, and the table h, with the boot-
holder and boot the slower motion being adapted for paring and the
quicker one for glazing or finishing. The irregularities of the edges of
the boot sole are overcome by employing an arm lever k³, Figs 10 and
11, bored at the front end to receive the tools, the lever being so arranged
that it will move backwards and forwards and the end up and down with
ease, so that it will follow any form of boot sole against which it is
brought to bear. The arm lever k³ is jointed to the arm having a stud
in contact with the weighted lever m³ and the front part of the arm lever
is jointed to a rod n³ encircled at the top by a spring having one end in
contact with the knob or nut os and the other end in contact with the
projecting lug p³, and for raising the weighted lever m³ to allow the arm
lever to be raised and lowered we employ the treddle q³, rod 13, lever 8³,
and rod. The boss c³ has a groove in which there is a fork connected
to the hand barf so that the table and boot can be put in motion,
reversed, and stopped by hand, but this bar is also made self-acting by
means of the double lever v³, w³, the arm v³ being connected to the bar
f, and the other arm having a projection which can be acted upon by the
cams a, b adjusted and fixed to the bottom of the table h, there being

page_text: notches in the bar fin which a lever as is held by a spring 6s to keep the
clutches in gear as required.
One of our improved tools for paring the soles is shewn in the end of
the arm lever k³, Fig. 10; and Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15 are different
views of it drawn about half size, Fig. 12 being a side view, Fig. 13 a
front view, Fig. 14 a plan of the lower part, and Fig. 15 a cross section
at the line a, b, Fig. 13. The steel cutter c* is held in a brass or iron
stock d', having at the top a groove in which is placed a slide e' with a
round stud f* fitting a round hole in the boss g of a cranked holder
having a stud * fitting the hole at the front of the arm lever, there
being a stop pin to prevent the stud and holder from turning in
the lever, but the stud f* allows the holder to swivel laterally in all
directions. In holes in connection with the holder there is a rod k',
having at the bottom a guard which rides on the top of the sole, there
being a spring m* to suit holes of different thicknesses, and at the bottom
of the stock there is a slot in which is placed pieces of metal n* which
pass under the solo in contact with the boot and acts as a guide.
Each tool is formed on the principle that there shall be three leading
points, the working on centre point, that is, the centre of the stud f*,
the cutting point or the edge of the cutter, and the guiding point or the
front of the guide. We prefer to place the cutting point about a quarter
of an inch in front of the centre point, and the guiding point about half
an inch sideways from the cutting point, so that when the cutter begins
to cut it will cause the guiding point to take its proper position and keep
it, and as the guiding point works underneath the sole in contact with
the boot the soles will be cut true to the lasts, but we do not confine
ourselves to these positions. When the boot, the sole of which is to be
pared, is properly held in the bootholder the operative raises the weighted
lever m³ by means of the treddle q³ to enable him to bring down the
arm lever and tool, and place the guide n* under the edge of the sole,
the guard pressing on the top to keep the parts steady, and when the
treddle is free the weighted lever presses the guide against the side of
the boot and places the cutter in position, and when the machine is set
on the table, and boot travel from one side to the other, and the sole is
quickly and efficiently pared by one continuous movement, after which
the machine is stopped by hand.
The glazing tool, which is of polished and hardened steel, is fitted to

page_text: a cranked holder similar to the cutter holder, and swivels in the same
manner, and after the sole is pared the cutting tool is removed from the
arm lever and the glazing tool substituted for it. One of these glazing
tools is shewn in Figs. 16 and 17, p being the holder, q' the stud fitting
the arm lever, the guide which rides under the edge of the sole, &* the
guard which rides on the top of the sole, t the spring which regulates
the guard, and * the glazing tool having an external rounded surface,
there being at the back a small jet of gas to warm the tool.
For the glazing or finishing operation it is necessary that the table
and its adjuncts should move forwards and backwards until a proper
polish is obtained, and therefore the cams a, b, under the table are
adjusted to make the movements self-acting; and if after the edge of
the sole is well blacked and dried the tool is placed against the edge
of the sole and pressed up by the weighted lever, and the machine set
on the edge of the sole keeps moving forwards and backwards in contact
with the warmed glazer and soon becomes polished.
For paring and finishing the heels we use the shorter table rack and
bootholder shewn in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the centre of the heel being over
the centre of the rack, and the boots may be. on their lasts, or the hecl
part placed on the iron block g³, Fig. 8, and held firmly by means of
the clamp j, the screw x, and the presser y jointed to the bracket z.
The table and holder are placed in a similar machine as that shewn in
Figs. 10 and 11, and for the glazing or polishing operation the cams a, b,
under the table must be set to cause the forward and backward move-
ments to correspond with the size of the heel. The tool for paring the
heel can swivel laterally in a cranked holder in the same manner as that
for the sole, but in some cases we joint the holder to the stud which
enters the arm lever for enabling the tool to rise and fall, and also to be
placed at an angle to suit the style of heel required. One of these tools
and holders is shewn in Figs. 18 and 19, in which w* represents the stud
which enters the arm lever, x* the cranked holder jointed to it, y' the
cutter made of any required shape, and the guide under the edge of
the heel. Before the paring operation takes place the treddle is employed
to balance the weighted lever, the arm lever and tool holder are brought
down, and the guide placed under the edge of the heel the same as with
the sole, and the weighted lever also presses the guide against the heel
part of the boot, and when the machine is set on the cutter pares the
heel in one continuous movement, and then the machine is stopped, but

page_text: during the paring operation the tool is moved up or down or angular to
enable the cutter to shape the heel as desired, but in many cases where
the heels are not required to be of fancy shapes the stud in the arm
lever may be rigidly fixed to the cranked holder as in Fig. 12. The steel
glazing tool, hardened and polished, is made of the required shape and
depth, and warmed with gas, and when pressed up against the heel by
the weighted lever, and the machine set on the table, and boot keep
moving forwards and backwards, and when the heel is polished, the
machine is stopped by hand.
When required we modify our improved paring tools so that they can
be used. by hand, and Figs. 20 and 21 are side views of two different
paring tools. In both Figures a³ represents the cutter, b³ the stock,
the guide, and & the handle.
To finish the bottoms of boots and shoes we place a stand upon a
table with a boss at right angles placed sufficiently high to allow the
largest sized boot to turn round. On the top of the stand we place
a taper pin or plug of the same size and form as those used in the
machines, and shewn at v, Fig. 6. The boss is bored to receive a short
shaft, on one end of which we fix another taper pivot or plug, and on
the other end a pulley, round which we place a belt or strap in con-
nection with a treddle. By this means we can place a last either in an
upright or horizontal position to enable the operative to hold the boot in
any position he may desire.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be
understood that in self-acting machinery for making and finishing boots
and shoes we claim,―
First. The improved holders for holding the boots and shoes in the
several machines, and the system of placing the sole uniform with the
rack under the table by means of the taper pin or plug.
Secondly. The taper hole in the various lasts at a certain uniform
distance from the centre of the toe part of the boot or shoe, the hole
corresponding with the taper pin or plug.
Thirdly. The nippers and parts connected with them for nipping the
wire in the nailing or rivetting machine, the weight for forcing the wire
into the sole or heel of the boot or shoe, and the cam and lever for
raising the weight.

page_text: Fourthly. The squeezing motion for squeezing the soles to the uppers
when they are being screwed or nailed on.
Fifthly. The feeding motion for moving the holder and boot the
required distance between the screws or rivets.
Sixthly. The change motion for alternately changing the movement
of the boot holder and boot during the operations of glazing the sole and
heel.
And, seventhly. The cutting tool for shaping the soles to the forms of
the lasts, the adjustable glazing tool, the paring tool for the heels, and
the hand paring tools, as all such improvements are herein described.
and illustrated in the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, tho said Charles Henry Southall, for and on
behalf of myself and the said John Blakey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the above-named Charles Henry
Southall, in the presence of
CHA. H. SOUTHALL. (L.S.)
G. SEPTIMUS HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.