IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLES, INSOLES, AND LININGS FOR THE BOTTOMS OF BOOTS, SHOES, SLIPPERS, CRICKETTING SANDALS, AND THE LIKE, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO COLLARS AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE OF CELLULOID." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Howard Busby Fox, of Oxton, in the County of Chester,
"6
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLES, INSOLES, AND LININGS FOR
THE BOTTOMS OF BOOTS, SHOES, SLIPPERS, CRICKETTING SANDALS, AND THE
LIKE, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO COLLARS AND OTHER
ARTICLES MADE OF CELLULOID."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Howard Busby Fox at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st August 1880.
HOWARD BUSBY Fox, of Oxton, in the County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SOLES, INSOLES, AND LININGS FOR THE BOTTOMS OF BOOTS, SHOES, SLIPPERS,
CRICKETTING SANDALS AND THE LIKE, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS
APPLICABLE TO COLLARS AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE OF CELLULOID."
This Invention consists in making the insoles or linings of boots and shoes and
slippers, and the soles of lawn tennis and cricketting shoes of cork composition and
the like, spread on and incorporated with canvas, sheet celluloid, or other suitable
backing, or even in some cases of celluloid only. For soles I make the material
with the composition on both sides the backing, preferably smooth on one side and
rigid on the other. For insoles or linings I make it as thin as possible. The
material is made in the web, like floor cloth, and is cut to shape afterwards. I do
not confine myself to cork composition, as any of the well known waterproof or
nearly waterproof tough and elastic compositions, such as celluloid, that are not
easily decomposed by damp or grease will do. These differ from leather in that
they are waterproof,, or nearly so, and are not rotted by the perspiration of the foot,
from cork soles in that they take up very much less space, will not crack, need not
be covered, and are much cheaper. I prefer in most cases to perforate them all
over with small holes. For insoles or linings I make them so thin as to occupy
very little space, and perforated so as to prevent the uncomfortable hot feeling
common to waterproof articles. Their advantages are that they protect the foot
from damp, last a very long time, are very cheap, and being smooth save the
stockings from wearing into holes. As some of these materials smell disagreeably,
I disinfect them with deodorizers before cutting into shape.
The thin perforated cellulose is applicable also to hat linings, anklets, and the
inner band of cellulose collars and cuffs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Howard Busby Fox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
February 1881.
HOWARD BUSBY Fox, of Oxton, in the County of Chester. * IMPROVEMENTS IN
SOLES, INSOLES, AND LININGS FOR THE BOTTOMS OF BOOTS, SHOES, SLIPPERS,
CRICKETTING SANDALS AND THE LIKE, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS
APPLICABLE TO COLLARS AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE OF CELLULOID."
This Invention consists in making the insoles or linings of boots and shoes,
slippers, and the soles of lawn tennis and cricketting shoes of cork composition and
the like, spread on and incorporated with canvas, sheet celluloid, or other suitable
backing, or even in some cases of celluloid only.
The main points are for insoles to have a surface smooth or warm to the feet, and
a very thin, elastic, not easily cracked or broken waterproof lining not acted on by
perspiration or water. Insoles I prefer to make in the following manner :-I take
a cotton or woollen material very closely woven on one side, and with a thick
woolly surface like velvet or mohair on the other. Over the closely woven surface
I spread a composition of ground cork and linseed oil, similar to that from which
corticine, or, as I call it hereafter, and as a trademark, "corkatine" floor cloth is
prepared; in fact I get the makers of corticine floor cloth to make it for me, merely
stipulating that the corkatine shall be about one thirty second of an inch thick, and
that the backing, instead of canvas, shall be strong cotton or wool with very woolly
exterior surface. The best way I know of making "corkatine" composition is to
take hot boiled linseed oil one hundred parts, add a strong solution of glue five
parts, bichromate of potash two parts, and then stir in powdered cork till a sort of
moist porridge is formed, every part being moistened and no more. During this
operation it is kept from the light as much as possible. It is then spread on the
backing and passed under rollers heated to the boiling point of water by means of
steam. I take away the objectionable smell in large part by washing the surface
with a solution of permanganate of potash.
For summer wear I use silk or smooth calico instead of the fluffy stuff, or even
dispense with corkatine altogether, and make the entire insole of sheet celluloid; the
same as that used for making collars and fronts, but rolled a little thicker. In all
cases the material is made in the web, and afterwards cut to shape. As some
people object to the waterproof soles, I sometimes perforate them all over with
holes about a sixteenth of an inch in diameter.
I do not confine myself to corkatine or celluloid, as any of the well known
waterproof, or nearly waterproof, tough and elastic compositions that are not easily
decomposed by damp, perspiration, or grease will do. These differ from leather in
that they are waterproof, or nearly so, and are not rotted by perspiration. From
cork soles they differ in that they take up very much less space, will not crack,
need not be covered, and are much cheaper. These insoles are usually little thicker
than ordinary cardboard. Their advantages are that they protect the foot from
damp, last a very long time, are very cheap, and being smooth save the stockings.
For soles for cricketting sandals I use the corkatine much thicker on both sides
of a strong backing of canvas, and make the corkatine with ten parts of glue, and
four of bichromate to one hundred parts by weight of the boiled oil. The sole can
be pressed instead of rolled, so as to give an uneven surface.
The thin perforated celluloid is applicable also to hat linings, anklets, and the
inner band of celluloid collars and cuffs.
Having now described my Invention, and the best modes known to me of
carrying it into effect, I claim,-
1st. The manufacture of insoles or socks for boots and shoes, composed of

page_text: i
"
corkatine," celluloid, or other elastic tough waterproof, or nearly waterproof,
material, rolled in a thin layer on a warm, smooth, or woolly" material, and
perforated or unperforated, substantially as described.
2nd. The manufacture of cricketting sandals or tennis shoes of "corkatine" or
other similar composition thickly laid on both sides of a sheet of canvas or other
like fibrous material and tightly compressed.
3rd. The manufacture of collars, cuffs, or hat linings, composed of the rolled
celluloid now used for the manufacture of collars, but systematically perforated over
the entire surface of that part placed next the person with diminutive perforations
punched out.
In witness whereof, I, the said Howard Busby Fox, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
HOWARD BUSBY FOX. (L.S.)