A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURY OF BOOTS AND SHOES, WHEREBY GREAT EASE IS SECURED TO THE WEARER
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Day, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, for the Invention of "A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT IN THE
MANUFACTURY OF BOOTS AND SHOES, WHEREBY GREAT EASE IS SECURED
TO THE WEARER."
Sealed the 1st September 1853, and dated the 19th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Day at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 19th April 1853.
I, THOMAS DAY, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURY OF BOOTS AND SHOES,
WHEREBY GREAT EASE IS SECURED TO THE WEARER," to be as follows (that
is to say):
My Invention consists in the application to boots and shoes of an
elastic material to that part of the boot or shoe known as the waist,
which may be better defined by further observing that it is that part

page_text: which continues down and back from the front of the boot or shoe to
the sole and back of such boot or shoe, coming or lying below the inner
ankle of the foot.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Day, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 19th October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
THOMAS DAY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of April, A. D.
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Thomas Day, Her special licence that I, the said
Thomas Day, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Day, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES, WHEREBY GREAT EASE IS SECURED TO THE
WEAREE," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Thomas
Day, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 Thomas Day, do hereby de-
clare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say):

page_text: or
My Invention consists in the application to boots and shoes, for both
sexes and all ages, of an elastic material well known in the trade by the
name of elastic, which elastic material or fabric may be made as
follows: Threads prepared of caoutchouc or indian-rubber of suitable
size and thickness are laid parallel and at equal distance between
thin leather or other suitable material; and, at the same time as they
are being secured between the leather other material, by stiching
or otherwise, the threads are strained out; and when the operation is
complete, and they are liberated, they will cause the leather or covering
material to contract and remain in fine gathers. And of such material,
so prepared and cut into a suitable shape, I apply to that part of boots
or shoes known as the waist, and which material may either be applied
on both sides of the boot or shoe, as the wearer may require, but
I believe on one side will be found sufficient, and in that case I prefer
the inner waist, as it will than be more out of sight. The mode of
applying the clastic material or fabric may be varied according to the
judgement or taste of the workmen; but I have found the following
plan to answer well, (that is,) to secure it at the bottom, between the
welt and inner sole for gentlemen's wear, and between the inner and
outer sole for ladies', and above by neatly stiching to the front and back,
be the material what it may. I may observe that this Invention is
more applicable to boots than to shoes, unless the shoes are required
to come high over the instep. The drawings hereunto annexed will best
show the position of the elastic before mentioned.
Have made three drawings, a Wellington boot, Fig. 1: a gentleman's
cloth boot, Fig. 2; and a ladies' boot, Fig. 3; and in each case have
defined the part which is to be clastic by colouring it red; and I believe
the form here shown to be the best for securing the object, (viz.)
facility in putting on, and ease and comfort in wearing; to which I may
add, that the fit and appearance is much improved.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same may be performed, I wish it to be under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the elastic material herein
described, or to the manner of applying the same; but what I do claim

page_text: is the application to that part of boots and shoes known as the waist,
of an elastic material, whether outside or inside, as shown by the
drawings, without any regard to the exact material of which the elastic
may be composed, or to the manner of applying the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Day, have heretofore set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of September, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
THOMAS DAY. (L.S.)