Improvements in or relating to Apparatus used in the Finishing of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1893-Accepted, 10th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus used in the Finishing of
Boots and Shoes.
We, JOHN BUTCHER of Springfield Road, Stoneygate, Leicester, Boot Manu-
facturer, and JOHN CLARKE, 72 Clarendon Park Road, Leicester, Mechanic, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to apparatus used in the manufacture of boots and
shoes.
As is well known in the trade, boots and shoes after having passed through the
various processes incidental to the manufacture thereof, the uppers, particularly
those in which kid skin in some of its varieties forms a part, become more
or less "mauled " or creased and the original gloss or face of the leather
removed.
This is due principally to the handling of the goods by the operatives during
the manufacturing processes.
The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus capable of restoring the
upper, after the boot or shoe is in other respects completed, to its original
condition, i.e. removing the creases, and putting a face" or "gloss" on the kid
skin portion of the upper.
66
This is effected by passing over the upper of the boot or shoe to be restored,
a heated iron or tool, while the boot or shoe is already on the last or stretcher.
The apparatus constituting this invention consists of a suitable handle having at
its foremost end the tool or device which may be of any suitable metal or
material.
The ironing tool is constructed preferably of copper or other heat conducting
material, triangular in form having its edge turned down all round at a right angle
so as to form a cavity or chamber, on its underside.
This tool when required to be heated is placed on a suitable stand or framing,
one part of which is specially constructed to fit the iron to prevent it falling and
to maintain it in its proper position in regard to a light or gas jet which is
directed into the cavity or chamber formed on its underside as hereinbefore
mentioned.
The stand or framing is provided with the usual blue light or "Bunsen" burner
for heating the tool and in actual practice two tools are employed, one being heated,
while the other is being used.
Dated this 4th day of August 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus used in the Finishing of
Boots and Shoes.
We, JOHN BUTCHER of Springfield Road, Stoneygate, Leicester, Boot Manu-
facturer, and JOHN CLARKE, 72 Clarendon Park Road, Leicester, Mechanic, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention has reference to apparatus used in the finishing of boots and
shoes

page_text: It is well known in the trade that by the time a boot or shoe has passed
through the various processes of its manufacture & reached completion, the upper
has become more or less "mauled " or creased and the original gloss removed
and this is particularly noticeable in boots and shoes whose uppers are cut out of
kid skin.
This is due principally to the handling of the goods by the operatives during the
different stages of their manufacture.
The object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus capable of
restoring the upper (after the boot or shoe is in other respects completed) to its
-original condition, i.e. by removing the creases, and putting a "face" or "gloss
on the kid skin portion of the upper.
"
This is effected by passing over the upper of the boot or shoe to be restored, a
heated iron or tool, such as is hereinafter referred to, preferably while the boot or
shoe is already on the last or stretcher.
The apparatus constituting this invention consists of a suitable handle having
at its foremost end the ironing tool or device which may be of any suitable metal
or material.
The said ironing tool is constructed preferably of copper or other heat conducting
material, triangular in form having its edge turned down all round at a right angle
so as to form a cavity or chamber on its underside.
This tool when required to be heated is placed on a suitable stove or stand,
one part of which is specially constructed to fit the iron to prevent it falling
and to maintain it in its proper position in regard to a light or gas jet which
is directed into the cavity or chamber formed on its under side as herein before
mentioned.
The stove is provided with the usual blue light or "Bunsen" burner for heating
the tool and in actual practice two tools are employed, one being heated, while the
other is being used.
Referring to the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the stove and tool constructed in
accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the stove with the ironing tool removed.
Figure 3 is a plan of the underside of the ironing tool.
The ironing tool A triangular in shape, is preferably of copper or other heat
conducting material and has each of its sides A¹ turned downwardly so as to form a
chamber or cavity A2 on the underside thereof.
The base of the tool is formed with a boss A* over the reduced portion of
which the end of a metal tube B is passed, the opposite end of the latter having
screwed thereon a sleeve C into which the preferably wooden handle D is
screwed.
A connecting rod E passes through the handle D and connects it to the
tool A by being screwed into the boss A³ thereof, and a nut E¹ on the end of
the said rod is tightened against the handle D.
Holes B are provided in the tube to allow the air to pass through the same
when the tool is heated.
Although the hereinbefore described handle is a most suitable one, yet we wish
it understood that we do not confine ourselves strictly to the structural details set
forth as any convenient form of handle may be attached to the tool A.
The stove for heating the tool consists of a cylindrical cover G provided with
internal lugs G' through which screws F pass to connect it to a base plate H
supported on legs H₁ which may be secured to a bench or table by screws passing
through opening H² therein.
The upper edge of the cover G is formed with two rests or projections G² G*
the former of which fits in the narrow end or apex of the cavity of the tool and
the latter in the base thereof as indicated in Figure 1.
The tool is further supported by an oblique arm J attached to the cover by a
Screw J¹
E

page_text: The ironing tool A resting on the upper part of the stove as before described is
heated from preferably a gas flame in the upper end of a vertical pipe K whose
lower end is fixed in the base plate H and communicates with a passage K¹ formed
integrally in the underside of the base plate H and supplied with gas from a supply
pipe K
Atmospheric air mixes with the gas on its way to the pipe K and for this
purpose an opening K³ is formed in the passage K and is also admitted into the
stove by an opening G formed in the cover G for that purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An ironing tool for finishing boot and shoe uppers provided with a chamber
or cavity on its underside into which a gas or other flame is directed to heat the
said tool substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
2. An ironing tool for finishing boot and shoe uppers consisting of a triangular
shaped plate or block A provided with a chamber or cavity A³, a perforated tube B
handle D and connecting rod E substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
.
3. In a stove or stand for heating finishing tools for boot and shoe uppers a cover
provided with rests and an arm for supporting the said tool in position thereon and
an air supply opening therein and an atmospheric gas flame substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
4. The combination with an ironing tool for finishing boot and shoe uppers of a
stove or stand provided with rests for supporting the said tool in position thereon
while being heated substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
5. The complete apparatus for finishing boot and shoe uppers consisting of an
ironing tool and stove for heating same constructed arranged and operating
substantially in the manner described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this Third day of May 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.