IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RIVETTED BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL
I, ALFRED BOWMAN of 127 New Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Boot and Shoe Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RIVETTED BOOTS AND
SHOES to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to prevent the rivets working through or nearly
through the substance of the inner sole of a rivetted boot or shoe thereby
obviating both injury to the socks or hose and also the great discomfort and
inconvenience now experienced from the soles of the feet becoming galled by the
rivets.
To effect this I first split the insole about half an inch all round-I then make
a metal plate-(hereafter termed the "clenching plate")-which corresponds in
size and shape with the incision so made on one side of such insole including one
half of the continuation of such incision both at the toe and heel.
When the boot or shoe is lasted I insert such plate on one side of the insole
between the two thicknesses formed by such incision and upon hammering in the
rivets their points come in contact with such plate and they are thereby clenched
into the lower thickness of the insole and reduced to a smooth and level surface
therewith.
1 then take out the clenching plate and after reversing it I insert it on the
other side between the two thicknesses of the insole and repeat the operation.
I then turn down the upper thickness on each side thus covering the clenched
points of the rivets and producing a perfectly smooth surface which cannot be
destroyed.
It is unnecessary in any way to secure such upper thickness as the tread of the
foot is sufficient to depress and fix it in position.
If preferred two separate clenching plates,-one for each side of the insole may
be employed and they may either be united together or used separately.
By this simple but valuable improvement upon the present method of
manufacturing rivetted boots and shoes the same are rendered as pleasant and
comfortable for wear as sewn boots or shoes;-while owing to the simplicity of
the operation this invention can be readily carried out by any ordinary workman.
1004
.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, ALFRED BOWMAN, of 127 New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RIVETTED BOOTS AND
SHOES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this Invention is to prevent the rivets working through, or nearly
through the substance of the inner sole of a rivetted boot or shoe, thereby
obviating injury to the socks or hose, and also the great discomfort and
inconvenience now so frequently experienced by the wearer, owing to the soles of
the feet becoming galled by the rivets.
To effect this I first split the edge of the inner sole along each side into two
thicknesses by making an incision therein of about three quarters of an inch in
depth I then make two metal plates (hereafter termed "clenching plates ")—
which correspond in size and shape with such incisions. I then tack the inner sole
on the last and slip the clenching plates into such incisions-I then last the boot in
the ordinary way and upon hammering in the rivets their points come in contact
with such clenching plates and they are thus firmly clenched down and embedded"
in the lower thickness of the innersole. I then take out the last and 'draw out
the clenching plates, in doing which I scarcely disturb the upper thickness of the
innersole which covers over the clenched points of the rivets and so produce a
perfectly smooth surface that cannot be destroyed by wear; thus greatly enhancing
the comfort and convenience of the wearer-It is unnecessary in any way to secure
such upper thickness, as the tread of the foot is sufficient to depress and fix it in
position.
.
By this simple but valuable improvement upon the present method of
manufacturing rivetted boots and shoes, the same are rendered as pleasant and.
comfortable for wear as sewn boots or shoes while owing to the simplicity of the
operation my Invention can be readily practised by an ordinary workman.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews a plan view of the innersole of a
boot or shoe. The inner dotted lines a. a. appearing thereon indicate the depth
of the incisions in each side while the small vertical dotted line b. at the heel
indicates the point where the clenching plates meet.-Figs. 2. and 3. respectively
shew plan views of the two clenching plates c. c. one for each side of the innersole.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I would here observe
that so far as regards dividing the substance of the innersole into two thicknesses
in the manner herein before described I make no claim thereto as I am aware that
this feature of my Invention is not novel.
What I do claim as novel and of my invention in the manufacture of rivetted
boots and shoes is clenching and embedding the points of the rivets midway or
about midway in the substance of the innersole by means of suitable clenching
plates substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore specified.
Dated this 21" day of April 1884,
ELT & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,
33, Southampton Buildings, Holborn,
London.