IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOES FOR HORSES AND OTHER BEASTS OF BURDEN
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Henry Baker, of 35 St. Thomas's Street, Southwark,
in the County of Surrey, Executor of Alexander Laird, of 5 Edward Street,
Barking Road, in the county of Essex, deceased, and Thomas Wilson, of
33 St. Thomas's Street, Southwark, in the County of Surrey, for an Invention
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Laird and
Thomas Wilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
19th July 1882.
ALEXANDER LAIRD, of 5 Edward Street, Barking Road, in the County of Essex,
and THOMAS WILSON, of 35 St Thomas's Street, Southwark, in the County of
Surrey, "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOES FOR HORSES AND OTHER BEASTS OF
BURDEN
"
The object of our invention is to provide a shoe for covering the hoofs of horses
or other beasts of burden which shall possess the following advantages
1st. Of being securely fixed in position on the hoof without the use of nails, and
capable of being readily withdrawn for repairs, or when required to be replaced by
new shoes.
2nd. Of always presenting a treading surface to the ground which will not wear
smooth and will consequently afford a sure foothold, and which may readily be
renewed when worn without necessitating the replacing of the shoes themselves.
3rd. Of permitting the free play or natural contraction and expansion of the
hoof as the animal treads on the ground.
The body of the shoe, or shoe proper, is made of any suitable metal, preferably
cast to the form of the underside of the hoof, and forming a rim of suitable
thickness following the contour of the outer edge of the hoof, the width depending
on the amount of treading surface it may be considered necessary to bring in contact
with the ground.
From the front edge of the shoe body, for any suitable distance, one or more
flanges or tongues extend upwards to any desired height, and are formed at such
an angle as to fit closely against the front of the hoof.

page_text: To the outside of each of the rear or heel ends of the shoe body is secured a
thin plate or strip of any suitable metal (preferably steel) also extending upwards
These plates may
and shaped to fit the rear or heel of the hoof approximately.
be secured to the body of the shoe either by screws passing through the plates and
engaging with screw holes tapped in the edge of the body; or by bolts passing t
right through the plates, and also through the body, and fitted with nuts on the
inner side; or in any other convenient manner.
The upper corners of the plates are turned inwards, forming claws or grips
which by means of a hammer or other implement are forced into the hoof, the
blows or pressure on the plates at the same time causing them to fit closely to the
sides of the hoof. Besides these claws or grips at the corners, small pointed tongues
may be formed at any suitable points on the plates, either by punching or forcing
portions of the metal inwards, or in any other suitable manner, such pointed tongues
being forced into the hoof by the hammer or other implement; or instead of these
pointed tongues the inner surface of the plate may be roughened so as to grip the
sides of the hoof.
The shoe body, or shoe proper, will thus be securely attached to the hoof and
may be readily removed by simply detaching the plates at the rear or heel ends.
In the underside of the shoe body any suitable number of recesses or cells of any
suitable shape are formed, a certain thickness of metal being left between the
bottom of each recess or cell and the top of the shoe body.
'
It will be readily understood that instead of casting the shoe body, or shoe
proper, it may be forged, stamped, or otherwise formed in the manner found most
convenient, the metal plates at the rear or heel ends being secured thereto as
described.
The recesses or cells above described are intended to receive the treading surface
of the shoe, which consists preferably of blocks of hard wood (but which may be
formed of any suitable material that will not wear smooth and present a polished
surface to the ground), shaped to fit the recesses or cells, and preferably subjected
to pressure in dies or moulds, so as to compress the fibre and form a good firm
and yet somewhat rough tread to be brought in contact with the ground.
.
These blocks are forced into the recesses or cells in which they fit tightly, and
if necessary they may be still further secured by screws passing from the top of
the shoe body, through the metal above the recesses or cells, and screwing into the
blocks, the heads of the screws being countersunk in the metal.
If desired the edges of the recesses or cells may be undercut so that the blocks
may swell out at the top under the force of the blows when they are brought in
contact with the ground, and so form a kind of dovetail affording still greater
security against their shifting or coming out of the recesses or cells.
Instead of forming recesses or shells in the underside of the shoe body a number
of tongues or clips projecting downwards may be provided, and each block placed
between two of them, which are then turned over so as to retain the same in
position, the blocks being shaped so that the action of striking the ground constantly
tends to force them more closely against the tongues or clips.
The tread of wood or other suitable material is the only portion of the shoe
which is brought into contact with the ground, and when the blocks become worn
out the shoe is removed from the hoof of the animal, and the old blocks forced
out and replaced by new ones, the shoe being then again secured in position on the
hoof.
Roughing studs or spikes can be readily screwed into the blocks to prevent th
animal slipning in frosty weather, and easily removed when not required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Thomas Henry Baker,
executor of Alexander Laird, deceased, and Thomas Wilson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 13th February 1883.
THOMAS HENRY BAKER, of 35 St Thomas's Street, Southwark, in the County of
Surrey, Executor of ALEXANDER LAIRD, of 5 Edward Street, Barking Roadd, in
the County of Essex, deceased, and THOMAS WILSON, of 35 St Thomas's Street,
Southwark in the County of Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOES FOR HORSES AND
OTHER BEASTS OF BURDEN "
The object of our Invention is to provide a shoe for covering the hoofs of horses
or other beasts of burden which shall possess the following advantages
1. Of being securely fixed in position on the hoof without the use of nails, and
capable of being readily withdrawn for repairs, or when required to be replaced by
new shoes.
2nd Of always presenting a treading surface to the ground which will not wear
smooth and will consequently afford a sure foothold, and which may readily be
renewed when worn, without necessitating the replacing of the shoes themselves.
3rd. Of permitting the free play or natural contraction and expansion of the hoof
as the animal treads on the ground.
The body of the shoe, or shoe proper, is made of any suitable metal, preferably
cast to the form of the underside of the hoof, and forming a ring of suitable
thickness following the contour of the outer edge of the hoof, the width depending
on the amount of treading surface it may be considered necessary to bring in
contact with the ground.
From the front edge of the shoe body, for any suitable distance, one or more
flanges or tongues extend upwards to any desired height, and are formed at such
an angle as to fit closely against the front of the hoof.
To the outside of each of the rear or heel ends of the shoe body is secured a
thin plate or strip of any suitable metal (preferably steel) also extending upwards
and shaped to fit the rear or heel of the hoof approximately-These plates may
be secured to the body of the shoe either by screws passing through the plates and
engaging with screw holes tapped in the edge of the body; or by bolts passing
right through the plates, and also through the body, and fitted with nuts on the
inner side; or in any other convenient manner.
The upper corners of the plates are turned inwards, forming claws or grips which
by means of a hammer or other implement are forced into the hoof, the blows or
pressure on the plates at the same time causing them to fit closely to the sides of
the hoof. Besides these claws or grips at the corners, small pointed tongues may
be formed at any suitable points on the plates, either by punching or forcing
portions of the metal inwards, or in any other suitable manner, such pointed tongues
being forced into the hoof by the hammer or other implement; or instead of the
pointed tongues the inner surface of the plates may be roughened so as to grip the
sides of the hoof.
The shoe body, or shoe proper, will thus be securely attached to the hoof and
may be readily removed by simply detaching the plates at the rear or heel ends.
In the underside of the shoe body any suitable number of recesses or cells of
any suitable shape are formed, a certain thickness of metal being left between the
bottom of each recess or cell and the top of the shoe body.
It will be readily understood that instead of casting the shoe body, or shoe
proper, it may be forged, stamped, or otherwise formed in the manner found most

page_text: convenient, the metal plates at the rear or heel ends being secured thereto as
described.
The recesses or cells above described are intended to receive the treading surface
of the shoe, which consists preferably of blocks of hard wood (but which may be
formed of any suitable material that will not wear smooth and present a polished 5
surface to the ground), shaped to fit the recesses or cells, and preferably subjected
to pressure in dies or moulds, so as to compress the fibre and form a good firm and
yet somewhat rough trend to be brought in contact with the ground.
These blocks are forced into the recesses or cells in which they fit tightly, and
if necessary they may be still further secured by screws passing from the top of the 1
shoe body, through the metal above the recesses or cells, and screwing into the
blocks, the heads of the screws being countersunk in the metal.
If desired the edges of the recesses or cells may be under cut so that the blocks
may swell out at the top under the force of the blows when they are brought in
contact with the ground, and so form a kind of dovetail affording still greater
security against their shifting or coming out of the recesses or cells.
.. Instead of forming recesses or cells in the underside of the shoe body a number
of tongues or clips projecting downwards may be provided, and each block placed
between two of them, which are then turned over so as to retain the same in
position, the blocks being shaped so that the action of striking the ground constantly
tends to force them more closely against the tongues or clips.
The tread of wood or other suitable material is the only portion of the shoe
which is brought into contact with the ground, and when the blocks become worn
out the shoe is removed from the hoof of the animal, and the old blocks forced
out and replaced by new ones, the shoe being then again secured in position on the
hoof.
"
Roughing studs or spikes can be readily screwed into the blocks to prevent the
animal slipping in frosty weather, and easily removed when not required.
But in order that the Invention may be fully understood we will now proceed
to describe the same by the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig 1 is a side elevation of the improved shoe attached to a horse's hoof, Fig 2 is
a vertical section, and Fig 3 a plan view of the top side of the same.
A is the body of the shoe, or shoe proper, at the front edge of which the flange
or tongue B projects upwards to any desired height, and at such an angle as to fit
closely against the front of the hoof.
To the outside of each of the rear or heel ends of the body A is secured a thin
plate or strip C of any suitable metal (preferably steel), which also extend upwards
and are shaped to fit the rear or heel of the hoof approximately. The bolts D
secure these plates or strips C in position on the body A.
The upper corners c, c, of the strips or plates C are turned inwards, forming
claws or grips which enter the hoof when the strips or plates are by any suitable
pressure caused to fit closely to the sides of the hoof. If desired the plates or
strips C may also be provided with small pointed tongues, at suitable positions on
their inner surfaces, or the whole of such inner surfaces may be roughened, so as to
grip the sides of the hoof.
The shoe is thus firmly secured to the hoof and may be readily removed by
simply detaching the strips or plates C.
In the underside of the body A recesses or cells are formed, a suitable thickness
of metal a being left between the bottom of each recess or cell and the top of the
body. Into these recesses or cells blocks E (preferably of hard wood) are forced,
and form the tread of the shoe, such blocks if necessary being secured in the
recesses or cells by means of the screws F. The edges of the recesses or cells are
shown undercut so as to allow the tops of the blocks E to swell out and form a
dovetail, whereby they are more effectually prevented from shifting or coming out.
When the tread becomes worn, the shoe is removed and the old blocks forced out
and replaced by new ones.
Fig 4 is a vertical section, Fig 5 a side elevation, and Fig 6 a plan view of the

page_text: top side of a modification of the improved shoe, in which the strips or plates at
the heel end of the shoe body A, are replaced by the metallic claws G, the bottom
part of each of which is let into a groove or recess formed in the edge of the
body A, while the top end projects upwards and is fitted on its inner surface with
sharp pointed tongues g, which are caused to enter the hoof when the top ends of
the claws are forced inwards to fit closely to the hoof.
The claws G are secured to the body A by screws H which also serve to secure
the blocks E in the recesses or cells.
The front flange or tongue B is also shown as being secured to the body A by
means of a screw I (in the same manner as the claws G) instead of being made in
one piece with the body, and is further fitted with a pointed projection b, which
enters the front of the hoof when the top of the flange or tongue B is forced
inwards to cause it to fit the front of the hoof.
In Fig 4 the claws G and the flange or tongue B are shown in the position they
occupy before being forced inwards, whilst in Fig 5 they are represented as they
appear when forced inwards to fit the hoof.
If desired the portions of the hoof with which the claws G and the tongue B.
come in contact may be recessed or cut away to allow the latter to bed in the hoof,
and so secure the shoe more firmly in position.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, what it is desired to claim is:-
The improved shoe for horses and other beasts of burden, so constructed as to
be capable of being secured to the hoofs of such animals without the use of nails,
and so as to be readily removable therefrom, the treading surface of such shoes
consisting of blocks of hard wood, or other suitable material which will not wear
smooth, and which can be easily renewed when worn out and replaced by fresh
blocks, all substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings.
In witness whereof, we the said Thomas Henry Baker and Thomas Wilson
have hereunto set our hands and seals this thirteenth day of February in
the year of our Lord 1883
TH BAKER
(L.S.)
THOS WILSON (L.S.)