IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lanham, of Parkside Street, Battersea, in
the County of Surrey, Shoemaker, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
Sealed the 20th February 1874, and dated the 9th September 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lanham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th September 1873.
I, JOHN LANHAM, of Parkside Street, Battersea, in the County of
Surrey, Shoemaker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES," to be as
follows:-
The said Invention relates to improvements on the Invention for
which I made application for Letters Patent the Eighth day of May,
A.D. 1873, No. 1662.
According to my present improvements I form the sole and the
heel shell separately or of two pieces of leather with a seam down

page_text: each side of the front of the heel, or one seam in the centre of the
front of the heel and through the waist of the sole, a clump forming
the remainder of the sole. This clump or half sole may be applied
when the remainder of the sole and heel are formed in separate pieces,
but the formation of the shell of the heel and the sole, as above described,
is preferable.
When the heel shell is made of a separate piece it is united to the
sole by two seams, the rear end of the sole is turned up to form
the front part of the heel. The two pieces are united by seams at
each side, and these seams may be made triangular to meet at the
top of the heel or near the top, and there merge into one seam.
The heel may be formed of any desired shape by any suitable
mechanism. The pieces of leather of which the sole and heel are
formed are cut in the proper shape from hides of leather of suitable
thickness and quality; the piece to form the shell of the heel must
be of such shape that when blocked and united to the sole the said
heel will be in its proper position for wearing. The shell of the heel
is filled with wood or other material adapted to the class of work for
which it is designed. A piece of leather or metal is secured to the shell
of the heel to give it support and a finished appearance. The sole and
heel are finished before they are secured to the upper of the boot or
shoe.
I am enabled by these improvements to secure heels upon boots and
shoes of all kinds with greater facility and with greater economy both
in material and labour than by the plan heretofore adopted by the trade,
and moreover the heels constructed according to this Invention are
greatly superior in appearance and much more durable than the ordinary
heels of boots and shoes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Lanham in the Great Seal Patent Office on 3
the 9th March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
LANHAM, of Parkside Street, Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Shoc-
maker, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Lanham, Her special'
licence that I, the said John Lanham, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Lanham, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and not
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Lanham, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, 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 John Lanham, do hereby declare >
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing
forming a part of this Specification :―
The said Invention relates to further improvements in the manufacture.
of boots and shoes described in the Specification of my former Letters
Patent dated the 8th day of May, A.D. 1873, No. 1662.
According to my present Invention I form the sole and the heel
shell of two or more pieces of leather with a seam made by stitching
or otherwise at each corner of the heel, or at or near the centre of
the front of the same, or with one seam in the centre of the front-
of the heel and through the waist of the sole, a clump forming the.
remainder of the sole. This clump or half sole may be applied after.
the remainder of the sole and heel are formed, but the formation of
the shell of the heel and the sole together, as above described, is preferable.
In either of these processes the piece of leather forming the heel shell,

page_text: when finished, in which case the wood will remain encased with the
leather, or it may be blocked to any required form and subsequently
filled with wood or other material adapted to the class of work for
which it is designed. A piece of leather or metal h, called in the trade
a "top piece" is subsequently secured to the outside of the heel to give
it support and a finished appearance.
I am enabled by these improvements to greatly facilitate the manu-
facture of boots and shoes, and to economize both material and labour,
and moreover, the heels constructed according to this Invention are
greatly superior in appearance, and much more durable than the ordinary
heels of boots and shoes.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. Making the combined sole and heel of a boot or shoe of two
or more pieces of leather united by stitching or otherwise; one of the
said pieces forming the shell of the heel, which is blocked into any form
required, as above described.
Second. Making the heel and waist of a boot or shoe of one piece of
leather with a seam passing through the centre of the waste and the
front of the heel shell, which is blocked into any required form, as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lanham, have hereunto set
my hand seal, this Seventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
25
Witness,
WM. ROBT. LAKE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
JOHN LANHAM. (L.S.)