IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Miles Wells, of 26, Aldermanbury, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS FOR BOOTS
AND SHOES."
Sealed the 16th July 1867, and dated the 21st January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Miles Wells at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st January 1867.
I, GEORGE MILES WELLS, of 26, Aldermanbury, in the City of London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS
FOR BOOTS AND SHOES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
metal lasts for boots and shoes, whereby greater facility is afforded for
withdrawing the last, and provision is made for shaping or forming the leg
of the boot thereon.
In carrying out this Invention it is proposed to construct the last in two
sections, each cut on corresponding curves or circles at their junction surfaces,
such junction curves being either carried entirely through the leg of the last,
or they may be diverted at any angle therewith either upwards or downwards,
or carried off in a horizontal direction at any convenient distance below the
top of the leg, the leg being wholly or partly formed as the case may be

page_text: upon the upper section of the last; male and female dovetails are cast on
each of the curved junction surfaces of the two sections of the last respectively
so as to hold the parts securely together when adjusted. A slot or opening is
cast down the leg portion of the last into the lower section thereof, into which
fits or is inserted the standard which supports the last when in use, and
thereby in connection with the dovetail locks or holds the two sections of
the last securely together. If desired, the leg portion of the last may be
carried up sufficiently far to form the standard itself, in which case suitable
dowells or studs and corresponding holes or recesses should be cast on the
junction surfaces at the leg of the last in order to lock the two parts together
when adjusted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Miles Wells in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
MILES WELLS, of 26, Aldermanbury, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Miles Wells, Her special license that I, the said George
Miles WeHs, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said George Miles Wells, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Miles Wells, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Miles Wells, do hereby declaro
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
metal lasts for boots and shoes, whereby greater facility is afforded for
withdrawing the last and holding the parts together, and provision is made
for shaping or forming the leg of the boot thereon.
In carrying out my Invention I propose to construct the last in two sections,
each cut or formed with corresponding junction surfaces, such junction
surfaces being either curved or straight, and being either carried entirely
through the leg of the last or diverted at any angle therewith either upwards
or downwards or carried off in a horizontal direction, at any convenient
distance below the top of the leg, the leg being wholly or partly formed as
the case may be upon the upper section of the last; male and female dove-
tails are cast on each of the junction surfaces of the two sections of the last
respectively so as to hold the parts securely together when adjusted. A slot or
opening is cast down the leg portion of the last into the lower section thereof
into which fits or is inserted the standard which supports the last when in use,
and thereby in connection with the dovetail locks or holds the two sections
of the last securely together.
According to another part of my Invention I propose to cast the supporting:
standards of metal lasts in one piece with the upper portions of such lasts,
whether constructed as above described or otherwise made in the ordinary
manner.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now.
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I
shall refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a side elevation of one form of my
improved last complete with the two parts united; Figure 2 is a plan of the
last with the upper part removed, and showing the dovetail projection which
assists in holding the two parts together; Figure 3 is an under side plan view
of the upper part of the last detached, showing the dovetail slot cast therein
and Figure 4 is a transverse section through the upper and under portions of
the last taken along the line 1, 2, Figure 1. A is the bottom or sole part
of the last, and B the top or instep portion, both of which I make of cast.
iron or other metal in suitable moulds. The junction line a, b, between the
parts A and B is curved as shown in order to facilitate the withdrawal of
the part B, through the opening in the leg or angle of the boot. In the

page_text: last shown at Figure 1 this corved junction line a, b, runs out at the top of
the last near the heel or back portion of the part A as shown at a and is
carried forward to within a short distance from the toe where it passes out nearly
at a radius to the curve through to the upper part B as shown at c, or brought
back, forming a species of dovetail shape at the end of the part B, as shewn
by the red line in Figure 1. The part B is cast in a mould of its own, a core
being employed for casting the opening or socket C¹, as shown in dotted lines in
Figures 1 and 4, and in full lines in Figure 3. The object of this opening C¹
is to receive the supporting standard when working or using the last, such
standard by passing through this portion of the last into the part A serves to hold
the two portions securely together. In casting the part Ba core is employed for
casting the female dovetail or slot E, and is intended to be curved to correspond
to the curvature of the junction line a, b. The part A is then cast upon the
part B so that the projection or male dovetail D is cast upon the part A and
will accurately fit the female dovetail or slot E, and a perfect fit of the two
parts along the line a, b, is insured. As the core still remains and projects
through the part B it follows also that the recess or socket C in the part A
will correspond accurately with the opening or socket C in the part B, and
thus when the last is to be placed upon the standard or support both parts
will accurately correspond and will be locked together so long as the last
remains upon the standard.
In the slightly modified form of last shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 of
my Drawings, I have represented the junction line a, b, between the parts A
and B as passing out through the back of the last at d, the opposite end of
the junction line passing as before through to the upper surface of the last
at c; dowels or projectious e, e, may be used if required cast upon the rear
portion of the part A and fitting into corresponding notches or recesses cast
in the corresponding part of the upper portion B of the last. In other
respects this last is the same as the one previously described; Figures 9
and 10 represent respectively the two portions A and B of a cast iron or
other metal last wherein the standard or support F is cast in one piece with
the part B forming in fact an extension of the leg portion of such part of the
last.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my 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 as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,
First, the construction of metal lasts for boots and shoes wherein the two

page_text: parts A and B are held together when in use by the passage through both
parts of the supporting standard, substantially as described.
Second, the combination with the parts A and B of metal lasts of dove-
tail projections and slots, socket C, and opening C, arranged together
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Third, the forming of the supporting standard F of metal lasts in one
piece with the upper part B of such lasts, substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Miles Wells, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-seven.
GEORGE MILES WELLS. (L.S.)