and Shoe Lasts and other Forms.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1887
Complete Left, 4th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 10th Feb., 1888
of Boot and Shoe Lasts and other Forms.
I, CHARLES WESLEY EVANS of the firm of John Evans and Son, of 18 Old
Compton Street, Soho, in the County of Middlesex Boot tree, Last, and Breeches
tree Makers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The object of my invention is to produce machinery capable of working on one
and the same machine, any length or style of last, and whether slender, medium, or
full, or men's, women's or children's sizes, as may be required, the lasts being pro-
duced in proportion to or from one model, in every respect to that of the model;
whether the size required be larger or smaller than the model each and every part of
the last or other form produced will be cut to the proper proportion of the model, no
matter what size is required.
Attempts have heretofore been made to produce machines for reproducing any
number of lasts that may be required from any given model, but prior to my invention
I am not aware that any machine has been made that will produce lasts of varying
sizes and in proportion according to the sizes required without changing the model,
and the following is a description of a machine suitable for carrying my invention
into effect.
The headstock bed of the machine is made in two parts having a headstock and a
tail stock on each, one set holds the pattern the other set the wood, log, or block,
from which the various properly proportioned sizes of lasts or other forms are to be
cut. These headstock beds or saddles are carried, and slide on an ordinary lathe bed,
on framework, resting or supported by suitable standards. The back and lower part
of the frame carries a longitudinal shaft, having two rocking frames, loose thereon,
one of which carries the plain or dummy pattern wheel, and the other the cutter
wheel. The main driving pulley is on this shaft and by suitable gearing drives
another longitudinal shaft, on the lower front part of the machine carrying a roller
or drum, round which a strap passes to a pulley, which drives the lathe centres. The
latter shaft drives by change or other gearing an auxiliary shaft, which by pulley and
belt, is connected to the traversing screw of the lathe, which screw moves when

page_text: required both headstock beds or saddles of the lathe; the headstock bed which carries
the wood to be cut, being connected to the other headstock bed by link or quadrant
motion as hereafter more fully described.
The traversing screw is provided with two pulleys driven in reverse directions,
either of which may be held to the screw by a sliding clutch operated by a rod,
passing through an eye, fixed on the model headstock bed. The rod is provided with
adjustable collars which when moved by contact with the eye on the travelling bed,
operate the clutch and arrests the travel of the headstock beds.
The rocking frame before mentioned carrying the pattern or dummy wheel, is con-
nected at back to a longitudinal counterbalanced shaft, by connecting rods and cranks
on the said shaft.
The rocking frame carrying the cutter is connected, through a connecting rod, to
a segment or quadrant arm on the longitudinal shaft. On the connecting rod there
is a sliding block which works in the segment slot, and the position of this block is
adjusted and fixed therein by screw or other convenient means.
According to the pattern of last or other form required to be produced, so the
position of the block in the segment slot must be adjusted.
The headstock beds or saddles are connected together by such a segment and sliding
block working in same or they may be connected by a link motion, as follows: The
bolt on which the link turns is fixed to the frame of the machine, underneath the lathe
bed. This link is slotted, in the slot there are two sliding blocks, one of them, the
back block, is fixed to an arm on the pattern or dummy headstock bed or saddle;
the front block is fixed to a vertically adjustable arm on the other headstock bed.
The front and back blocks can pass each other in the slot. The front block being
placed over or to the exact position of the back or fixed block, when thus linked the
two headstock beds travel, an equal distance in a given time, but by changing the
position of the front block, which position is determined by the length required, so
any required length can be obtained, that is, any variation of travel between the two
headstock beds or saddles that may be required to accommodate the difference between
pattern and last or other forms to be cut.
The cutter is driven from a pulley on the swinging frame axis, and can be removed
from the form being cut, by screw, worked by wheel, at the front of the machine.
Machines constructed according to my invention are capable of cutting other forms
than boot and shoe lasts such as boot tree work, and gun stocks and other forms
although it is particularly designed for boot and shoe lasts.
Dated this 17th day of May 1887.
BREWER & SON,
For the Applicant.

page_text: of Boot and Shoe Lasts and other Forms.
I CHARLES WESLEY EVANS of the firm of John Evans and Son, of 18 Old
Compton Street, Soho, in the County of Middlesex, Boot tree, Last and Breeches
tree makers do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to produce machinery capable of working on one
and the same machine any length or style of last and whether slender, medium or
full or mens, womens or childrens sizes as may be required the last being produced
in proportion to, or in other words in proportional symmetry to or from one model
in every respect to that of the model, whether the size required be larger or smaller
than the model, each and every part of the last or other form produced will be cut
to the proper proportion of the model no matter what size is required.
Attempts have heretofore been made to produce machines for reproducing any
number of lasts that may be required from any given model, but prior to my
invention I am not aware that any machine has been made that will produce lasts of
varying sizes and in proportion or symmetrical in contour according to the sizes
required without changing the model, and the following is a description of a machine
suitable for carrying my invention into effect.
The headstock bed of the machine is made in two parts having a headstock and
a tail stock on each, one set holds the pattern, the other set the wood log or block
from which the various properly proportioned sizes of lasts and other forms are to
be cut. These headstock beds or saddles are carried and slide on an ordinary lathe
bed or framework resting or supported by suitable standards. The back and lower
part of the frame carries a longitudinal shaft having two rocking frames loose
thereon, one of which carries the plain or dummy pattern wheel and the other the
cutter wheel. The main driving pulley is on this shaft and by suitable gearing
drives another longitudinal shaft on the lower front part of the machine carrying a
roller or drum round which a strap passes to a pulley which drives the lathe centres.
The latter shaft drives by change or other gearing, an auxiliary shaft, which by
pulley and belt is connected to the traversing screw of the lathe, which screw moves,
when required both headstock beds or saddles of the lathe; the headstock bed which
carries the wood to be cut being connected to the other headstock bed by link or
quadrant motion as hereafter more fully described. The traversing screw provided
with two pulleys driven in reverse directions either of which may be held to the
screw by a sliding clutch operated by a rod, passing through an eye fixed on the
model headstock bed. The rod is provided with adjustable collars which when moved
by contact with the eye on the travelling bed operates the clutch and arrests the
ravel of the headstock beds.

page_text: The rocking frame before mentioned carrying the pattern or dummy wheel is
connected at back to a longitudinal counterbalanced shaft by connecting rods and
cranks on the said shaft. The rocking frame carrying the cutter is connected
through a connecting rod to a segment or quadrant arm on the longitudinal shaft.
On the connecting rod there is a sliding block which works in the segment slot and
the position of this block is adjusted and fixed therein by screw or other convenient
means.
According to the patterns of last or other form required to be produced, so the
position of the block in the segment slot must be adjusted. The headstock beds or
saddles are connected together by such a segment and sliding block working in the
same or they may be connected by a link motion as follows: The bolt on which
the link turns is fixed to the frame of the machine underneath the lathe bed. This
link is slotted, in the slot there are two sliding blocks, one of them, the back block
is fixed to an arm on the pattern or dummy headstock bed or saddle the front block is
fixed to a vertical adjustable arm on the other headstock bed. The front and back
blocks can pass each other in the slot. The front block being placed over or to the
exact position of the back or fixed block when thus linked the two headstock beds
travel an equal distance in a given time but by changing the position of the front
block which position is determined by the length required so any required length
can be obtained, that is, any variation of travel between the two headstock beds or
saddles that may be required to accomodate the difference between the pattern and
the last or other forms to be cut.
The cutter is driven from a pulley on the swinging frame axis and can be removed
from the form being cut by screw worked by wheel at the front of the machine.
Machines constructed according to my invention are capable of cutting other
forms than boot and shoe lasts such as boot tree work and gun stocks and other forms
although it is particularly designed for boot and shoe lasts.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the same as applied to a last turning machine of ordinary lathe
type, similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of such a machine shewing my improvements applied
thereto according to my invention. Figure 2 is a vertical cross section shewing the
arrangement of cutter mechanism. Figure 3 is an end view shewing the pattern end
of the machine. Figure 4 is an enlarged part front sectional elevation shewing the
headstocks and connections together with link motion for obtaining a proportional
variation in the travel of the two saddles carrying such headstocks as hereafter
described.
Figure 5 is a borizontal section on the line y of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a
vertical cross section on line y₁of Figure 4. Figure 7 is an enlarged side
elevation shewing the sector arm detached: Figure 8 is a back elevation of same.
Figures, 9 and 10 are diagram views illustrating various positions of the proportional
link motion. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate my improvements as applied to a some-
what modified arrangement of machine from that shewn in the previous figures,
Figure 11 being an elevation of the cutter arrangements, and Figure 12 an elevation
of the pattern wheel arrangement so much of the machine is shewn as will be
necessary to understand and carry out the application of my invention thereto..
Figures 13 and 14 shew another somewhat modified arrangement for the dummy
and cutter wheel mechanism Figure 13 shewing wheel, and Figure 14 the cutter
wheel.
Figures 15 and 16 show in end elevation another modification for the dummy and
cutter wheel mechanism, Figure 15 showing the dummy, and Figure 16 the cutter
wheel.
Refering more particularly to Figures 1 to 10 a, a¹ are the headstock beds or
saddles of the lathe; b, b' are the headstocks; c, c¹ the tail stocks; d is the lathe
bed; d¹ the framework; and d² the standards; e is the back longitudinal shaft ;
ff are the rocking frames-g is the dummy pattern wheel keyed on to shaft g¹
running in bearings on the rock frame f¹; and h is the cutter wheel on the rock

page_text: frame (Fig. 2) and h¹ are the cutters thereon; i, are the fast and loose main
driving pulleys on the shaft Figs. 2 and 3; k is the front longitudinal shaft,
and ee ee are the gear wheels connecting the front shaft k and the back shaft e;
is the roller and drum on the shaft k which by the strap k¹, drives the lathe
centres; m Figures 2 and 4 is the traversing screw of the lathe; m² m² and m² m² are the
pulleys and belts connecting the traversing screw m with the shaft k; n is the clutch for
connecting either of the pulleys m' to the traversing screw m as may be required; o is
the rod for operating the clutch n; o', o' are the adjustable collars; o' is the eye on the
sliding saddle; o is the rock shaft; o, o' the arms on the rock shaft o³, by which
motion is transmitted from to clutch n; p is the longitudinal counter balanced
shaft; p¹ Fig. 3 the crank, and p' the connecting rod for connecting rocking frame f¹
to the shaft p; q is the segment or quadrant arm; q' is the connecting rod from the
segment arm to the rocking frame f; q² is the sliding block in the segment slot q* of
the quadrant arm q; q' is the adjusting screw, s Figs. 1, 4 and 6 is the slotted link
forming part of the proportional motion connecting the two sliding saddles a, a'; s¹ is
the bolt in the bed d of the machine on which the links swings; ³ ³ best seen at
Figure 6 are the two sliding blocks in the slot of the link 8; s is an arm fixed at one
end to the pattern bed or saddle a' and at the other to the block; t is the vertically
adjustable arm on the sliding saddle a to which arm the block is fixed; u Figs. 1
and 2 is the pulley on the shafte which by belt u¹ drives the cutter wheel axle h²
by pulley thereon. v is the screw, and the hand wheel for removing the swing
frame from the form to be cut.
i
The two headstock centres having bearings on the sliding beds or saddles a, a¹ are
carried by a shaft bbdivided between the saddles the division being steadied by a
dowel; is a bevel wheel on the part 62 of the shaft and 6 a like bevel wheel on the
part 6; 6 is a bevel wheel on a stud axle from the bearing block 61× on the saddle a¹;
7 is a clutch block on the shaft 63 and is provided with a feather by which the two
parts of the shaft 63, 63 may be connected together 68 is a pulley on the shaft 6* driven
by the belt k¹ from the drum before mentioned; w, w Fig. 1 are sleeve pieces round
the shaft e on which the frames ff' rock.
A pattern to which the required form is to be cut having been fitted between the
centres bc of the saddle a¹ and a block from which the required form is to be
produced corresponding symmetrically to the said pattern having been placed or fitted
between the centres b, c of the saddle a the position of the parts of the machine are
then to be adjusted so as to cause the beds a and a¹ to move with speeds in accordance
and in proportion to the difference in length of the last required to be produced from
the pattern; for example if the pattern is eleven inches long and it is required to
produce a last 12 inches long, then when the links is in a vertical position as shown
at Fig. 4 the arm t can be brought down to the position required in the slot, for example
into the position shewn at Figure 4 by the dotted lines by turning the hand wheel t¹
operating a screw t working in a fixed nut in the bracket or frame depending from
the saddle a best seen at Figure 5, and by the collar t' on the screw t³ thus raising or
lowering the slide t³ (sliding in frame to fixed to the saddle a) to which the arm t
is fixed. The arm is shewn at Figure 4 by dotted lines as having been lowered and
at Figure 10 the saddles are shewn as having been traversed and that during such
motion the saddle a has gained on the saddle a' therefore the formin produced on the
saddle a would be longer than that produced on the saddle a². A scale should be
provided on the links or on the slide to shew the workman the point to which
he should bring the blocks to suit the proportionate length of form required. By
raising the block in the slot of the links instead of lowering same the form to be
produced would be shorter in length than the pattern and by allowing the blocks s³,
to remain opposite to one another as shewn at Figure 4 the saddles a, a' would move
at equal speeds and reproduce forms of equal length to that of the pattern and as
shewn by the diagram view, Fig. 9. The segment arm which is to regulate the width
and thicknesses of the form to be produced in order that such form should be
symmetrically proportionate to the pattern in every respect, is then adjusted.
Supposing the size required to be produced is to be larger than the pattern
83
move

page_text: the block o' by means of the screw q' upwards in the slot q* to a greater distance from
the centre of the shaft p than the length of the arm pl. By lowering the block q'
in the slot q a smaller form will be produced or by moving the block 9 to the same
distance from the centre of the shaft p as the arm p' a form with the same widths and
thicknesses as the pattern would be produced. A scale and index x is provided as
shewn at Figure 8 carried by the shaft p and a pointer 9° on the moving block q
indicates the height to which the block should be moved for the required size. The
parts of the machine having been thus adjusted the machine is set in motion, that is
the main driving belt is thrown on to the fast pulley the machine being thus started
from the prime mover whether that be steam or other power or hand; the shaft e is
rotated which through pulley u belt u¹ pulley h³ drives the shaft h' on the rock
frame Fig. 2 on which the cutter wheel h is carried, the shaft e through the
gearing e¹, e, e, et drives the shaft k roller land by band k¹ the pulley 6" and shaft 6
carrying the bevel wheel 65.
Supposing the two parts of the shaft 2 and 6 to be disconnected from one another
which would be caused by the clutch b' having been moved to the left hand and the
bevil wheel b* being thrown in gear with the bevil wheels 60 and 6, then the shaft b
would be driven by means of this bevil gearing in the opposite direction to the
shaft 63 and by this means the block from which the form is to be produced would be
driven in a reverse direction to that of the pattern and in this way a forin reverse
handed to the pattern would be produced. If the bevil wheel 66 is thrown out of gear
with the bevil wheels and 6 and the parts of the shaft 62, 63 connected by sliding in the
feather of the clutch 67 both the form and pattern would revolve in the same direction
and a form would be produced of the same hand as the pattern. The shaft k by
pulleys m², m³ drives the pulleys m², m³ which are driven in reverse directions to one
another and which are both loose on the traversing screw shaft m the direction of the
motion of the traversing screw being regulated according to which of the two
pulleys m², m³ is held to the screw shaft m by the clutch n. This clutch n is actuated
automatically by the motion of the saddle a through a tappet action o¹, o³, o³,
and o³.
The block from which the form is to be cut by the revolving cutters / now rotating
as well as the pattern against which the dummy wheel g rests and at same speed this
pattern causes the pattern wheel to be rotated and its position to be regulated in
accordance with the shape of the pattern the variations of the shape of such pattern
imparting through the wheel g a rocking motion to the frame f¹ which through
connecting rod p³, crank pl communicates a more or less rocking motion to the
shaft
all according to the inequalities in width or thickness of the pattern which is
being both traversed and rotated against the edge of the dummy wheel. The rocking
motion of the shaft p is (through segment arm 9 connecting rod q' and rocking
frame f) holding the rotating cutters h¹ at the required distance from the lathe
centres in which the block is turning so as to cut off the necessary material from the
block in order to reproduce the form in the symmetrical proportion required. By
this arrangement of mechanism I am enabled to obtain greater or less variations in
the width or thickness of the last produced from one pattern; that is the different
widths or thicknesses of the produced last may be caused to be enlarged or reduced in
a varying ratio to the different widths or thicknesses of the pattern.
This especially in last work is of great importance as I am enabled to thus
maintain a symmetry of form which has not been heretofore accomplished automatically
by machinery. When I use the double quadrant motion instead of the link and the
single quadrant motion, instead of the block from which the form is to be cut being
carried in lathe centres, it may conveniently be carried in a travelling frame and
alongside one another such a travelling frame y is indicated at Figures 11 and 12.
In this case the pattern may be revolved as before described with reference to
Figure 1 by means of a roller I, belt k¹ and pulley 6 or it may be caused to revolve in
any other convenient and suitable manner according to circumstances. The centres b, c
Fig. 11 carrying the block receive motion from the centres 61, c¹ Figure 12 carrying
the pattern by gearing enclosed in travelling frame y but not shewn in the drawing.

page_text: The connecting rod 91, Figure 12 of the segment motion for governing the relative
lengths of pattern and form, is jointed to the bed y at one end and at the other to the
segment q Fig. 12 by means of the arm q* and of which it may form a part. The
segment q is also connected to the dummy wheel shaft g¹ by connecting rod q¹× while
it the segment is centred at p as before shewn at Figure 2 and carried by a similar
bracket p* coming from the main frame of the machine, the segment q being in this
case centred at the centre of the length of the slot q.
.
The rock frames f f¹ instead of being vertical are horizontal and are free to rock
about the centres e. The dummy wheel shaft g' and the cutter wheel shaft h³ pass
lengthwise through the rocking frames the shaft g¹ being prevented from turning but
allowed an endway motion by a feather and groove and the shaft /² being provided
with bearings in its frame and rotated by pulley * Fig. 11 or in any other convenient
manner. The distancing from the lathe centres of the cutter wheel proportionally to
the dummy wheel is produced by a segment q Figure 11 and parts connected therewith
similar to the arrangement shewn at Figures 2 and 3 and the same or corresponding
parts are marked with similar letters of reference. Supposing a shorter form than
the pattern is to be produced the block Figure 12 is moved upwards in the
segment 9 of the mechanism governing the endway motion of the dummy wheel, to
the required position above the fixed centre on which the segment turns, and which
positions should be indicated as before by an index; this movement will cause the
dummy wheel shaft g¹ to have a motion imparted to it by the connecting rod ql length-
wise of the pattern but the cutter wheel having no such motion the dummy wheel will
travel or traverse over a greater length or distance than the cutter wheel and therefore
a shorter form will be cut than the pattern.
By lowering block below the centre of the slot an opposite result would take
place and so on for the intermediate positions except when the block g coincides with
the fixed centre on which the segment turns when both the cutter and dummy wheel
will each revolve in the same plane and forms of equal length will be produced.
The adjusting of the segment mechanism for governing the variations in width or
thickness of the forms to be produced and as shewn at Figs. 11 and 12 is precisely
similar to that before described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
In the arrangement shewn at Figures 13 and 14 the connections between the
dummy wheel carried by the rocking frame f¹ and the shaft p is similar to that
described with reference to Fig. 3. The connections between cutter wheel h carried
by rocking frame f and the shaft p are composed of connecting rod q¹ which is
provided with a slide or extension action with set screw as shewn by figure 14; the
end of the connecting rod being jointed to the block q' in the slot q' of the arm q,
which slot in this case is straight instead of being curved as in the previous figures,
the slide or extension action of the connecting rod allowing of its being lengthened or
shortened as the block is raised or lowered in the slot q and after adjustment the said
slide is fixed by means of the set screw; the dotted lines in Fig. 14 indicate the
position of the dummy wheel and connections. In the arrangement shewn at Figures
15 and 16 the frame 1 carrying the dummy wheel g is provided with an arm p² fixed
at a right angle therewith the other end of the arm p² being forked and bearing on
trunnions on a sliding block pix on the arm p¹ keyed to the rock shaft p. As the
dummy frame f¹ is rocked its varying inclination will cause the shaft p to receive a
rocking motion and the block plx will have a slight sliding motion on the arm p².
This rocking motion of the shaft p is communicated to an arm q on the said shaft,
provided with a sliding block qx which by trunnion bearings is connected to an arm g¹
which is adjustable in height in a slotted link q² fixed to the cutter frame f. The
dotted lines on Figure 16 indicate the position occupied by the dummy wheel and
connections.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :
First In machinery for the manufacture of boot and shoe lasts and other forms,

page_text: the production or manufacture of such forms, in proportion to or in proportional
symmetry to, a given model, and whether the size of the form required to be produced
be larger or smaller than the model substantially as herein before described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
:
Second The link motion mechanisms s¹² ² s' and t and parts connected there-
with for obtaining the required proportional variation in the motion of the saddles
carrying headstocks to produce the proportional symmetry required substantially as.
described and illustrated with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10'of the accom-
panying drawings.
Third: The sector arm mechanism 99' 9' 9' 9' and the parts connected therewith
constructed arranged and acting substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated with particular reference to Figures 2, 7 and 8 of the accom-
panying drawings.
Fourth The construction and arrangement of mechanism or machine for the
manufacture of boot and shoe lasts and other forms in proportional symmetry to or
from one model substantially as shewn and described with reference to Figures 11
and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth The dummy and cutter wheel mechanism constructed arranged and acting
substantially as shewn and described with reference to Figures 13 and 14 of the
accompanying drawings.
:
Sixth The dummy and cutter wheel mechanism constructed arranged and acting
substantially as shewn and described, with reference to Figures 15 and 16 of the
accompanying drawings.
Seventh The general arrangement and combination of machinery and parts of
same for manufacture of boot and shoe lasts and other forms whereby the same are
produced larger or smaller than, and in proportional symmetry to, a given model
substantially as shewn and described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings together with any mere modification or modifications thereof.