Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1889
GEORGE EDWARD BOLSHAW 20 Southbank Road Southport Architect and
Surveyor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is the construction of an apparatus, that will straighten
the sole of Boots and shoes, and remove the unsightly wrinkles made, whilst they have
been in use.
The Boot and Shoe Straightener may be made either entirely of metal, or with a
wooden base, (slightly convex) and metal fittings.
The Boot and Shoe Straightener made entirely of metal, would consist of a plate
of steel, or other metal; about one fourth part of this would be shaped to receive the
heel of the boot, and would be fitted with a sliding slot-grip-bolt (with a wing nut)
and would befso arranged, that it would hold down the heel of the boot or shoe, to
this part of the straightener or stretcher. The other three fourths of the plate would
be made to spring, and the upper side coming in contact with the sole of the boot,
would be of convex shape, this portion would also be fitted with a sliding slot-grip-
bolt, (with a wing nut) so shaped, that when the boot is placed on the straightener,
and the spring drawn up (at the toe,) it would slide and loop on to the sole, at the
boot toe.
The Boot and Shoe Straightener with a wooden base slightly convex, would be
constructed on the same principle as the above, but the sliding slot-grip-bolt at the
toe, would rise through the slot, to loop on to the sole at the toe, and would then be
screwed down to the required position.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the Boot and Shoe Straightener, entirely of
metal, with two ways of fastening at the heel.

page_text: I GEORGE EDWARD BOLSHAW of 20 Southbank Road, Southport in the County
of Lancaster, Architect and Surveyor 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 this invention is the construction of an apparatus which will straighten
the soles of boots and shoes and remove from the upper leather or front of the same the
unsightly wrinkles made whilst they have been in use.
The manner in which my said invention is to be performed or carried into practical
effect will be readily understood on reference to the sheet of drawings hereunto
annexed and the following explanation thereof.
The boot and shoe straightener may be made either entirely of metal or with a
wooden or other rigid base (slightly curved) and metal fittings.
Fig. 1. on the annexed drawings is a plan view, and Fig. 2 an elevation of a boot
and shoe straightener made with a wooden base and metal fittings.
Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of the boot, and shoe straightener made entirely of
metal, and Fig. 5 is an end view of the heel clip. Fig. 6 is a plan view and Fig. 8
an end elevation of a slight modification of the same with an adjustable heel piece for
boots and shoes of different sizes, and Fig. 7 is an elevation showing the application
thereof to a boot.
Referring to Figs. 1. and 2. a is a base made of wood or other suitable rigid
material slightly convex longitudinally, at one end of which is fixed a heel plate b of
metal to receive the heel of the boot or shoe and having a vertical slot in which is
fitted a sliding grip bolt c fixed with a wing nut d and so arranged that it will hold
down the heel of the boot or shoe to this part of the straightener.
Near the other end of the base is fitted in a longitudinal slot e a similar grip bolt f
to hold down the sole at the toe of the boot or shoe.
I prefer to make the base a of a curved form as shown, but it may be stepped to fit
the heel if desired, and when the boot or shoe is placed on the "straightener" and
gripped by the heel, the nut of the front grip bolt f being loosened it is raised up and
caused to slide forward until it grips the front of the sole at the toe, and then by
screwing the winged nut the toe is drawn down and the sole straightened, and at the
same time all the wrinkles will be taken out of the upper leather.
33
When the "straightener is made entirely of metal as shown at Figs. 3 to 8. I
prefer to make the base a of spring steel in which case the toe clip f may slide on the
outside thereof as shown at Figs. 3 and 4, and will not require any screw bolt
or winged nut for fixing the same, or it may work in a slot e as shown at Bigs. 6.
and 7.
The heel clip, b may also be made adjustable with a long screw bolt c¹ so as to
grip the front and back of the heel as shown at Figs. 6. 7 and 8.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what inanner the same is to be performed I declare that I do not wish to
confine myself to any particular form or material for the base nor to any particular
form of toe and heel clip but what I claim is
The construction and use of a boot and shoe straightener with a rigid or spring
base provided with adjustable heel and toe clips substantially as and for the purposes
herein before particularly described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
1000
Daten ems for day or
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.