IMPROVEMENTS IN GOLOSHES OR OVERSHOES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Martin, of High Street, Tottenham, in the
County of Middlesex, and Jacob Hyams, of Union Street, Bishopsgate,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOLOSHES OR OVERSHOES."
Sealed the 11th May 1855, and dated the 19th January 1855..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Martin and Jacob
Hyams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 19th January 1855.
We, ROBERT MARTIN, of High Street, Tottenham, in the County of
Middlesex, and JACOB HYAMS, of Union Street, Bishopsgate, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOLOSHES OR OVERSHOES"
to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to goloshes or overshoes when manufactured of
gutta percha, and are designed for the purpose of rendering the same lighter,
.more convenient, and easy of attachment and detachment to and from the feet
of the wearer, and considerably cheaper than goloshes or overshoes made of
india-rubber and of leather; and the novelty of these improvements consists
in so forming those parts of the golosh or overshoe which are intended to
embrace the toe, the heel, and the sides of a boot, as that when applied thereto
the golosh only extends sufficiently far over the boot as to connect it securely
thereto, and cover those parts thereof where the junction of the sole and heel

page_text: with the upper occurs, so as to render such parts impervious to wet or
moisture; and in this manner and by these means we protect only those parts
of boots or shoes which are the most likely to admit wet or absorb moisture,
and thus we economize much of the, material which in goloshes of the ordinary
kind is not only superfluous but objectionable, in consequence of the impedi-
ment it presents to the attaching and detaching of the golosh with facility.
We would remark, that, if necessary, a piece of elastic may be affixed to the
sides of the golosh, so as to pass over the instep. of the boot when the golosh
is in use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Martin and Jacob Hyams in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 19th July 1855.
آنا
We, ROBERT
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
MARTIN, of High Street, Tottenham, in the County of Middlesex, and JACOB
HYAMS, of Union Street,. Bishopsgate, send greeting..
dis
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Robert Martin and Jacob Hyams, Her special licence that we, the said, Robert
Martin and Jacob Hyams, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Robert Martin and Jacob Hyams, our 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 'ex-
pressed, 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 GOLOSHES OR OVERSHOES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Robert Martin and
Jacob Hyams, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or
under the land and seal of one of us should particularly describé' '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 Robert Martin and Jacob Hyams,
do hereby declare the matures of the..said: Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in 'and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Our improvements relate to goloshes or "overshoes when manufactured of
gutta percha, and are designed for the purpose of rendering the same lighter,
more convenient, and easy of attachment and detachment to and from the feet
of the wearer, and cheaper than goloshes or overshoes made of india-rubber
and of leather, or of gutta percha, either alone or in combination with other
substances, as heretofore manufactured. Our Invention consists in so'forming
those parts of the golosh or overshoe which are intended to embrace the
toe, the heel, and the sides of boots or shoes, as that when such said golosh
or overshoe is applied thereto, it only extends sufficiently far over the boot or
shoe as to connect it securely thereto, and to cover those parts thereof where
the junction of the sole and heel with the upper leather occurs, so as to
render such parts impervious to wet or moisture, and thus to protect only
those parts of boots or shoes which are the most likely to admit wet or absorb
moisture; and also to economize material, by dispensing with much of that
which in goloshes of the ordinary kind is not only superfluous but objectionable,
in consequence of the impediment it presents to the attaching and detaching
of the golosh with facility.
The manner in which our said Invention is to be performed will be under-
stood by reference to the illustrative Drawing hereunto annexed, and "the
following statement :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a block or. last which we employ for shaping
"men's" goloshes according to our said improvements. Figure 3 is a side
elevation of another block.or last for shaping "women's" goloshes according
to our said improvements: Figures 2 and 4 are top plan views of the above-
mentioned blocks or lasts respectively. At each of the foregoing Figures we
employ similar-letters of reference to denote corresponding parts, in so far as
such parts appear or can be seen at each of the said Figures respectively.
A, A, is a block or last of wood, shaped to the required form of the golosh.
B, Figure 1, is a projection upon said block or last, for forming a. recess in
the golosh to receive the heel of the boot. C is a piece securely fixed to the
said. block or last, by which to hold the same steady in a vice.;. or it may be
held in position. by inserting the part C in a corresponding shaped hole in a
bench or table. The block or last, exhibited at Figures 2 and 4 is similar to
that before described, excepting that the part B is dispensed with... This last-
mentioned block or last is intended to be used in manufacturing goloshes for

page_text: We take a piece of sheet gutta percha or the required size and thickness
to form the golosh, and make it plastic and workable by dipping or steeping it
in hot water, or by other convenient means; and having placed the above-
mentioned blocks or lasts in proper position for operating with, we place the
gutta percha whilst in a plastic state upon the aforesaid blocks or lasts, and
work it over the edges of the same by pressing and rubbing it with the hands
until it has attained the desired form, taking care to pull and press the gutta
percha closely over and against the aforesaid blocks or lasts during the
manipulation. This operation may be much facilitated by employing soft soap,
as commonly practised during the shaping of the material, to prevent adhesion
thereof to the hands of the workmen or to the mould. In manufacturing
goloshes or overshoes of gutta percha according to our said Invention, we find
it desirable also to work the gutta percha thinner at the "waist" and toe parts
of the golosh or overshoe, to give pliability to such parts; this facilitates the
attaching and detaching of the golosh or overshoe to and from the boot or
shoe, and ensures greater ease and comfort in wear. If it be desired to give
elasticity to any particular part of the golosh, a piece of caoutchouc or other
suitable elastic material may be introduced into such part while making the
golosh, or it may be attached after the golosh is finished. And if it be desired
to give greater flexibility to the golosh than is afforded by the use of ordinary
gutta percha sheet, such gutta percha sheet may be employed as has been

page_text: mixed with caoutchouc, or with such other substance or material as will give
to the golosh the required increase of flexibility. The golosh, shaped as above
described, we then leave upon the block or last, until the material becomes
sufficiently set or hard, to admit of the superfluous material being trimmed off,
which may be effected by any convenient form of cutting instrument. The
golosh is then removed from the block or last, and the outer edge thereof
chamfered or bevilled, and the golosh finished on the outside by imitation
stitching or ornamenting, or otherwise, in any manner that may be desired.
A piece of elastic may be affixed to the sides of the golosh, so as to pass
over the instep of the foot when the golosh is in use, and afford additional
security in the wear.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention of "Improvements
in Goloshes or Overshoes," and in what manner the same is to be performed,
we hereby declare that we do not claim as of our Invention the moulding
gutta percha on blocks or lasts, this having been described in the Specification
of Letters Patent granted to Charles Hancock, bearing date at Westminster,
Eleventh May, One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, for certain im-
proved preparations and compounds of gutta percha, and certain improvements
in the manufacture of articles and fabrics composed of gutta percha alone
and in combination with other substances; nor do we claim the exclusive use
of blocks or lasts such as represented, except when the same are employed in
and for the manufacture of goloshes or overshoes according to our Invention.
And we hereby declare that we claim as our Invention, the manufacture of
goloshes or overshoes of gutta purcha of the form and in the manner above
particularly described and represented.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Martin & Jacob Hyams,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighteenth day of July,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.
ROBERT MARTIN. (L.S.)
JACOB HYAMS.
(L.S.)