IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOE TIPS."
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOE TIPS."-A communication from abroad
by Anthony Pollok, of Washington, District of Columbia, United
States of America.
Sealed the 19th June 1874, and dated the 19th January 1874.
5 TO ALL TO WHOM, I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.

page_text: executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn Declaration that the said Invention
is communicated to me from abroad by Anthony Pollok, of Washington,
District of Columbia, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the production of a new article of manu-
facture, namely, an enamelled metal shoe tip.
Shoe tips hitherto manufactured and worn, applied to boots and shoes,
have been made almost exclusively of metal. Notwithstanding their
eminent usefulness and economy they have, owing to their metallic and
striking appearance, been but little worn in cities where a more fastidious
taste prevails, or where the metallic tip is apt to be considered as the
badge of poverty.
:
With a view to overcome this prejudice numerous means have here-
tofore been devised and attempted to be applied for making ready made
tips of a material or materials resembling in color and gloss the leather
of which the shoes to which they were to be applied were made, or
simulating Patent leather, of which leather caps are usually made. To
this effect tips have been made of soft vulcanized rubber varnished,
or japanned black, or of hard rubber. The former were too elastic and
slipped off and exposed the toe to wear, while the latter were too brittle
to afford any protection.
It has also been attempted to veneer metal tips with hard rubber, or
to paint or japan them, but all attempts and experiments in this direction
have proved utter failures, because the slightest shock would often
suffice to detach the coat of film, of paint, japan, or rubber veneer, and
expose the metal in spots which produces even a more unsightly effect
than if the whole tip had a plain metal surface.
The object of my Invention therefore is the production as an article
of manufacture of a metal tip with a coat of black or other color

page_text: attached to it with sufficient permanence and adhesiveness to answer all
practical purposes.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer to use tips made of common
sheet iron, being stronger, stiffer, and cheaper than the more finished or
ornamental copper tips. I dip them in sulphuric acid and wash them
well afterwards with water. I then apply by means of a brush to the
portion which is visible when applied to the boot or shoe a coat of
paint or paste-like substance consisting of sand, soda, potash, lead, and-
a small quantity of borax, ingredients which are thoroughly fused and
then ground and mixed together with alcohol. This coat having been
allowed to dry upon them, the tips are then put into a muffle heated to
a dull red. In a few minutes the coat will fuse or melt and form a
smooth glossy covering or enamel over the exposed side of the tip. After
cooling the article is ready for use or for the market.
Tips being applied mostly to children's shoes it is not unimportant to
give the tips a color to correspond with the color of the leather used for
such shoes. Thus a white, blue, red, or other colored enamel can be
applied to the tips.
For a white covering or enamel I add to the ingredients above named,
alumina; for blue I.add to the white oxide of cobalt; for jet black I
prefer to add to the blue oxide of iron. Of course the proportions of
the ingredients may and should be varied according to the toughness.
and adhesiveness desired to be produced, and also according to the
purity of the ingredients as is well known to those acquainted with the
art of enameling.
For my purposes I have found the following proportions will give
good results-Four parts in weight, sand; two parts in weight, oxide
of lead; one part in weight, carbonate soda; one part in weight, borax.
Tips of the character herein described, besides the great advantages
of appearance, have the additional advantage that the edge when coated
with enamel is no longer sharp, and will not cut the leather, a fault in
the ordinary tips which is often complained of.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
the said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be
used or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim is, the manufac-

page_text: ture of enameled metal shoe tips, substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Complete Specification set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth
day of January, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)