IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bostock, of Stone, in the County of Stafford,
Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
Sealed the 29th August 1862, and dated the 5th March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bostock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
March 1862.
I, THOMAS BOSTOCK, of Stone, in the County of Stafford, Boot and Shoe
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the preparation of the soles, heels, and other parts
of the bottoms of boots and shoes before they are attached to the "uppers" or
other parts, by simpler and quicker processes than those hitherto in use,
resulting in a great reduction in the cost of manufacturing boots and shoes.
The ordinary method of preparing the soles and other parts of the bottoms
of boots and shoes is as follows:-The leather being cut out more or less
nearly to the required shape of the sole or other part, the hardening of the
leather by hammering or compression is one process; the bedding of the leather
to the bottom of the "last" is a second process, or these first and second
processes are used in combination, but whether performed separately or in
combination there is this disadvantage, that the first process will have extended.

page_text: the edge of the leather, and destroyed the perfect evenness required in the
edge, whilst the second will owing to the convexity of the bottom of the
"last," have changed the direction of the edge. Hence arose the necessity for
a third process which consisted of the shaping or finishing of the shaping
of the edge by knives or other tools; and the hardening of the edge
by hammering, ironing, or other methods of compression, was a fourth
process.
Now this Invention consists in accomplishing the above four named pro-
cesses at once, and by a single process, the sole or other piece of leather being
first cut in the manner herein-after described.
I use a block or piece of metal perforated with the shape of the sole, heel,
or other part of the bottom of the boot or shoe, and two dies male and female
corresponding in form on their adjacent surfaces with the convex surface of
the bottom of the "last," and accurately fitting at their edges within the
perforated block.
The piece of leather is cut out in the required shape, the edge being bevilled
in order that the surface of the leather which receives the convex die shall be
the larger, the piece of leather, which may be either wet or dry, is then placed
between the two dies, and within the perforated block, pressure is then brought
to bear upon the dies, and the leather receives the required bedding, and
solidifying both of the surfaces and the edges.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Bostock in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BOSTOCK, of Stone, in the County of Stafford, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Bostock, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Bostock, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Bostock, my executors, administrators, and 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,

page_text: use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES," upon the condition, amongst
others, that I, the said Thomas Bostock, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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 Thomas Bostock, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, that is to say:-
מ
or
This Invention relates to the preparation of the soles, heels, and other parts
of the bottoms of boots and shoes before they are attached to the "uppers'
welts, by simpler and quicker means and processes than those hitherto in use
for such purpose, whereby a great saving of time and reduction in the cost of
manufacturing boots and shoes is effected.
The ordinary method of preparing the soles and other parts of the bottoms
of boots and shoes is as follows:-The leather being cut out more or less
nearly to the required shape of the sole or other part, the hardening of the
leather is effected by hammering or compression, and this forms one part of
the process; the bedding of the leather to the bottom of the "last" is a second
process; or these first and second processes are performed in combination, that
is to say, the sole is bedded to the last during the hammering or hardening
process, but whether these processes are performed separately or in combina-
tion, there is this disadvantage, that the first or hammering process will have
extended the edge of the leather, and destroyed the perfect evenness required
in the edge, whilst the second will owing to the convexity of the bottom of the
"last" have changed the direction of the edge of the same. Hence arises
the necessity for a third process, which consists of the shaping or finishing of
the shaping of the edge of the sole by knives or other tools; and the hardening
of the edge by hammering, ironing, or other methods of compression, con-
stitutes a fourth process.
Now this Invention consists in accomplishing the above-named four pro-
cesses at once, and by a single process, the sole or other piece of leather being
first cut in the manner herein-after described.
I use a block which may be made of metal, wood, or other suitable mate-
rial, or combination of materials, and I perforate this block throughout its

page_text: entire thickness with a hole of the size and shape of the sole, heel, or other
part of the bottom of the boot or shoe, and I also employ in connection there-
with two dies, male and female, corresponding in form on their adjacent upper
and under surfaces with the convex surface of the bottom of the "last; and
accurately fitting at their edges within the perforation of the block.
The piece of leather to be operated on is cut out to the required shape
and size for forming the sole, heel, or other part of the boot or shoe, the edge
being bevilled. in order that the surface of the leather which receives the
convex die shall be larger than the other surface. The piece of leather which
may be either wet or dry, is then placed between the two dies, and within the
perforated block, and pressure being then brought to bear upon the dies by
means of a screw, weighted lever, or otherwise, the leather receives the
required bedding to the last, and solidifying both of the surfaces and the edges
at one and the same time, and by simultaneous means, whilst the form of
the edges is also preserved, so that the soles, heels, or other parts require no
further trimming, but are ready at once to be attached to the "welts " or
66 uppers "in the usual manner.
It will be obvious that if thought preferable (instead of pressure) percussion
by means of a hammer or otherwise, may be applied to the dies in such a
manner as to produce the same effect.
Having now described 'the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes," together with the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention,
preparing the soles, heels, and other parts of the bottoms of boots and shoes
before they are attached to the "uppers" by placing them between suitably
formed dies in a perforated block, and applying pressure or percussion thereto
substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bostock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
THOMAS BOSTOCK. (L.S.)