IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS, SHOES, AND CLOGS."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Blakey, of Leeds, in the County of York, Boot
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF BOOTS, SHOES, AND CLOGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Blakey at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1876.
JOHN BLAKEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Boot Manufacturer.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS, SHOES, AND CLOGS."
"IMPROVE-
This Invention relates to metal "tips" or plates usually fixed on the heels and
toes of strong boots, shoes, and clogs; and my improvements consist in making such
tips or plates with a bevelled edge (turned inwards) and with nails or prongs
projecting therefrom, so that the tips or plates can be driven on the heel or toe of
boots without using detached nails.
By means of the bevelled edge the "filler" or last layer of leather coming under-
neath the bevelled part is held and pressed firmly to the heel without the use of
nails at present used for that purpose. I also put open plates or grates across the
sole of boots, shoes, and clogs, with nails or prongs projecting therefrom for the
purpose of securing them to the sole without the use of detached nails. The edges
of these plates are also bevelled for the purpose of holding down the "filler" or
last layer of leather without the use of nails. These grates or plates may be of
ornamental design, and the recesses or spaces filled in with waste leather.
In place of using strong nails I. employ a narrow plate or strip of metal with one,
two, or more nails or prongs thereon.
In some cases for strong boots worn by persons employed in blast furnaces and
forge works I turn up the edge of the tip or plate, so that the edges or outsides of
the soles are protected from being burnt. These tips or plates are cast in any
suitable metal, or they may be made from bevelled strips of metal and formed to the
required shape, the nails or prongs being attached afterwards; or these plates may
be secured to the boots by detached nails.
To facilitate the fixing of the tips or plates on to boots, shoes, and clogs, I place
them into the " cup" Patented by me on the 19th day of April 1876, No. 1638, and
force the prongs or nails into the leather by the press mentioned in the Specification
referred to.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Blakey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th May 1877.
JOHN BLAKEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Boot Manufacturer.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS, SHOES, AND CLOGS."
" IMPROVE-
This Invention relates to metal "tips" or plates usually fixed on the heels and
toes of strong boots, shoes, and clogs; and my improvements consist in making such
tips or plates with a bevelled edge (turned inwards) and with nails or prongs
projecting therefrom, so that the tips or plates can be driven on the heel or toe of
boots without using detached nails.
By means of the bevelled edge the "filler" or last layer of leather coming under-
neath the bevelled part is held and pressed firmly to the heel without the use of
nails at present used for that purpose. I also put open plates or grates across the
sole of boots, shoes, and clogs, with nails or prongs projecting therefrom for the
purpose of securing them to the sole without the use of detached nails. The edges
of these plates are also bevelled for the purpose of holding down the "filler
layer of leather without the use of nails. These grates or plates may be of orna-
mental design, and the recesses or spaces filled in with waste leather.
در
or last
In place of using strong nails I employ a narrow plate or strip of metal with one,.
two, or more nails or prongs thereon.
In some cases for strong boots worn by persons employed in blast furnace and
forge works I turn up the edge of the tip or plate so that the edges or outsides of
the soles are protected from being burnt. These tips or plates are cast in any
suitable metal, or they may be made from bevelled strips of metal and formed to the
required shape, the nails or prongs being attached afterwards; or these plates may
be secured to the boots by detached nails.
To facilitate the fixing of the tips or plates on to boots, shoes, and clogs, I place
them into the "cup" Patented by me on the 19th day of April, A.D. 1876, No. 1638,
and force the prongs or nails into the leather by the "press" mentioned in the
Specification referred to.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I herein give reference
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate soles and heels of boots, shoes, or other foot coverings
with different designs of plates; A, Fig. 1, is a sole plate of metal cast with
prongs a (see Fig. 3) the section of which is such that any small pieces of leather
inserted underneath the plate cannot fall out or become displaced. The pins or
prongs a serve for fastening the plate to the sole of the boot or shoe and may vary
in number and position according to requirement. In Fig. 2, the plate is in two
or more pieces so as to afford more flexibility, the spaces for leather being more
numerous than in Fig. 1. In place of cast or fixed nails loose nails may be used for
the sole plates. The heels of Figs. 1 and 2 are of different designs and may be
either screwed, nailed, or fixed by means of cast prongs or pins. The edges are
bevelled inwards so as to retain any pieces of leather that may be inserted between
the plate and the previously formed heel. In Fig. 2 the outer edge of the heel
contains most weight or thickness of metal to compensate for the great amount of
wear to which that edge is usually subjected.
Figs. 4 and 5 are two other designs for heel plates, Fig. 4 being cast to imitate
wrought iron "fitters," and Fig. 5 having holes bevelled or countersunk from the
inside to contain small scraps of leather, which scraps require no other fixing than
is afforded by the plate.
Figs. 11 and 12 shew cross section and plan of another form of plate which can
be readily fixed to the boot, waste leather being placed under and held down by the
bevelled part, as in the previous cases; Figs. 13 and 14 are views of such plates
without prongs, the plate being held or secured to the boot either with nails or by
putting nails through the leather. These plates may be readily cut out of sheet
iron with straight or countersunk holes, and may be easily attached to the boot by

page_text: persons not in the trade; Figs 6 and 7 are respectively sections of sole and beel
plates shewing the bevelled form of same and the prongs a for attaching them to
the leather.
Other sectional forms are shewn in Fig. 8, which may be adopted according as the
amount of wear is likely to be greater or less; Fig. 9 is section of Fig. 5, and
shews countersunk holes for leather scraps.
In Fig. 10, C, D, E, and F represent narrow strips of metal of various lengths
with from one to four prongs thereon, which may be attached around the edges
instead of plates or nails as now used, the trouble of fixing being less and the
leather being also less damaged or cut up.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I would have it understood
that claim,-
Firstly. The use of sole and heel plates having prongs or pins a cast thereon, as
herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The use of sole and heel plates with bevelled edges for retaining pieces
of leather, as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. The use of sole plates or clog irons with cross bars and spaces for the
insertion of leather, as herein shewn and described.
Fourthly. The use of narrow strips of metal with prongs cast thereon for
studding or placing round the edges of boots, shoes, or clogs instead of the nails and
plates hitherto used, in manner substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Blakey, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOHN BLAKEY. (L.S.)