IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE PREPARATION OF THE ÜPPERS OF BOOTS AND SHONG
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of 35, South-
ampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the
Invention of 86
IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING
THE PREPARATION OF THE ÜPPERS OF BOOTS AND SHONG"
A communication
LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of 35, South-
ampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING
THE PREPARATION OF THE UPPERS OF ROOTS AND SHOES." A communication
from abroad by Philip Schwartz, of 19, Boulevard Prince Eugène,
Paris, France.
ealed the 23rd June 1871, and dated the 25th January 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph
Barnard Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
'his Petition, on the 25th January 1871.
I, BENJAMIN Joseph Barnard Mills, of 35, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR
FACILITATING THE PREPARATION OF THE UPPERS OF BOOTS AND SHOES," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Philip Schwartz, of 19, Boulevard
Prince Eugène, Paris, France, to be as follows:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus
for facilitating the preparation of the uppers of boots and shoes, and
۱۰

page_text: '
relates to means whereby facility is afforded for placing the upper
leather, the elastics, the lining, and the front loop in correct position
with relation to each other, and retaining them in such position until
the glue with which the parts are united has set, when the upper is
removed and another placed in position..
Each of
The apparatus is formed in two frames. hinged together, each frame
being provided with two plates in which openings of a similar form to
that of the gussets or elastics are made.. Each of these openings is
provided with a moveable plate of a similar form, and around each of
these openings is a recess, into which the edge of the moveable plate
fits and is received, so as to be capable of lying flush therein.
these moveable plates is supported on springs, which, when allowed, act
to raise such moveable plates above the surface of the adjacent parts,
and such moveable plates are acted upon by 'inclined or other suitable
catches, which act to draw them down flush with the fixed plate, and
the two frames which are hinged together are provided with catches or
fastenings to hold them firmly together when the various parts of an
upper are arranged in position between them. The plates having the
openings therein are fitted upon the frames, and are provided with
means to shift them laterally thereon, so as to adapt the apparatus to
various sizes of uppers.
In carrying the Invention into operation it is preferred to mount two
sets of apparatus upon a single frame or standard, so as to be capable of
turning thereon, and such frame or standard is also mounted upon an
axis of motion, so as to enable the operations to be continuously.per-
formed, but if desired one or more than two sets of apparatus may be
mounted upon a single frame or standard.
In using the apparatus the leather upper with its face down is first
laid upon one of the frames with the edges around the gusset or elastic
openings under the projecting edges of the moveable plates, which
moveable plates are then forced down by means of the inclined or other
catches, so as to hold the upper leather firmly in position. The gussets
or elastics are then laid upon the upper leather, and the apparatus is
turned round on its axis, so as to bring the other frame into position,
when the lining is placed thereon with the edges around the gusset or
elastic openings under the edges of the moveable plates, such moveable
plates are then forced down; as before described, to hold the lining
between the edges of the moveable plates and the recesses around the

page_text: .❝
openings in which the moveable plates work, when the two frames are
closed together and locked firmly in position, so as to press the upper
leather, gussets or elastics, front loop and lining firmly together, and
hold them in such position until the glue or cement is set, when the
frames are unlocked and the "upper" removed therefrom ready for com-
pletion by sewing. If kid or other thin leather is employed for the
uppers," then the openings for the gussets or elastics are made smallor,
so as to enable the leather to be doubled over or "beaded," which is
effected according to the present Invention by means of a knife or
instrument of a corresponding form to the gusset or elastic acting to
press the leather in between the edges of the moveable plate and the
recesses around the openings in the fixed plate. This knife or instru-
ment also acts to double or fold the lining in a similar manner to the
leather.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 25th July 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 35, Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Hér
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hindred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, Her
special licence that I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, my executors, 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, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARAtus
FOR FACILITATING THE PREPARATION OF THE UPPERS OF BOOTS AND SHOES," &
communication to me from abroad by Philip Schwartz, of 19, Boulevard
'

page_text: Prince Eugène, Paris, France, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of 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 I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:
-
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus
for facilitating the preparation of the uppers of boots and shoes, and
relates to means whereby facility is afforded for placing the upper
leather, the elastics, the lining, and the front loop in correct position
with relation to each other, and retaining them in such position until
the glue with which the parts are united has set, when the upper is
removed and another placed in position.
The apparatus is formed in two frames hinged together, each frame
being provided with two plates in which openings of a similar form to
that of the gussets or clastics are made. Each of these openings is
provided with a moveable plate of a similar form, and around each of
these openings is a recess into which the edge of the moveable plate
fits and is received, so as to be capable of lying flush therein. Each of
these moveable plates is supported on springs, which, when allowed, act
to raise such moveable plates above the surface of the adjacent parts,
and such moveable plates are acted upon by inclined or other suitable
catches, which act to draw them down flush with the fixed plate, and
the two frames which are hinged together are provided with catches or
fastenings to hold them firmly together when the various parts of an
upper are arranged in position between them. The plates having the
openings therein are fitted upon the frames, and are provided with
means to shift them laterally thereon, so as to adapt the apparatus to
various sizes of " uppers."
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood
and readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying
Drawings, more fully to describe the same..

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan of machinery or apparatus constructed according to
the said Invention for facilitating the preparation of the uppers of boots
and shoes; Figure 2 is a side view, with some of the parts shown in
section, taken on the line 1, 1, Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross section
taken on the line 2, 2, Figure 1; and Figures 4 are plan and edge views
of a knife or instrument to be used as herein-after described.
a is a stud or axis supported upon a suitable base 6 fixed to a bench or
table by screws or otherwise, as may be found convenient. On the stud
or axis a is mounted a bar c, so as to be capable of turning freely thereon.
This bar e is provided with a socket c¹ at each end thereof bored to a
suitable size to receive à stud or axis d fixed to a frame A, to which a
similar frame B is connected by pin or hinge joints e, e. Each frame A, B,
is provided with two plates f, f, in each of which is made an opening of
a similar form to that of the gussets or elastics. Each of these openings
is provided with a moveable plate g of a similar form, having projecting
chamfered edges g¹ to fit a corresponding chamfered recess around the
gusset shaped openings in the plates A, B, and so as to be capable of
lying flush therein. Each of these moveable plates g, g, is supported on.
springs g², g², which, when allowed, act to raise such moveable plates y, g,
above the surface of the plates f, f, and the moveable plates g, J, are
capable when desired of being acted upon by inclined or other suitable
catches h, h, working within eyes or loops i, i, fixed to the plates g, g, to
draw them down flush with the plates f, f. The catches h, h, are
mounted upon studs or axes fixed in spring plates j rivetted at both
ends to the plates f, f, and are provided with enlargements at their
outer ends to facilitate their manipulation. The plates f, ƒ, of the
frames A have, by preference, springs f", f', connected thereto, which
rest on such frames A and give an elastic support to the plates ƒ, f,
whilst the plates f, f, of the frames B may also be so mounted, but in
practice such is not found to be necessary. These plates f, f, are each
provided with projections f², f, to fit a ring groove formed in a screw k,
which screws work within screwed holes formed in the frames A, B. By
these means the plates f, f, are capable of sideway adjustment, suitable
marks being made on cach' of the plates f, f, and frames A, B, to ensure
similarity of adjustment to all of the plates; and when such plates f,f,
are adjusted to the size required they are fixed in such position by incans
2.
:
1

page_text: ol ny nuts ',, working upon screws t, t, mxed to such plates, a
passing through slots f³, f³, formed in the frames A, B. The plates ff,
are also provided with hooks or projections f*, f*, to pass under the
supporting surfaces of the frames A, B, and thereby assist in holding
the plates ff, down to such frames. A small plate m is also provided
with each frame A, B, upon which to receive the front loop of an
upper," and these plates mare held firmly to the frames A, B, by
In the
fly nuts m', 'm', working upon screws rivetted to such plates m.
case of the frames A springs m² are interposed between the plates m, m,
and such frames.
By the description heretofore given, and by the aid of the Drawings,
it will be seen that the plates f, f, and plates g, g, and m, m, may be
readily removed therefrom, and other plates suitable for different sized
uppers mounted thercon as desired..
In using the apparatus one of the pairs of frames A, B, is opened out,
as shown at the right hand of Figures 1 and 2, but with the plates g, I,
standing above the plates f, f; the leather upper with its face down is
first laid upon the plates f, f, of the frame A with the edges around, the
gusset or elastic openings placed under the projecting chamfered edges g'
of the moveable plates g, g, which plates are then forced down by means
of the inclined or other suitable catches h, h, so as to hold the upper
leather firmly in position. Glue or other suitable cement is then applied
to the leather around the gusset openings and over the plate m, over
which the front loop is placed, and the gussets or elastics and front loop
are laid thereon. This pair of frames A, B, is then turned round on its
axis d, so as to bring the frame B into position, when the lining is placed
thereon with the edges around the gusset or elastic openings under
the projecting chamfered edges 9' of the moveable plates g, g, such
plates g, g, arc then forced down as before by the catches h, h, to hold
the lining between the projecting chamfered edges g¹ of the plates g and
the recesses of the plates f. f. Glue or cement is then applied to the
Jining around the gusset or elastic openings and over the plate m. · The
frame B is then turned on the pin joints e, e, so as to come down on to
the frame A, when the two frames are locked firmly together by means
of hooks or catches n, n, carried by the frames B, and acting upon
lumps o on the under side of the frames A, whereby the upper leather,
the gussets or elastics, the front loop, and the lining are pressed firmly
together, and held in correct relative position with each other until the

page_text: glue or cement is set, when the frames A, B, are unlocked, and the.
upper removed therefrom ready for completion by sewing. By using
two or more pairs of frames A, B, mounted on one standard, as shown
in the Drawings, the "upper" in the one may be drying whilst that in
the other is being placed in position. If kid or other thin leather is
employed for the " uppers" and woven fabric for the linings, then the
openings for the gussets or elasties are cut somewhat smaller than would
otherwise be required, so as to enable the leather or woven fabric to be
doubled over or "beaded" around such gusset or elastic openings, which
is effected by the aid of a knife or instrument such as that shown at
Figures 4, acting to press the leather or woven fabric in between the
chamfered edges g' of the moveable plates g, g, and the recesses around
the openings in the fixed plates f, f.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the mode
in which the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
The novel combination or arrangement of frames A, B, hinged or pin
jointed together and mounted as described, and provided with plates f, g,
and m, operated by screws and catches h, and provided with suitable
springs and fly nuts, the frames A and B being locked together by
means of suitable hooks or catches n, all in manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein shown and described.
I also claim the employment of a knife or instrument in combination
with the above, substantially as herein shown and described with respect
to Figures 4 of the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day
of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-one.