Year: 1899

page_text: We, HENRY EDWARD RANDALL, of Lady's Lane, Manufacturer, and HENRY
BROWN, of 79, Charles Street, Boot Laster, both in Northampton, in the County
of Northampton, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to lasts for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes.
In making welted boots and shoes it is the custom to make use of a wood last
in combination with a jack for supporting the front during manipulation. The
object of this invention is to dispense with the necessity for using this jack and
to this end the present invention consists in using a combination wood and iron
last which fulfils all the requirements of the wood last and at the same time
possesses such strength and rigidity that it can be used upon an ordinary standard
without a jack.
According to the said invention a last is made with a metal back portion and
heel having a socket for fitting on to the standard from which extends a plate
to the upper side of which the block of the last is adapted to be connected and to
the underside of which the bottom of the last is adapted to be fixed.
It will be understood that this construction permits of the bottom being changed
to suit different shapes or fashions. Also the metal heel serves to clinch the nails
by which the heel of a boot is attached.
In practice we prefer to introduce a layer of india rubber or other, suitable
material between the bottom and the metal plate for reducing concussion and
thereby preventing premature injury to the said bottom.
Dated this 18th day of May 1899
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.
We, HENRY EDWARD RANDALL, of Lady's Lane, Manufacturer, and HENRY
BROWN, of 79, Charles Street, Boot Laster, both in Northampton, in the County
of Northampton, 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 relates to lasts for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes.
In making welted boots and shoes it is the custom to make use of a wood last

page_text: in combination with a jack for supporting the front during manipulation. The
object of this invention is to dispense with the necessity for using this jack and
to this end the present invention consists in using a combination wood and iron
last which fulfils all the requirements of the wood last and at the same time
possesses such strength and rigidity that it can be used upon an ordinary standard
without a jack.
According to the said invention a last is made with a metal back portion and
heel having a socket for fitting on to the standard from which extends a plate
to the upper side of which the block of the last is adapted to be connected and to
the underside of which the bottom of the last is adapted to be fixed.
In practice we prefer to introduce a layer of india-rubber or other suitable
material between the bottom and the metal plate for reducing concussion and
thereby preventing premature injury to the said bottom.
To enable the invention to be fully understood we will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved last:
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same; and
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.
a is the metal portion of the last the back or heel part 6 of which is provided
with a socket which fits on to the usual standard and the plate part
of which
has applied to it on the upper side the wood block or instep portion e of the last
and on the underside has fixed to it the wooden bottom f of the last.
g is the sheet of india-rubber or other suitable material between the bottom f
and the metal plate for reducing concussion and thereby preventing premature
injury, to the said bottom.
It will be understood that the block portion e of the last is made movable as in
an ordinary wooden last, a rib h being formed upon the metal portion a, as
clearly shewn in Figure 3, and a corresponding groove in the block portion e,
in order to ensure the proper adjustment of the said block portion relatively with
the other part of the last.
With the construction hereinbefore described it will be understood that when
the last is mounted upon a suitable standard an upper can be lasted over the
same in the same manner as upon a wooden last without the necessity for employ-
ing a jack, which is necessary with the wooden last and which tends to more or
less injure the leather of the upper.
It will also be obvious that when the bottom f of the last becomes worn or injured
it may be readily replaced without discarding the other parts of the last, and also
that the bottom can be changed from time to time to suit different shapes or
fashions. Furthermore by having a last provided with a metal heel portion we are
enabled to clinch the nails by which the heel of a boot or shoe is attached.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a last the combination. with the metal heel portion provided with means
for attaching it to a supporting standard, and provided with a forwardly extend-
ing portion, of a bottom of wood secured to said forwardly extending portion and
a layer of elastic material interposed between said bottom and said forwardly
extending portion to prevent injury to said bottom, substantially as described.
2. In a last the combination with the metal heel portion provided with means
for engaging a supporting standard, and with a forwardly projecting extension
the full width of the last, a detachable instep portion for engaging the upper side
of the said extension, a wooden bottom piece on the lower side of said extension,
secured thereto, and a layer of rubber interposed between the lower face of said
extension and said wooden bottom, to prevent injury to the latter, substantially
as described.

page_text: 3. The manufacture and use of the improved last substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 19th day of February 1900.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.