IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS, SHOES, AND LEGGINGS, THE SAME BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF OTHER ARTICLES OF UTILITY
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Charles Vickers, of Wandsworth, in the County
of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
BOOTS, SHOES, AND LEGGINGS, THE SAME BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE
MANUFACTURE OF OTHER ARTICLES OF UTILITY."
Sealed the 7th July 1876, and dated the 8th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Charles Vickers at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th January 1876.
EDWARD CHARLES VICKERS, of Wandsworth, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS, SHOES, AND LEGGINGS, THE SAME BEING
ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF OTHER ARTICLES OF UTILITY."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of boots,
shoes, leggings, and other articles of utility, such as bags, trunks, and travelling
cases, or any other such like articles as are usually made of leather, and whereby
the same can be formed in one entire piece without seam or join. The materials
employed for these purposes are animal skins of any suitable description, or felt
composed of hair, wool, jute, fur, or any other suitable vegetable or animal fibre or
fibres. The fabric is, if desired, made thoroughly waterproof, or made sufficiently
porous to allow the passage of air through the same.
In order to form the article which it is desired to manufacture, a piece of skin or
felt, as the case may be, is cut of the requisite size and form from the flat skin or
sheet of felt. In the case of felt being used, the wool or other fibre may be taken as
it leaves the carding engine, instead of being cut from a flat sheet, and rolled around
a revolving block, mould, or cylinder resembling the shape of the article required to
be produced, but somewhat larger to allow for shrinking and of the subsequent
operations being performed. Strengthening materials consisting of webbing or
other suitable material or materials, or another layer of the material from the
carding engine, are in some cases employed to give additional strength to such
portions of the article as may require the same. The fabric having been thus
formed is taken from the mould or cylinder, hardened and planked, and may be then
waterproofed and dyed, if desired. It is then strained, stretched, or blocked by
means of a screw apparatus, or by hand with the aid of steam or hot water, or in
any other convenient mode on to the last, block, or mould.
11

page_text: If skin is used it is blocked or shaped either when fully dressed or tanned only
after having been soaked sufficiently long to soften it, or it may be taken from the
lime pits undried, blocked in that state, and then immersed in a vat containing
tanning liquor, and when sufficiently tanned removed therefrom, and dressed or
japanued by any of the ordinary and well-known processes.
When felt is employed after being blocked, whether for boots, shoes, or any of the
articles above mentioned, it may be finished on the surface by any of the ordinary
processes by which felt hats are finished, or may be japanned or otherwise dressed.
Boot and shoe tops thus prepared are then ready to be soled and heeled in the
ordinary way, with the advantage that they perfectly fit round the sole of the
last, and, require no "lasting up." All the articles thus formed are seamless and
without join.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Charles Vickers, in the Great Seal Patent Office ou the
8th July 1876.
EDWARD CHARLES VICKERS, of Wandsworth, in the County of Surrey. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS, SHOES, AND LEGGINGS, THE SAME
BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF OTHER ARTICLES OF UTILITY."..
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of boots,
shoes, leggings, and other articles of utility, such as bags, trunks, and travelling
cases, or any other such like articles as are usually made of leather, and whereby
the same can be formed in one entire piece without seam or join. The materials
employed for these purposes are animal skins of any suitable description, or felt
composed of hair, wool, jute, fur, or any other suitable vegetable or animal fibre or
fibres. The fabric is if desired made thoroughly waterproof, or made sufficiently
porous to allow the passage of air through the same.
In order to form the article which it is desired to manufacture, a piece of skin or
felt, as the case may be, is cut of the requisite size and form from the flat skin or
sheet of felt. In case of felt being used the wool or other fibre may be taken as it
leaves the carding engine, instead of being cut from a flat sheet, and rolled around a
revolving mould or cylinder resembling the shape of the article required to be
produced, but somewhat larger to allow for shrinking and of the subsequent
operations being performed. Strengthening materials consisting of webbing or other.
suitable material or materials, or another layer of the material from the carding
engine, are in some cases employed to give additional strength to such portions
as may require the same. The fabric having been thus formed is taken from
from the mould or cylinder, hardened and planked, and may be then waterproofed
and dyed, if desired. It is then strained, stretched, or blocked by means of a screw
apparatus, or by hand with the aid of steam or hot water, or in any other con-
venient mode, on to a last, block, or mould.
If skin is used it is blocked or shaped either when fully dressed or tanned only
after having been soaked sufficiently long to soften it, or it may be taken from the
lime pits undried, blocked in that state, and then immersed in a vat containing
tanning liquor, and, when sufficiently tanned, removed therefrom, and dressed or
japanned by any of the ordinary and well-known processes.
When felt is employed after being blocked, whether for boots, shoes, or any of the
articles above mentioned, it may be finished on the surface by any of the ordinary
processes by which felt hats are finished, or may be japanned or otherwise dressed.
Boot and shoe tops thus prepared are then ready to be soled and heeled in the
ordinary way, with the advantage that they perfectly fit round the sole of the
last and require no "lasting up." All the articles thus formed are seamless and
without join.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
.

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention
secured to me by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent are,-
The improvements in and the methods for the manufacture of boots, shoes, and
leggings, and other articles of utility, substantially as herein-before described and
set forth, or any mere modfications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Charles Vickers, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
EDWARD CHARLES VICKERS. (L.S.)