A New or Improved Apparatus for Holding Boots and Shoes while being Cleaned and Polished.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
UUMI LEIE I DUIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Holding Boots and Shoes while
being Cleaned and Polished.
I, ARTHUR BROWN, of 580, Mile End Road, Bow, in the County of London, Builder,
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 to enable a person cleaning blacking and polishing
boots and shoes to have both hands at liberty for using brushes instead of having to
hold the boot or shoe being cleaned blacked or polished with one hand as usual.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I will proceed to
explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings in
which:
Fig. 1 represents front view of an apparatus for use when cleaning and polishing
boots or shoes constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is side view of same ready to receive a boot or shoe.
Fig. 3 is side view of same extended to hold a boot or shoe.
Fig. 4 is side view of apparatus with boot in place.
Fig. 5 is side view of apparatus collapsed.
Fig. 6 is plan of apparatus.
Fig. 7 is side view of wedge.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the figs.
a is a piece of wood or other suitable material terminating at the bottom in a
portion 6 adapted to enter the toe of a boot or shoe and distend the front thereof.
c is an inclined plane formed in one with or secured to the piece a. d is a piece
of wood or other suitable material having the lower portion thereof shaped to fit the
heel of a boot or shoe.
The piece d is secured at the top to a board or foundation plate e by means of a
screw (or screws) and lower down by means of stays g h k.
The said stays are sufficiently distant from the foot of the apparatus to allow of a
top or jack boot being placed thereon for cleaning and polishing purposes.
To compel the piece a to maintain a position parallel to the pieced when in use I
attach slotted guides Im on each side of the piece a which guides move on suitable
screws or pins o inserted in the piece d.
Or instead of the slotted guides l m shewn by Fig. 2 I may use strips of metal or
other suitable material n n which move in guides p p see Figs. 3, 4 and 5.
Or I may use any other suitable device such as a parallel motion which will
compel the piece a to move parallel to the piece d. g is an L shaped piece of
metal (or bracket) or of any other suitable material to support the piece a.
r is a wedge of wood or any other suitable material which is inserted between
the pieces a and d when a boot or shoe is placed on the apparatus for cleaning or
polishing so as to hold the same firmly and keep the leather smooth while
polishing.
88 are boxes or trays to hold blacking brushes and other articles used for cleaning
and polishing boots and shoes.

page_text: The apparatus may be fixed to a wall or other convenient support by means of
screws inserted in the holes t.
By means of this apparatus the boot or shoe to be cleaned is held firmly leaving
the operator with both hands free, thereby enabling him to use two brushes for.
polishing purposes whereby time is saved and a better polish obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An apparatus. for holding boots and shoes while being cleaned and polished
consisting of two pieces of wood or other suitable material having the lower portions
thereof shaped to fit the heels and toes of boots and shoes one of the said pieces being
supported by guides and capable of being moved towards or away from the other
parallel thereto, a wedge being placed between the said pieces to enable a boot or
shoe to be firmly held while being cleaned and polished all substantially as specified.
2. In an apparatus for holding boots and shoes while being cleaned and polished
the combination of a piece of wood or other suitable material d secured to a board or
foundation plate e by screws f and stays g h k the lower portion of the said piece
being shaped to fit the heel of a boot or shoe, a piece of wood a having the lower
portion thereof shaped to fit the toe of a boot or shoe, an inclined plane c at the back
of the piece a a bracket g secured to the piece d to support the piece a, guides to
compel the piece a to move parallel to the piece d and a wedge r all substantially as
herein before specified.
3. Apparatus for holding boots and shoes while being cleaned and polished con-
structed as shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 0th dow of Iul 1000
B. J. WILDBORE,
38, Great Tower Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
B. J. WILDBORE,
38, Great Tower Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.