IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE SOLES OF BOOTS, SHOES, CLOGS, AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Moses Philip Manfield, of Northampton, in the
County of Northampton, Shoe Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE SOLES OF BOOTS, SHOES, CLOGS, AND
OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET."
Sealed the 1st April 1869, and dated the 8th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Moses Philip Manfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th October 1868.
I, MOSES PHILIP MANFIELD, of Northampton, in the County of
Northampton, Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE SOLES OF BOOTS, SHOES,
CLOGS, AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements applicable to soles of boots, shoes,
clogs, and other coverings for the feet, relates to the heavier class of
articles or those which are usually made with double soles.
The object of the Invention is to make a strong article with durable
soles possessing as much elasticity as an ordinary single solc, but
considerably lighter and cheaper than the double sole.

page_text: The Invention consists in attaching to the face of the sole a series of
small round or other shaped discs or pellets of thick leather to take the
tread and wear instead of wearing down the sole. In order to attach
these round discs or pellets of leather to the sole of the boot or shoe
I pass through them metal pegs or screws, which may be driven or
screwed into the ordinary sole in the way in which hob nails are now
arranged.
In the ordinary manufacture of boots and shoes the soles are cut out
of thick pieces of leather, leaving of course a considerable amount of
waste pieces, which hitherto have been considered of little or no value.
From these waste pieces I propose to punch out with any suitable tool
the small discs or pellets of leather above mentioned, which, if desired,
may be impregnated with any liquid preserving substance, and, if
desired, they may also be consolidated or hardened by pressure. Metal
pins, studs, or screws are to be forced through these discs to form
shanks, whereby the discs of leather are to be held on to the sole.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Moses Philip Manfield in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th April 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MOSES
PHILIP MANFIELD, of Northampton, in the County of Northampton,
Shoe Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Moses Philip Manfield, Her special licence
that I, the said Moses Philip Manfield, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Moses Philip Manfield, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS

page_text: APPLICABLE TO THE SOLES OF BOOTS, SHOES, CLOGS, AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE
FEET," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Moses Philip
Manfield, 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 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 Moses Philip Manfield, 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 Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):-
My Invention of improvements applicable to the soles of boots,
shoes, clogs, and other coverings for the feet, relates to the heavier
class of coverings for the feet, and is intended to provide an efficient
substitute for those which are made with double soles.
The object of the Invention is to make the soles of boots, shoes, clogs,
and sandals as durable and possessing as much elasticity as ordinary
single soles, but considerably lighter and cheaper than double soles.
The Invention consists in attaching to the face of the sole or grain
side of the leather a series of small round or other shaped discs or studs
of thick leather to take the tread and wear, and thus to protect the sole
and prevent its wearing down. These discs or studs of leather will add
little to the weight of the boot or shoe, and will give it a quiet tread
while serving the purpose of the ordinary hob nails, which have the
disadvantage of adding materially to the weight of the boot and render-
ing it impossible to walk quietly upon bare floors or pavement in boots
thus protected at the soles.
The novel construction of stud which I employ is shewn in the
accompanying Drawing, where Fig. 1 is a side view of the stud, and
Fig. 2, a section of the same.
The stud resembles somewhat in form a round headed nail, but other
forms may be adopted if thought desirable. The head a is composed of
compressed leather, through the centre of which is driven a brass or
other metal pointed pin b. This pin is by preference made conical at its

page_text: head, and it is ribbed transversely from the point to the head by being
pressed between dies in order that it may have a firm hold of the leather
head a, and when driven into the sole may be securely set therein. The
way of disposing these studs in the boot will be similar to that adopted
when hob nails are employed.
In the ordinary manufacture of boots and shoes the soles are cut out
of thick pieces of leather, leaving of course a considerable amount of
waste pieces, which hitherto have been considered of little or no value.
From these waste pieces I propose to punch out with any suitable tool
small discs of leather suitable for forming the studs. These discs I may
impregnate with preserving liquid, and then consolidate or harden them
by pressure in suitably shaped dies. The ribbed and pointed metal pins
when forced through the leather heads will have their conical heads
firmly imbedded in the leather; and the more effectually to secure this
result it may be well to insert the pin 6 in the disc a before submitting
it to the action of the compressing dies.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of improvements
applicable to the soles of boots, shoes, clogs, and other coverings for
the feet, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent I claim, the application to the soles of boots, shoes, and other
coverings for the feet, of leather studs constructed in the manner and for
the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Moses Philip Manfield, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
EDMUND LORD,
Northampton.
M. P. MANFIELD. (L.S.)