IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Blakey, of Leeds, in the County of York, Boot
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN.”
Sealed the 18th November 1879, and dated the 21st May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Blakey at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st May 1879.
"IM-
JOHN BLAKEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Boot Manufacturer.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN APPARATUS
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
This Invention relates to machinery to be employed in the manufacture of boots
and shoes for the purpose of reducing the manual labor, and my improvements
consist,―
Firstly. In cutting out the soles, heels, and uppers, by means of a press acting
upon dies or knives of the required shape. The press is similar to ordinary presses,
but is rendered more adaptable by having the rain mounted in grooves so that the
operator can slide it away from the table so as to give more room for manipulation
when working.
"
"
top
"
or
Secondly. For "lasting" boots and shoes I attach to the edges of the "
upper a series of "dogs "or binding screws, and these are pressed together on the
underside of the last by sliding blocks or dies formed so as to approximate the size
of the last. Or instead of sliding blocks and dies screwed projections may be employed
capable of sliding backward and forward upon a square or other form of rod. Or
pincers or grippers may be employed for seizing hold of the tops or uppers, all of
which are so arranged as to be capable of rising and falling to suit the different
sizes of lasts. For lasting the toe of a boot or shoe a cup or die is employed into
which the toe of the last with the upper thereon is placed and pressed by means of
screw, cam, or other equivalent.
Thirdly. For driving rivets or "hobnails" into the soles and heels I employ a
press similar to the one first described, the nails being first arranged to the required
form with the points upwards over which the sole or heel is placed and pressed
Daina G17

page_text: down on to the nails. The nails may be kept in position by placing them in holes
On the
formed in metal plates within which are pins upon which the nails rest.
sole or heel being placed upon the plate and pressure applied the plate is depressed
Or two metal plates
and the pins being fixed the nails are forced into the leather.
may be employed, the upper one having grooves or holes cut through it within
which the heads of the nails are placed. The upper plate is then raised by spring
or eccentric until clear of the points of the nails which are left standing on the
lower plate. The leather is then placed on the upper plate, pressure applied, and
the nails are forced in as in the first instance.
Fourthly. In the Specification of a previous Patent granted to me on the 28th
November, A.D. 1876, No. 4599, tips or plates are referred to for fixing on to the
heels and soles of boots, shoes, and clogs. My Invention now consists in making
such plates bevil instead of being of equal thickness; by this means a saving of
metal is effected, and in fixing these plates on to heels and soles already worn or
"camed" down, these bevil plates make the worn soles straight again. Making
these plates bevil or thicker at one side than the other is equally applicable to
plates where the prongs or spikes are cast on to the plate or put in separately.
Fifthly. In apparatus to enable the workman to more readily sort out his nails
and have them ready for use, and the improvements consist in the use and employ-
ment of a plate having circular grooves formed therein. In these grooves at suitable
distances apart holes are made, and the nails are scattered over the plate, falling into
the grooves and into the holes head upwards. The plate is capable of being turned
round upon its centre and a stationary brush is fixed which distributes the nails in
the grooves and holes. The nails and plate are partially covered by another plate
having holes formed therein, and by means of a magnetic hammer the nails can be
brought through the holes in the upper plate ready for immediate use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Blakey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
November 1879.
rk
IM-
IN APPARATUS
JOHN BLAKEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Boot Manufacturer.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES, AND
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
This Invention relates to the use and employment of machinery to be employed
in the manufacture of boots and shoes for the purpose of reducing manual labour
and consequently the cost of production, and my improvements consist,-
"
Firstly. In constructing a machine for "lasting boots and shoes which is
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, where Fig. 1 is an end view; Fig. 2 is
front view; and Fig. 3, a plan of my machine. 1 is the framework, and 2, the
is
table; 3 is the "last" or block upon which the upper is placed. The "last
capable of being moved backward and forward horizontally by means of a screw 4
operated at will by the attendant on turning hand wheel 5, a nut 6 being attached
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page_text: "E
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to the underside of the block upon which the "last" is placed. The edges of the
upper" which have to be nailed to the sole is taken hold of by the "dogs" or
binding screws 7, and they are pushed in opposite direction by the screw 8 operated
by hand wheels 9 holding the upper" and edges of the leather firmly upon the
"last" until the attendant secures the same by nails. Instead of pushing the dogs
or uppers they may be pulled or drawn towards each other together or separately
by screws or by chains or bands wound upon shaft or pulleys. The binding screws 7
are afterwards released and another portion of the "upper" is taken hold of in like
manner, the screws 8 being capable of sliding upon the square shaft 10 to
accomodate the position of the binding screws 7. The nut and bracket 11 and
square shaft 10 are connected to the upright rods 12 which, to accomodate the
various heights and sizes of boots and shoes, can be raised and lowered by means of
screw 13 operated by bevil wheels 14 from hand wheel 15. For "lasting" the toe
of a boot or shoe, a cup or die 16 is employed, into which the toe is pressed and
firmly held by means of a screw 17 supported in fork or yoke 18 hinged at 19.
In order to get the overlapping edges of the "upper" properly on to the underside
of the toe a sliding bar or rammer 20 is employed capable of sliding backward and
forward in dovetail groove in fixing 21. The attendant slides the raminer 20 with
sufficient force against the overlapping edges of the leather so as to form the toe
the required shape previous to nailing it, down to the sole. As the bottom of a
boot is not flat the top of the pillar 22 is bevilled or made in the form of a cam so
as to allow the rammer 20 to rise when it is brought round the circle of the toe,
and the rammer is regulated according to the uneveness of the boot sole. The
fixing 21 is loose upon its shaft and can be turned round thereon so that the
rammer 20 can strike against all parts of the toe.
Instead of the rammer 20 being knocked against the boot toe it may be adjusted
and pressed by screw 23 against the toe, and then have a backward and forward
circular motion around the boot toe, pressing the overlapping edges of the leather
onto the "last," and this is effected by means of gearing instead of manual labour,
as will be seen on reference to Fig. 4. In this case the fixing 21 is connected to a
segment or spur wheel 24 driven by means of wheel or segment 25 from the bevil
wheels 26 and pinion 27. This pinion 27 has a backward and forward motion given
to it by means of rack 28 which receives reciprocatory motion from revolving plate
29. When the attendant requires the presser 20 to work or act against the boot
toe be places his foot on the lever 30 when the arm 31 transfers the strap 32 from
the loose to the fast pulley, and so the pressing of the toe is effected, and when the
foot is taken off the lever 30 the spiral spring 33 transfers the strap back to the
loose pulley. By this means the manual labour in "lasting” is very much reduced,
and the cost of production is thereby lessen'd.
Secondly. This Invention relates to the means employed for driving rivets and
hobnails into the soles and heels of boots and shoes, and is illustrated in Figs. 5
and 6. The improvements consist in the employment of a plate 34 having fixed
projecting pins 35. Another plate 36 is employed which rests upon the spiral or
other spring 37, this plate has holes formed therein, and the nails to be driven into
the sole or heel of a boot or shoe are placed within these holes, points upward, the
healds resting upon the fixed pins 35. The sole or heel 38 is placed upon the plate
36, and by means of a press the plate 36 and leather 38 are depressed, and the nails
which are stationary are forced into the leather at one operation. When pressure
is taken off, the springs 37 raises the plate 36, when a fresh supply of nails are placed
into the holes for another operation, and so on. Or instead of the nails resting
upon the fixed pins 35 they may rest upon the fixed plate 39, shewn in Figs. 7
and 8, and when pressure is applied they will be forced into the leather, as in the
previous case, the springs 40 serving to lift up the plate 41. By this part of my
Invention a considerable saving of time and labour is effected.
Thirdly. My Invention has reference to what I designate "Patent boot
protectors " and was the subject of previous Letters Patent granted to me on
the 28th Nov, A.D. 1876, and which consisted of tips or plates of metal

page_text: for fixing onto the heels and soles of boots, shoes, and clogs. These plates being of
equal thickness did not fit a worn sole with that nicety and neatness which was
.required, and in order to obviate that difficulty I make the plates bevil or thicker
at one end than the other, as shewn in Fig. 9, and marked 42. In Figs. 10 and 11
I have shewn the application of these bevilled plates to boots which have been in
*use some time and are worn down or "cammed." Although plates with prongs or
nails cast on are shewn they may be made without, as illustrated in Fig. 12, and
be secured to the boot by separate nails.
Fourthly. My Invention consists in an arrangement of apparatus to enable the
workman to sort out his nails ready for use. This part of my Invention is
illustrated in Fig. 13, which is a cross section, and Fig. 14, a plan view of same.
43 represents & plate having circular grooves 44 and holes a formed therein. The
nails are scattered upon the plate 43 which is capable of being turned round on its
. centre 44, and as it revolves the nails are prevented from going round with the
.plates by the stationary brush 45 which holds the nails until they drop point down-
wards into the holes a, so that by means of a magnetic hammer the workman can
get, the head of a nail upon the hammer ready for immediate use. This part of my
Invention is a great convenience to the workman.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of my Invention, and shewn by
Drawings how the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the exact details herein shewn and described, as some of them
can be greatly modified without departing from the main features of iny Invention ;
what I consider to be new and therefore claim as my said Invention is,―
Firstly. The general arrangement of mechanism for lasting boots and shoes,
substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Secondly. The use and employment of the dogs or binding screws 7, and
screws 8, operated in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein described
and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4.
Thirdly. The means or methods of driving rivets and hobnails into the soles or
heels of boots and shoes, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fourthly. The use and employment of bevilled plates 42 for the purpose sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.
Fifthly. The use and employment of the revolving table 43 and stationary
brush 45, for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 13
and 14.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Blakey, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JOHN BLAKEY. (L.S.)