IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Randal James McDonnell and Thomas Forster, of Leicester,
in the County of Leicester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPERTAINING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES,"
Sealed the 30th September 1879, and dated the 1st July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Randal James McDonnell
and Thomas Forster at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st
July 1879.
RANDAL JAMES MCDONNELL and THOMAS FORSTER, of Leicester, in the County of
Leicester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS
AND SHOES,"
Our improvements consist in applying to the toes of boots and shoes toe-caps or
"boxes" of india rubber, leather, or other suitable material
These "boxes" we prefer to mould or cast of the desised shape and size, so that
they shall be ready for fixing to the boot or shoe without the trouble experienced
in bending and securing the piece of leather generally used for this purpose, and
being all moulded or cast will all be of like shape and neat appearance, whereas in
the case of ordinary toe caps (which consist of a piece of leather fastened to the
upper leather of the bcot) the shape is apt to vary considerably even in one pair of
boots. We sometimes place a "box" inside and sometimes outside, and occasionally
both inside and outside, and we prefer to make them of leather or india rubber, or
of both combined.
When used inside the indiarubber "boxes" have a great advantage over the
piece of leather at present in use, namely, that if crushed down they will resume
their original shape, whereas the ordinary leather if once crushed in is spoiled, as it
will not resume its shape. When used externally the india rubber will not show
scratches or abrasions like ordinary leather, and is not nearly so liable to cut or tear.
In the case of children's boots or shoes an indiarubber toe-cap or
" box" will
not wear out like leather, and will be found to save the boot or shoe and very
i

page_text: materially lengthen its life; the india rubber will take a good black colour and
look so like leather as not to be easily detected. We make our "boxes" in suitable
moulds or dies; but so long as they are of the desired shape and size when finished
the actual method of manufacture is immaterial.
In appearance these "boxes" resemble somewhat a piece cut off the toe of an i
ordinary boot, but are made thin so as to fit easily.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said. Randal James McDonnell and Thomas Forster in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 1st October 1879.
RANDAL JAMES M'DONNELL and THOMAS FORSTER, of Leicester, in the County of
Leicester. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS
E
AND SHOES,"
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an improved box; Fig. 2, an inverted plan; Fig. 3,
a vertical transverse section; and Fig. 4, a plan.
This Invention consists in an improved form of toe-cap, and is designed to givo
a neater and more uniform appearance to the boots or shoes, greater ease and
economy in manufacture, and greater strength in wear. The improved caps are
made of leather, india rubbor, both combined, or other similar and suitable material,
and are moulded or pressed in moulds or dies, preferably of metal, and formed of
the desired shape and sizo before being used for the boot or shoe; so long as they
are of the desired shape and size when finished the actual method of manufacture
is immaterial. They are placed sometimes inside, sometimes outside, and sometimes
both inside and outside the boot or shoe. By using these caps a great saving of
time and labour is effected as compared with the old plan of using a flat pieco of
leather and forming it into the cap as the making of the boot or shoo proceeds.
When used internally the india rubber "boxes" have a great advantage over
leather, as if crushed down they will resumo their original shape, whereas a leather
cap once crushed is spoiled. For use inside these caps may bo nado of white
rubber which is clean, soft, and springy; but for outside use we prefer either leather
or black rubber, which so closely resembles leather in appearance that when
examined it can with difficulty be distinguished from leather, nevertheless it
will not show scratches or abrasions to the same extent, and is not nearly so liable
to cut or wear through, and in the case of children particularly will materially
lengthen the life of the boot or shoe. Even when made of leather these caps or
boxes are much superior to the ordinary ones in economy, appearance, and uni-
formity. They can all be secured to the boot or shoe in the ordinary manner, as
will be well understood by persons in the trade.
C
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the best method known

page_text: to us of carrying it into effect, we wish it to be understood that what we claim and
desiro to protect under the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The manufacture of toe caps or boxes for boots or shoes, moulded, pressed,
or otherwise caused to assume the requisite shape before attachment to the boot or
shoe, substantially as set forth and shown.
2nd. The application to boots and shoes of toe-caps or boxes formed into the
requisite shape before being so applied, substantially as set forth.
3rd. The application of indiarubber to the manufacture of toe-caps for boots or
shoes, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Randal James McDonnell and Thomas Forster,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty seventh day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy
nine.