IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES AND BOOTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Stephens Clark, of Street, in the County of
Somerset, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
SHOES AND BOOTS."
Sealed the 18th November 1879, and dated the 29th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Stephens Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1879.
WILLIAM STEPHENS CLARK, of Street, in the County of Somerset.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES AND BOOTS."
" IMPROVE-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the inanufacture of shoes and
boots.
In manufacturing shoes and boots, and especially the light shoes known as
slippers, I use for the outer sole artificial leather or leather board in place of sole
leather, and I prefer for that purpose the Patent waterproofed leather board manu-
factured at Street, Somerset, by Clark and Hardy.
I cut out a sole from this board of the required shape, and sew it to the upper
and inner sole or upper only with a sewing machine.
To protect the stitches from wear I first cut a groove in the outside surface of
the sole a short distance from the edge in which the stitches may lie, so that the
top of the stitch may not rise above the surface of the sole.
After the sole is sewn on, the boot or slipper does not require any further labour
in finishing, as in the case of a leather sole; still, if preferred, it may be blacked and
varnished or have other ornamentation applied.
I also use in manufacturing strong machine sewn boots or shoes, whether made
with a sole of this leather board or with an ordinary leather sole, a thin insole of
waterproofed leather board between the ordinary leather insole and the outersole.
In lasting the boot the upper is lasted on the waterproofed leather board insole
only. After the last is taken out and before the boot is sewn a thin leather insole
is pasted over the leather board insole, thus covering all the points of the lasting
tacks which are found objectionable in the wear of machine sewn boots. The
waterproof insole answers the further purpose of protecting the foot from damp.

page_text: To give greater solidity to the boots or shoes they are sewn with a double seam.
The first row of stitching f, f, secures the middle sole only, and when the outer sole
has been worn through it still remains intact, thus affording the greatest facility
for re-soling in a solid and substantial manner.
The second row e, e, is through both the outer and middle soles.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The manufacture of slippers and light shoes and boots with an outer sole
of artificial leather or waterproof leather board, substantially as described in respect
to Figures 1 and 2.
Second. The manufacture of shoes and boots with an insole of waterproof leather
board under the ordinary leather insole, the upper being lasted to the leather board
only and the ordinary leather insole being secured over it by the sewing, sub-
stantially as described in respect to Figure 3.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Stephens Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM STEPHENS CLARK. (L.S.)