IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
Year: 1881

page_text: "4
LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Stevens, of Gopsall Street, Leicester, for
an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND
SHOES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Stevens
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1881.
WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS, of Gopsall Street, Leicester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
The Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of boots and
shoes, and relates to a novel method of manufacturing the toe caps thereof in
order to enable the same to resist the wear to which such parts are usually
subject.
For this purpose instead of forming the toe caps of curried leather of similar
material to that of the rest of the upper, or of "patent" or enamelled leather, as
has heretofore been generally practised, I form them of tanned leather, such as is
generally used for the soles, and in order to prevent undue rigidity and consequent
injury to the toes of the wearer, and also to enable the toe cap to be sewn to the
upper and to the sole without producing an unsightly appearance, I skive the
leather sufficiently thin at all parts, except at that part which will forin the end of
the too cap, which I leave of the original thickness of the leather. Such toe cap
is sewn to the upper, so as to form part thereof, and the upper, with the toe cap
attached thereto, is then lasted, and the sole is fixed thereto in the usual manner.
For the purpose of improving the appearance of the toe cap formed as above I
buff or scrape the surface of the leather, so as to remove partially the grain thereof,
after which I dye it, and when the boot or shoe is made I burnish the toe cap in
the manner ordinarily adopted for the edges of the soles and heels.
The surface of the leather for the toe cap is preferably buffed or scraped and
dyed before the shaping thereof.
Too caps constructed in the manner above described are both sightly and durable,
and will wear as long as the upper.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Stevens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th April 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS, of Gopsall Street, Leicester.
THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
The Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of boots and
shoes, and relates to a novel method of manufacturing the toe caps thereof in
order to enable the same to resist the wear to which such parts are usually
subject.
For this purpose instead of forming the toe caps of curried leather of similar
material or character to that of the rest of the upper, or of "patent" or enamelled
leather, as has heretofore been generally practised, I form them of tanned leather,
such as is generally used for the soles; this I cut to the form required, like when
making the toe cap of ordinary curried leather, and in order to prevent undue
rigidity and consequent injury to the toes of the wearer, and also to enable the
toe cap to be sewn to the upper, and to be sewn or otherwise fastened to the sole
without producing an unsightly appearance, I skive the leather sufficiently thin at
all parts, except at that part which will form the end of the toe cap, which I leave
of the original thickness of the leather. A. piece of leather thus prepared to form
a toe cap is represented at Figures 1, 2, and 3, which are respectively a plan of
the inner side, a cross section on the line 1, 1, of Figure 1, and a cross section on
the line 2, 2, of Figure 1. a represents the part which is intended to form the
end of the toe cap. It will be seen that this part a is left of the original thickness
of the leather, whilst a¹, a¹, represent the parts which are skived down to a
suitable thickness for the purposes hereinbefore stated.
A toe cap thus prepared is sewn to the upper of a boot or shoe, so as to form
part thereof, and the upper with the toe cap attached thereto is then lasted, and
the sole is fixed thereto in the usual manner.
For the purpose of improving the appearance of the toe cap formed as above I
buff or scrape the surface of the leather, so as to remove partially the grain thereof,
after which I dye it, and when the boot or shoe is made I burnish the toc cap in
the manner ordinarily adopted for the edges of the soles and heels.
The surface of the leather for the toe cap is preferably buffed or scraped, dyed,
and burnished before the shaping thereof.
Toe caps constructed in the manner above described are both sightly and durable,
and will outwear the strongest uppers, whilst being flat they can be sewn to the
upper and lasted in the usual way, whereas when using toe caps moulded, pressed,
or otherwise caused to assume the requisite shape before attachment to the boot
or shoe they are difficult to sew to the upper, a special machine being required for
the purpose.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not claim
forming toc caps out of flat leather, such as is used for the uppers of boots and
shoes, but what I do claim is, forming toe caps of thick leather cut to the requisite
shape, and skived down around the edges thereof, substantially as herein shown
and described and for the purpose stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Stevens, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.