Year: 1898

page_text: I, JOHN ORR WALLACE, Myrtlefield Park, Balmoral, Belfast, Broker, do hereby
leclare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is to further improve the lasts or trees for
boots and shoes, and to adapt my improvements for the purpose of drying the
boots and shoes, and to preserve the leather, and thus prepare it more quickly
for being polished. To effect this I make my lasts or trees of a hollow form to
contain warm water, and make them either of tin, brass, copper, zinc, iron, steel,
wood, earthenware, or any combination of metals or other material or substance
suitable or convenient, having a tap, lid, screw, cork, or other appliance properly
fitted to retain or drain the liquid as required. The outer surface of the lasts
or trees can be formed smooth or corrugated on tops or soles as required.
natal this Muranter aith dar of March 1808
I, JOHN ORR WALLACE, of Myrtlefield Park, Balmoral, Belfast, Broker, 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:
According to this invention a hollow vessel in the form of a boot or shoe tree
is formed with an aperture, through which it can be charged with hot liquid,
and with external corrugations that extend along the sole, sides and top of the
foot portion and, in the case of a boot tree, up the leg portion of the tree so
that, if the tree be charged with hot liquid and inserted into a damp boot or shoe,
it will be dried and warmed, vapour driven off escaping from the boot through
the air channels formed by the corrugations.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of means according to this invention for drying boots
or shoes, and
Figs. 2 and 3 are sections thereof on the lines a a and b 6 respectively of
Fig. 1.
I is a hollow vessel in the form of a boot tree constructed of sheet metal pressed
to form; it is formed with corrugations as shown. The top of the vessel is
formed with a charging aperture 2 that is closed by a screw stopper 3.

page_text: As will be understood, on the vessel 1 being charged with hot liquid and
inserted into a boot or shoe, the vapour produced inside the boot or shoe by the
heat will pass to the atmosphere by way of the air channels formed by the corruga-
tions on the vessel 1, thereby facilitating the rapid drying of the boot without
detrimentally affecting the material of which it is made.
The vessel 1 may be made without a leg portion if it is intended for drying
shoes only and, if preferred, corrugations may be arranged somewhat differently
to those shown provided they be so arranged as to conduct the vapour to the
atmosphere.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The improved lasts or trees for boots and shoes comprising a hollow vessel
adapted to be charged with hot liquid and formed with external corrugations
whereby vapour may escape from the boot or shoe during warming or drying as
described and shown.
this 28th day of December 1898.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.