IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOT AND SHOE TOE PIECES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Tenniswood, of the City of York, Boot and
Shoe Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF BOOT AND SHOE TOE PIECES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE
EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 13th August 1867, and dated the 14th February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Tenniswood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
February 1867.
I, DAVID TENNISWOOD, of the City of York, Boot and Shoe Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BOOT AND SHOE TOE PIECES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of the
toe pieces of boots and shoes, and in the machinery to be employed in shaping.
the same.
Instead of stamped metal tips as at present used I propose to apply to the
toe of the boot or shoe a stamped toe piece of leather in order to protect the

page_text: front part of the boot or shoe. The machinery which I use for shaping
the toe pieces is as follows:-On a bed plate I ereet a standard containing
the bearings of a driving shaft, lever, or screw, and on a bracket or other
equivalent I set a mould or matrix of the required form and dimensions of the
toe piece to be stamped; above this mould I set in slotted bearings a
corresponding die or stamper which is raised and depressed from and to the
matrix by means of the shaft and a crank motion, by a hand lever, or by a
screw power similar to that used in stamping coins. At the moment when
the stamp descends into the mould an angular or forward motion is given to
the stamp holder by means of an excentric or cam, whereby the toe piece is
stamped to the requisite hollowed form to shape a cap for protecting the toe
part or extremity of the upper leather of the boot or shoe. The toe piece
is fixed by insertion between the sole or insole and upper leather and by pegs
or stitches.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Tenniswood in the Great- Seal Patent Office on the
14th August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
TENNISWOOD, of the City of York, Boot and Shoe Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the David Tenniswood, Her special licence that I, the said David
Tenniswood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said David Tenniswood, 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;
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 BOOT AND SHOE TOE PIECES, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said David Tenniswood, 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

page_text: 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 David Tenniswood, 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:
My Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of the
toe pieces of boots and shoes, and in the machinery to be employed in shaping
the same.
Instead of stamped metal tips, as at present used, I propose to manufacture
and apply to the toe of the boot or shoe a stamped toe piece of leather in
order to protect the front part of the boot or shoe. The machinery which I
use for shaping and stamping the toe pieces is as follows:-On a bed plate I
erect a standard containing the bearings of a driving shaft, lever, or screw,
and on a bracket or other equivalent I set a mould or matrix of the required
form and dimensions of the toe piece to be stamped; above this mould I set
in slotted bearings a corresponding die or stamper which is raised and depressed
from and to the matrix by means of the shaft and a crank motion by a
hand lever, or by a screw power similar to that used in stamping coins. At
the moment when the stamp descends into the mould an angular or forward.
motion is given to the stamp by means of an excentric and cam, whereby the
toe piece is stamped to the requisite hollowed form to shape a cap pro-
tecting the toe part or extremity of the upper leather of the boot or shoe;
but this motion is not requisite in the machine actuated with a fly or screw-
press action, such as I now proceed to describe as the best means of carrying
the Invention into practical effect.
for
E
Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawings is a front elevation of the machine;
Fig. 2, a plan of the bed plate and matrix; and Fig. 3, a transverse vertical
section through the line C, B, of Fig. 2; similar letters indicate corresponding
parts in each Figure respectively.
A is the foundation or bed plate of the machine; B, B, the standards
secured thereto; c is a cross head bolted to the standards; D is a quick-
threaded screw passing through female threads cut in the cross head, and
penetrating into a socket cut in the die holder E, in which it is secured by
screws F, F, the extremities of which enter a circular slot or groove cut
around the stem of the screw rod D; G is the die or stamper fitted into the
die holder by the stem G₁, and secured by a screw. Fig. 4 is an enlarged or

page_text: full size of a die or stamp shewing its outline more perfectly than in Fig. 2
it will be observed that the stamper has a slight step or elge formed at h
which pressing on the edge of the toe cap on the corresponding ledge h¹ of the
mould serves to give a finished and smooth appearance to the upper edge of
the toe cap as placed on the boot or shoe. The die holder is steadied in a
bearing in the cross bar i, and does not turn with the fly screw, since its
section is square or otherwise angular, and the fly screw stem can turn in its
socket. The handles j, j, serve to actuate the pressure, as in ordinary fly
stamping presses; k is the matrix set in a dished circular seat on the
foundation plate, which seat is adjusted and secured in position by thumb-
screws m, m, m, passing through blocks n, n, n, around the seat and matrix,
so that the most exact adjustment can be effected and maintained. The
operation of the machine will therefore be completely understood; it is,
however, necessary after the various pieces of leather have been cut or punched
from the skin of a suitable shape for the toe caps to skive or bevel off the
inferior edges in order that they may more easily be stamped and curved over
in the matrix to form the hollow of the cap; after they have been skived they
are to be placed in water to soften them, when they are one by one placed in
the matrix, the curvilinear edge being towards the ledge h of the matrix, and
the straight cut of the piece being against the opposite surface of the matrix;
the handles of the press are then turned, the die comes suddenly on the
leather and forces it into the shape of the matrix exteriorly of the die in its
interior; the cap is then allowed to set and dry, while others are made, and
when they are properly set and dried, or nearly so, they may be a second time
subjected to the pressure of the die and matrix, and I prefer to do so while
the matrix is in a heated state, which I effect by placing a fire underneath
the seat of the mould, cutting away a portion of the foundation plate for the
purpose and filling in the space with fire-brick, or I heat the matrix by
lighted jets of gas, or by any well known convenient means.
The caps
when pressed in the heated mould become hard, glossy, and of a polished
exterior.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark, in conclusion, that I do
not limit myself to the exact details or configuration of parts I have expressed
and shewn, as the same may obviously be somewhat varied or modified
without in any way departing from the principles of my Invention; but what
I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters
Patent are, the improvements in the manufacture of boot and shoe toe pieces

page_text: or caps of leather, and the machinery or apparatus for stamping them into
shape, substantially as herein specified and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Tenniswood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
JAMES BAKER,
29, Pavement,
York.
DAVID TENNISWOOD. (L.S.)