IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward John Scott, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward John Scott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th June 1878.
EDWARD JOHN SCOTT, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the soles and heels of boots and shoes,
whereby they are rendered equally appropriate for house use, and more durable for
ordinary outdoor wear than those heretofore in use.
The nature and novelty of the Invention consist in the application and use of a
new or improved "tacket," which, instead of having its enlarged head wholly on
the surface of the leather of the boot or shoe sole or heel, is sunk into the leather,
and flush with the wearing surface thereof.
This tacket is made from untempered steel wire, and the head is preferably of a
conical form, tapering or widening outwards from the point, or otherwise, so that it
is easily driven into the leather of the sole or heel until the outer extremity of the
head becomes flush with the wearing surface of the leather.
By this improvement the leather and these new tackets being flush with each
other wear together, and provide a more solid and smooth bearing for the foot than
by the method of tacketing boots and shoes heretofore in use, at the same time by
this method of sinking these new tackets flush with the bearing surface of the
leather, these boots and shoes may be worn with impunity in houses without injury
to carpets or floorcloths, while they have no tendency to slip on pavements or
Causeway stones.
The tackets being made of fine steel wire are far closer in texture, harder, and
more durable than the ordinary iron tackets, and not brittle or liable to cut, as is
the ease with the cast-steel sparables in ordinary use.

page_text: Another improvement consists in fixing the "ply" sole on to the "Jupper 'indepen-
dently, and contrary to the ordinary usage, while the outer sole, into which these
new tackets are driven, is afterwards affixed thereto by sprigging, sewing, pegging,
or otherwise. In this way, when the bearing or wearing parts of the soles of the
boots and shoes become worn out, the outer sole can be entirely removed, and a
new one affixed, as before, without injury to the inner or ply sole, or its sewing or
other fixing.
5
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward John Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
December 1878.
EDWARD JOHN SCOTT, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES."
My said Invention relates to improvements in the soles and heels of boots and
shoes, whereby they are rendered equally appropriate for house use, and more
durable for ordinary outdoor wear than those heretofore in use.
The nature, novelty, and mode of performing or putting my said Invention into
effect or practice consist in the application and use of a new or improved "tacket,"
which (instead of having its enlarged head wholly on or above the surface of the
leather of the boot or shoe sole or heel) is sunk and driven into the leather flush
with the wearing surface thereof.
This new or improved tacket is made from annealed or untempered steel wire,
the head part being made of a conical form, tapering or widening outwards from
the neck or middle by being caught in griping conical dies, and the part of the steel
wire left projecting beyond the wide part of the die is compressed into the wide
part, so as to form the conical head; the point being otherwise formed smaller than
the neck, and sharp, all so that these tackets thus shaped and formed are easily
driven into the leather of the sole or heel until the large outer extremity of the
head becomes flush with the wearing surface of the leather.
The tackets being made of fine steel wire are far closer in texture, harder, and
more durable than the ordinary iron tackets, and not brittle or liable to cut, as is
the case with the cast-steel sparables in ordinary use.
When driving the tackets into the soles it is preferred to do so before the soles
are attached to the shoes, so as to thoroughly clench or rivet the points of the soft
steel tackets on the inside of the main or outer leather sole, which is then attached
and rivetted to the welts, uppers, and insoles by separate rivets between the tackets,
or in a row on the inner side of these, or both, as may be desired.
By this improvement the leather and these new tackets, being flush with each
other, wear together, and provide a more solid and smooth bearing for the foot than
by the method of tacketing boots and shoes heretofore in use; at the same time by
this method of sinking these new tackets flush with the bearing surface of the

page_text: leather, these boots and shoes may be worn with impunity in houses without injury
to carpets or floorcloths, while, from the soft hard nature of the steel of which they
are made they have no tendency to slip on pavements or causeway stones, and,
being rivetted on the inside of the outer sole are not liable to fall out as ordinary
tackets are.
Another improvement consists in fixing the" ply "sole on to the "upper," indepen-
dently and contrary to the ordinary usage, while the outer sole, into which these
new tackets are driven, is afterwards affixed thereto by sprigging, sewing, pegging,
or otherwise. In this way, when the bearing or wearing parts of the soles of the
boots and shoes become worn out, the outer sole can be entirely removed, and a
new one affixed, as before, without injury to the inner or ply sole, or its sewing or
other fixing.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
First. The new or improved construction of conical-headed soft steel tackets for
flush driving into the soles and heels of boots and shoes, all substantially as herein
described, or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The driving or clinching of these new or improved conical-headed soft
steel tackets into the soles or heel parts of and before attaching these to the upper
parts of boots and shoes, all substantially as herein described, or any mere modifi-
cation thereof.
Third. The construction or manufacture of boots or shoes with flush driven-in
conical-headed soft steel tackets in their soles and heels, all substantially as herein
described, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward John Scott, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord Oue
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
E. J. SCOTT. (L.S.)