A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Ellis, of 21, Finsbury Pavement, in
the City of London, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer,
for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLEANING
BOOTS AND SHOES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Ellis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th January 1882.
GEORGE HENRY ELLIS, of 21, Finsbury Pavement, in the City of London, in
the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOOTS AND SHOES."
:
"
My Invention relates to a very simple construction of circular brushes arranged
in pairs, and is carried out as follows:-I provide circular brush stocks of convenient
diameter cut out of discs of card board and thrown or moulded up on their inner
diameter to form bevelled surfaces. place the bristles in or upon the outer
surfaces of these stocks in rows, with ample spaces between them both for the
purpose of economizing bristles and also to establish a series of air currents
alternating with the friction of the bristles, which I have found most effectual in
the cleaning and polishing of damp boots. I place a pair of these brushes together
back to back, and mount them upon the discs of cardboard from which the "stocks
have been cut, having a central boss with a hole through, suitably bushed. There
is also a knob or handle at both sides of the disc. I further provide a small plate
or stand having a vertical spindle, and this may either be made to screw down or
be provided with a thumb screw for fastening it to the edge of a table. The
mode of use is to place the brushes horizontally upon the vertical spindle aforesaid
(the plate or stand being fastened down as mentioned), and with the right hand
the brushes are set in motion, and with the other boots are held to the brushes.
The brushes are reversed instantly at pleasure with as little trouble as the
changing of hand brushes; and owing to the comparatively little labour required
in applying blacking this is usually done with a hand brush.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Henry Ellis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th May 1882.
GEORGE HENRY ELLIS, of 21, Finsbury Pavement, in the City of London, in
the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOOTS AND SHOES."
My Invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for cleaning and polishing
boots and shoes, and it consists in the construction and arrangement of circular or
annular brushes disposed in pairs in the manner hereinafter described.
The annexed Drawings will render the Invention readily intelligible, Fig. 1
being a view of the improved apparatus partly in elevation and partly in section;
and Fig. 2, a plan of same.
In carrying out my Invention I provide circular or annular brush-stocks A of
convenient diameter, which I cut out of discs of millboard, strawboard, cardboard,
papier-mâché, wood, or other material, and which are thrown or moulded up on
their inner diameter to form bevelled surfaces, and I may here state that I prefer
to use millboard, strawboard, cardboard, or the like, instead of wood, as such
substances are not so liable to warp as wood is. Any number of thicknesses of
these substances may be used so as to give the necessary rigidity to the working
portion of the apparatus.
In or upon the outer surfaces of these stocks I place or fit the bristles a in rows,
leaving ample space between such rows not only for the purpose of economizing
bristles but more particularly for the purpose of establishing a series of air currents
alternating with the friction of the bristles, having found such air currents most
effectual in the cleaning and polishing of damp boots and shoes.
The brush stocks thus constructed are placed together in pairs back to back on
a central or common disc B, to which they are secured by nails, cement, or other-
wise. On the upper and lower surfaces of this disc B are placed other discs C, C¹,
(said discs being those from which the brush-stocks have been cut), which are
glued or cemented thereto so as to strengthen the central disc B carrying the
circular or 'annular brushes.
. [.
D is a boss made in two pieces, one piece of which is secured to the upper
disc C, and the other to the lower disc C. A hole is drilled through this boss
and through all the discs, and is lined with a bush f. Through this boss, and the
discs B, C, and C, 'a vertical spindle d' passes, and is secured at its lower end to a
stand or base plate E.
By making the boss in two pieces and securing them to the discs C, C, they
serve to strengthen the discs. The "spindle projects a short distance below the
stand or base, and forms a stop, or abutment, for the purpose hereinafter
described.
1..
९
This stand or base plate may be provided with lugs e, furnished with holes (or
the holes may be contrived in the stand itself) for the insertion of screws for the
purpose of securing the said stand to a table, 'shelf, or dresser. But the stand
may be secured in any other convenient manner, as for instance, by means of a
clamp and thumb screw, as seen in Fig. 3, and the spindle in this instance may be
made adjustable to suit various heights, and be retained in place by a set screw.
Hare handles or knobs, by means of which motion is communicated to the
apparatus, one such handle being fitted to the upper disc C, and the other to the
lower disc C¹.
One of the brushes is a hard one, and serves to clean the dust or mud from the
boot or shoe, and the other is a soft one, and serves to polish the same.

page_text: It is desirable for the successful working of of the apparatus that the spindle
carrying the brushes should be mounted eccentrically on its base plate or stand,
and that the apparatus should be fixed at the edge of the table or dresser in order
to obtain the greatest possible amount of brush surface, and for this purpose the
projecting portion of the spindle limits the extent to which the base plate or stand
can be fixed on the table or dresser.
Fig. 2 shews this arrangement clearly, Z being the edge of the table or dresser.
The working of the apparatus is as follows
The brushes, combined and arranged as herein described, are mounted horizontally
on the vertical spindle, and are set in motion by one hand, the boot or shoe being
held by the other hand against the lower and hard brush which is to act on it,
and after the dust or mud has been brushed from the boot or shoe the brushes are
reversed in order to bring the soft or polishing brush into position ready for
operation.
"
The brushes can be speedily reversed as desired, and with as little trouble as the
changing of hand-brushes, the brush which is to operate being always placed
downwards.
Blacking is applied to the boot or shoe by a hand-brush as usual.
Although I have described the apparatus as being worked by hand power, yet I
wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself thereto, as it may be worked
by treadle, and a convenient treadle arrangement for this purpose consists of a
frame carrying a fly-wheel, which is mounted horizontally, and on which the
spindle carrying the reversible brushes is fixed; this fly-wheel is furnished with
an eccentric pin or stud which works in a slot contrived in the yoke of the
treadle.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,—
First. The construction of the circular or annular brushes and the arrangement
of the same in pairs back to back, as herein described, and as shewn in the
Drawings for the purposes set forth.
Second. The new or improved apparatus for cleaning and polishing boots and shoes,
having its parts arranged, combined, and operated substantially as herein described
and as shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Henry Ellis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Seventeenth day of May in the year 1882
Witness,
WALTER BOUTCHER MASTERS,
Stationer,
33, King William Street,
London, E.C.
GEORGE HENKY ELLIS. (LS.)