Improvements in
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in 5334
3333
Repairing Boots and Shoes, and in Supports therefor.
I, JOHN BLAKEY, of 41 and 42 Lady Lane, Leeds, in the County of York, Boot and
Shoe Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed to provide a simple, inexpensive, and portable apparatus
for treeing boots and shoes, which can readily be converted when required into a last
for holding the same articles during repairing and other operations; and it consists
of a vertical metal stand or upright provided with a base plate for screwing, cramping
or otherwise fixing it to a table, bench, or other suitable support. In this upright is
or are provided so as to pass horizontally through it one or more (preferably two)
holes. In these holes is fitted so as to slide freely a horizontal bar provided at one
end with an axial bearing in which is inserted and held so as to revolve freely the
end or slank of the hoot supporting or attaching piece. On the end of the supporting
or attaching piece opposite to the shank is arranged a last preferably made in two
portions- heel and a sole portion-for adjusting or regulating it to the varying
sizes of boots and shoes. For this purpose the heel portion of the last may be hinged
or pivotted at a suitable distance from the sole to the supporting or attaching piece,
and an adjusting screw and spring may be employed for regulating or adapting the
last to the size of the boot or shoe being operated upon. In order to ensure these
two parts working accurately together a tongue or projection may be formed on one
of the pieces and made to pass into a slot or groove formed in the opposite piece so
that when the two portions are drawn or radiated asunder by the action of the
adjusting screw the tongue will assist in keeping them steady and in a line with
each other.
For treeing boots and shoes the horizontal bar may be placed in the upper hole in
the vertical upright, and the boot supporting or attaching piece having been inserted
and fixed in position in the axial bearing (pendant like) with the sole of the last
downwards is ready for receiving the boot or shoe. But when it is desired to employ
the apparatus as a last for repairing boots and shoes, fixing protectors, clenching or
turning the points of nails, rivets, or the like, or for other similar operations the

page_text: horizontal bar may be placed in the lower hole, and the position of the supporting or
attaching piece reversed to allow of the sole of the last being uppermost and for the
toe portion or instep to rest upon the top of the vertical upright. By fixing the
supporting or attaching piece in an axial bearing I am able to turn the boot or shoe
in any desired position during either operation.
In some cases when it is only desired to use the apparatus as a last the vertical
upright may be shaped to form the heel portion of the last and a dovetail groove or
hole may be formed therein for receiving a dovetail or long projecting tongue formed
on or attached to the sole portion of the last; by this means a sole portion of the
required length can easily be attached to the heel. The holes in the vertical upright
may be round, square, oval, rectangular, or combinations of two of such forms, or in
any other desired or convenient shape, and the horizontal bar and shank of the
supporting or attaching piece may be retained or fixed in their respective positions by
set screws or other convenient devices.
The herein described apparatus can be easily taken to pieces and packed into small
compass for removal purposes, and should any portion thereof get broken it can be
readily replaced at a slight expense.

page_text: Repairing Boots and Shoes, and in Supports therefor.
I, JOHN BLAKEY, of 41 and 42 Lady Lane, Leeds, in the County of York, Boot
and Shoe Manufacturer, 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 :-
This Invention is designed to provide a simple, inexpensive, and portable apparatus
for treeing boots and shoes, that can be readily converted into a stand for repairing
the same articles, and which also can be easily taken to pieces and packed into small
compass for removal purposes. Should any part thereof get broken it can be replaced
at a slight expense.
The apparatus consists of a vertical stand (attached to or mounted upon a base
plate) to which is fixed by set screws in any desired position a borizontal bar supporting
at one end an adjustable last.
In order that the Invention may be more completely understood reference is given
to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus arranged for use as a stand for repairing
boots and shoes.
Fig. 2. an end elevation of same.
Fig. 3. a perspective view showing the stand arranged for treeing and blacking
boots.
Fig. 4. a detail of one of the parts.
Like parts in all the views are marked with similar letters of reference.
A is a vertical stand or upright attached to or mounted upon a base plate a which
may be screwed, cramped, or otherwise fixed to a table, bench, or other suitable
support. In the drawings I have shown the upright and base plate cast together. In
the stand is or are provided one or more (preferably two) rectangular holes a', a².
These holes pass horizontally through the stand as shown at Fig. 1., and are employed
for receiving a horizontal bar B which is provided at one end with an axial bearing b.
Set screws at are provided for fixing or retaining the bar B in any desired position.
In the bearing b is inserted and held (by means of the washer c² and set screw c³)
so as to turn freely, the end or shank c of the boot supporting piece C. At the
end of the supporting piece is arranged or formed a last, preferably made in two
paris (a heel piece c³ and a sole portion c³) for adjusting or regulating it to the
varying sizes of boots and shoes. For this purpose the heel piece is shaped as shown
at Figs. 1 and 4, and it is hinged or pivoted to the supporting piece Cat c. In
order to regulate and keep these two pieces at the required distance apart, a hand
wheel and screw c' is provided, and the screw is made to pass through the end c³ of
the heel piece and through the supporting piece C in which a screw thread is cut so
as to form a nut for the screw c'. A spring c³ is also employed for keeping the heel
piece in contact with the washer c¹ on the screw c².
To ensure the two parts of the last working accurately together a flat tongue or
projecting piece is provided on the heel piece co which works in a slot or groove c¹²
formed to receive it in the sole portion c. When the two portions are drawn or

page_text: radiated asunder by the action of the adjusting screw c', the tongue c" will assist in
keeping the two pieces steady and in a line with each other.
For treeing or blacking boots and shoes the horizontal bar B may be placed in the
upper hole a as shown at Fig. 3. in the vertical upright A, and the boot supporting
or attaching piece C having been inserted and fixed in position in the axial bearing b
(pendant like) with the sole portion of the last C downwards, the last is ready for
receiving the boot or shoe. But when it is desired to use the apparatus as a last or
stand on which to repair boots and shoes, fix protectors, clench or turn the points of
nails, rivets, or the like, or for other similar operations, the horizontal bar B is placed
in the lower hole a² of the stand A, and the position of the supporting or attaching
piece C reversed as shown at Fig. 1. to allow of the sole of the last being upper-
most and the toe portion or instep may rest upon the top of the vertical upright A.
By fixing the supporting piece in an axial bearing the boot or shoe may be turned
in any desired position during any of the above operations.
When it is desired to use the apparatus as a last or repairing stand only, the vertical
upright A may be shaped to form the heel portion of the last, and a dovetail groove
or hole may be made therein for receiving a dovetail or projecting tongue formed
on or attached to the sole portion of the fast. By this means a sole portion of the
required length can easily be attached to the heel.
The holes in the vertical upright may also be made round, square, oval,
hexagonal, or combinations of any two of such forms, or in any other desired or
convenient shape. When so made the horizontal bar is shaped to suit the contour of
the hole.
In conclusion I would have it understood that I am aware prior to my invention,
lasts for boots and shoes have been supported on the end of a vertical stand, I therefore
do not claim such combination brondly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture and use of a stand for treeing or repairing boots and shoes,
such as herein described, consisting of a vertical stand A perforated with one or more
holes for supporting an adjustable horizontal bar B provided at one end with an axial
bearing in which is mounted a supporting piece C having the toe and sole portion
formed at one end, and an adjustable heel piece hinged thereto, as and for the purposes
above set forth.
2. In apparatus, such as herein described, the combination of a divided and hinged
last, such as C, and means for adjusting the same to different sized boots or shoes,
said last being carried by means of a supporting or attaching piece in an axial bearing
formed on the end of a bar, such as B, with a vertical stand, such as A, whereby the
apparatus is adapted to be used either as a hoot tree, or as a stand on which to repair
boots and shoes.
3. The combination of the various parts forming the stand for treeing or repairing
boots and shoes, arranged and constructed substantially as herein set forth and
illustrated.
C
JOHN
BLAKEY.
By W. Fairburn Hart,
1, East Parade, Leeds,
Agent.