IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING BOOTS AND SHOES, SUCH APPARATUS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Ephraim Lamb at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th August
1866.
I, EPHRAIM LAMB, of 54, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING
BOOTS AND SHOES, SUCH APPARATUS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of
mechanism which are well adapted for the operations of cleaning and polishing
boots and shoes, and for other like or analogous purposes.
One of the modifications of which this Invention is capable is as follows:-
One or more wheel or wheels is or are mounted upon suitable bearings attached
to a stand, the revolution of such wheel or wheels being effected by means of
a winch and connecting straps, or by a treddle and crank, or by any of the well
known methods suitable for such purpose. To the sides of the periphery or
peripheries of the wheel or wheels are attached brushes, the same being
secured to the wheel or wheels by means of screws or other suitable contrivances,
so as to be readily removable for the purpose of substituting brushes of any
desired degree of hardness adapted for the different purposes of boot and shoe
cleaning and polishing; or the wheel or wheels may be removable, so as to

page_text: be replaced by others of a different character. Upon the wheel or wheels
being caused to revolve, and the boot or shoe pressed against the brushes, the
latter remove the dirt from the former in the case of hard brushes being
employed, whilst by the use of brushes of a different and suitable character
the operation of polishing may be performed. If one wheel only be employed
the boot or shoe (either whilst it is on the leg or foot of the owner or when
removed therefrom) is pressed against the revolving brushes, the various
parts being operated upon by turning the boot or shoe so as to bring it under
the action of the brushes. In the case of two wheels being used they may be
placed parallel to and at such a distance from each other that upon the boot or
shoe being placed between them the same will be effectively cleaned or polished.
The wheel or wheels may be placed either horizontally or vertically, and an addi-
tional wheel or wheels may be provided with brushes upon the faces or sides
of the periphery or peripheries thereof for the purpose of cleaning or polishing
the toes and front portions and heels of the boots and shoes. Such last-
mentioned wheel or wheels should be mounted in suitable bearings, and may
be actuated by the same mechanism as that by which the wheel or wheels
previously mentioned is or are driven, and simultaneously therewith. For
cleaning or polishing the heels of the boots or shoes an endless band with
brushes attached thereto may be used, the same being extended by and passing
over two rollers, and actuated as before described. For the support of the
foot or of the boot or shoe during the process of cleaning rests or bars or any
suitable contrivances may be attached to the stand of the apparatus, such
,rests or bars being moveable and adjustable in position by means of screws or
other analogous contrivances. For the purpose of keeping the front and back
portions of the boot or shoe when submitted to the action of the apparatus in a
sufficient state of tension and rigidity blocks of metal or wood partially formed
of the shape of the boot or shoe and similar to portions of a last are employed,
the same being attached to a system of levers of the kind used in the well known
instrument called "lazy-tongs," by means of the.extension of which the respective
portions of the boot or shoe are held in a state of tension and rigidity suitable
for the operation of the brushes.
By means of another modification of this Invention a portable apparatus
may be constructed. This consists of a series of levers such as those before
described, having a rotary brush attached to one end thereof, and a pulley
and winch at the other extremity, the brush, and pulley being connected by
an endless band, so that upon the winch being turned the brush will be
caused to revolve, and can thus be used either for cleaning boots or shoes or
clothes of any description. The last-described arrangement may be varied

page_text: by placing a roller at each end of the apparatus, an endless band furnished
with brushes on the surface thereof being extended by and passing over the
rollers, parallel with one of the rollers is placed another roller furnished with
a winch and so arranged that it shall press upon the endless band. Upon the
winch being turned the brush band may be caused to move over the rollers at
any desired degree of speed and may be employed for any brushing operation.
Another form of portable apparatus may be adopted which will be found
convenient for many purposes, it consists of a straight rod or bar of wood or
any other suitable material having at one extremity thereof and placed at
right angles thereto a bar or rod upon which a circular brush or brushes
is or are mounted in suitable bearings placed upon the transverse bar. At
the other end of the first-mentioned bar or rod is placed a wheel or pulley
provided with a spindle and winch, such wheel or pulley being connected
with the circular brush or brushes by means of an endless cord or band.
Upon the apparatus being held in one hand, and the winch actuated by
the other, the brush or brushes will be caused to revolve and may be
employed for any purpose to which the apparatus is adapted. The apparatus
when constructed as last described may be rendered more portable by providing
the bar or rod with joints so that it may be folded up, or it may be made
of tubes arranged so as to slide one within the ather in the manner of a
telescope.