An Improved Last for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Last for Boots and Shoes.
1, EDWIN BOSTOCK, Junior, of E. & F. Bostock's Boot and Shoc Manufactory,
Stafford, in the County of Stafford, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved last for boots and shoes and its object is to
produce a last which can be very readily inserted in and withdrawn from a boot or
shoe without bending or distorting the same, while at the same time the parts of
which the said last is composed are not separated or disconnected from each other.
According to my invention I make a last in two or more articulated parts.
I find that two parts are convenient and usually sufficient for the purpose, viz. -a
toe or front portion and a heel or hind portion, which are permanently connected
by a pivoted joint. One part is thereby enabled to be bent up towards the other
part when the last is to be inserted in or withdrawn from the boot or shoe.
two parts are cut off obliquely and a hinge for example is secured by any suitable
means to the rear inclined face of the toe part and the front inclined face of the
heel part.
The
I prefer that the hinge shall be secured in such a position on the said rear face
of the toe portion of the last, that the pin of the said hinge is a short distance away
from the lower edge of the said face the heel part of the last is then made with two
front faces the lower one of which will come in contact with the lower part of the
rear face of the toe portion of the last so as to ensure that the relative positions of
the two parts of the last shall be the same whenever the last is pushed home in the
boot or shoe.
Although I have herein described a convenient method of carrying out my
invention I wish it clearly understood that I may modify the same in detail
without departing from the nature thereof.
Dated this 20th day of December 1892
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Last for Boots and Shoes.
I, EDWIN BOSTOCK Jr. of E. & F. Bostock's Boot and Shoe Manufactory,
Stafford, in the County of Stafford, Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved last for boots and shoes and has for its
object to provide a last which can be very readily inserted in and withdrawn from
a boot or shoe, without requiring the parts of which the said last is composed to be
separated or disconnected from each other.
According to my invention I make a last in two parts which are permanently
connected together by a hinged or pivoted joint. By reason of this construction
one part of the last can be bent towards the other part and the last can thus be
readily inserted in or withdrawn from the boot or shoe.
My improved last is intended more particularly for use in such processes of boot
and shoe manufacture as do not bring undue strain on the hinge. It is also suitable
as a boot tree for private use or for displaying goods in a shop window.

page_text: In order that my invention may be more easily understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a last
constructed in accordance with my invention.
A is the toe or fore part of the last; B is the heel or hind portion.
The two parts are cut obliquely on their adjoining faces as shown, and are
permanently joined by a hinge C. The last is represented in position in a boot D
indicated in outline by broken lines. When the last is to be withdrawn from the
boot, the heel part is bent upwards as indicated by the broken lines, and the last
can then be very readily removed without bending or distorting the boot. The last
is similarly bent during insertion, and when inserted it is straightened out as shown
by the full lines in which position it forms a very rigid support for the boot.
The hinge C.is preferably secured in such a position on the rear face a of the
part A that the pin c thereof is a short distance away from the lower edge of the
said face. The lower front face of the heel portion of the last then comes in
contact with the lower part of the face a thereby ensuring that the relative positions
of the two parts of the last shall always be the same when the last is pushed home
in the boot or shoe. The part of the face a below the hinge need not necessarily
be in the same plane as the part of said face above the hinge, but in all cases it
makes close contact with the face b when the last is inserted in the boot or shoe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. A last for a boot or shoe consisting of two portions permanently hinged
together so as to be capable of folding, and so constructed that without any other
aid to the parts thereof than is derived from the hinge, the last when stretched
forms a rigid support to the boot or shoe, substantially as described.
2. A last for a boot or shoe constructed substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawing, and operating as, and for the purpose, specified.
Dated this 6th day of Sentember 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.