IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR BLOCKING THE FRONTS OR FRONT QUARTERS OF BOOTS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Hudson, of 1, Victoria Road, Belgrave, in the
county of Leicester, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
BLOCKING THE FRONTS OR FRONT QUARTERS OF BOOTS,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Hudson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1882.
SAMUEL HUDSON of No. 1 Victoria Road Belgrave in the County of Leicester
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR BLOCKING THE FRONTS OR FRONT QUARTERS OF
BOOTS
Whereas it is the usual practice to block the fronts of boots by using a metal
plate formed on its edgo as nearly as necessary into the shape of the front quarter
of the boot and pressing the said metal plate between two other suitable plates or
cheeks the leather to form the said front quarter being placed between the centre
plate and the two side cheeks.
Now my invention consists in causing the centro plate to be made in the form
of a revolving wheel or disc or to be attached to a revolving wheel or disc the
side cheeks being stationary, or, if preferable, in causing the side cheeks to be made
in the form of revolving wheels or discs or to be attached to revolving wheels or
discs the centre plate being stationary. The said discs can be driven either by
hand or mechanical power.
By this invention also several centre plates or side cheeks may be fixed to one
revolving disc so that time may be saved.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent & of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Samuel Hudson in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th August 1882.
SAMUEL HUDSON of 1, Victoria Road, Belgrave, in the County of Leicester
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR BLOCKING THE FRONTS OR FRONT QUARTERS OF
BOOTS
"
It has heretofore been the usual practice in blocking the fronts of boots to use
a metal plate formed at its edge as nearly as conveniently possible to the shape of
the front quarters of the boots and to press such metal plate between two other
plates or cheeks of corresponding shape the leather to form the front quarters
being placed between the centre plate first described and the two side plates or
cheeks.
My present invention consists in making the centre plate in the form of a
revolving wheel or disc, or attaching it to a revolving wheel or disc, whilst the
side plates or cheeks remain stationery. Or, if desired, the side plates or cheeks
may be may be made in the form of revolving wheels or discs or attached to such
wheels or discs, the centre plate remaining stationery.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention. Figure 1 is a
side elevation of the machine and figure 2 a sectional elevation. Figure 3
represents the revolving plate or disc, and figure 4 one of the cheeks or side
plates.
a, a are two sue frames or standards carrying the spindle b to which is attached
the wheel or disc o which revolves between the two cheeks or side plates d, d,
kept in position transversely by the set screws c, c, e, e, and vertically by the
studs or cross bars f, f.
The leather or material to form the front quarter of the boot is placed upon the
top of the two cheeks or side plates at h and the disc c being made to revolve by
suitable machinery causes this leather or other material suitable for the purpose
to be pressed between the cheeks d, d, and the revolving disc c thus pressing it
into the desired form and carrying it round to the point where it can be removed
from the disc as it emerges from between the cheeks d, d.
Springs g, g, are inserted between the side cheeks and the set screws c, e, e, e so
that the side checks may accomodate themselves to the varying thickness of the
leather, and to allow the pressure to be regulated as required.
The disc c and the side cheeks d, d, may be made to any desired form on their
edges so as to give the requisite shape to the front quarter of the boot according
to the size or description of the boot which is to be made.
From the method of arrangement described and shewn it will be evident that
the side cheeks might in some cases be made in a circular forin and made to
revolve whilst for the centre disc a stationary plate might be substituted. The
machine can be driven by mechanical or hand power either by pullies placed as at
j.j, or by a handle fixed on either of the spindles of the machine.
The wheel or disc c can also by another form of arrangement be made in parts
so that the part which gives the form to the front quarter of the boot may be
detached without removing the disc from the frame.
Several centre plates or side plates or cheeks may if desired, be fixed to the
revolving disc, and in this way economy of time is effected.
Having now described my invention and the method in which it is to be
performed I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the method of forming

page_text: the fronts of boots by pressing the material between a centre plate and two side
cheeks for this has already been accomplished in other ways but what I do claim
as my invention is the revolving disc or discs acting substantially in the manner
described and shewn in the drawing.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Hudson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 25th day of August in the year of our Lord 1982.
SAMUEL HUDSON
(1.9)