IMPROVED MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC SOLE TIPS' AND 'HEELS FOR CLOGS, Boors, OR OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET.
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Mark Mason, of Dukinfield, in the County of Chester,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
MANUFACTURING METALLIC SOLE TIPS' AND 'HEELS FOR CLOGS, Boors, OR
OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET.".
1
Sealed the 23rd October 1855, and dated the 25th April 1855..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Mark. Mason at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
April. 1855.
•
I, MARK MASON, of Dukinfield, in the County of Chester, Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC SOLE TIPS' AND 'HEELS FOR CLOGS,
BOOTS, OR OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET," to be as follows:-
Hitherto "sole tips" and "heels" have been made by manual labor: I pur-
pose by this Invention to manufacture "sole tips" and "heels " by machinery or
apparatus, which I will now proceed to describe, commencing with the machine
or apparatus for the manufacture of "heels." I first divide the tip iron
used in the inanufacture of the "heel irons" into lengths proportionate to
the size of the heel iron required. In a strong framing of metal I employ a
steel face plate, on which are secured two adjustable ledges or rests for the

page_text: reception of the pieces of "tip iron "heated. A piece of tip iron having been
placed upon the rests by an "attendant feeder," and the machine put in driving
gear, the first motion is obtained from an excentric on the main shaft of the
machine or apparatus, which, in connection with a lever and die working in
vertical slides, forces the die down upon the piece of heated "tip iron," and
imparts to it the desired curve of the heel. A second motion is now brought
into operation, by which the extreme ends of the heels are slightly pressed
inward; this motion is obtained from a disc on the main shaft, from which two
teeth or clicks project, which in the revolution of the disc simultaneously
depress and elevate two vertical side levers, operating upon two small dies
sliding laterally; these dies as they slide on the heel give the inward pres-
sure to the extreme ends of the heel. It now becomes necessary that at this
part of the manufacture the heel should be firmly retained in its position; this
is effected by a third motion, consisting of a V-shaped lever (worked from a
fourth motion), carrying at one end a tongue, which at the proper time slightly
advances and firmly secures the heel upon the face plate, while the fourth
motion is brought into action, the effect of which is to flatten the extreme ends
of the heel. This motion is worked from an excentric at the back of the
machine or apparatus, and secured upon the main shaft. This excentric, in con-
nection with a vertical rod and connecting beam working beneath the machine,
operates upon two jaws placed within the "tipping slide;" as these jaws are
elevated and depressed the slide advances and recedes, at each advance effec-
tually flattening on the "face plate" the extreme ends of the heel. The heel
being now perfected with the exception of the holes being punched, the third
motion above described is released, and the heel allowed to fall, giving place
for a repetition of the entire operation. In the second machine or apparatus
for the manufacture of "sole tips," a face plate mounted in an appropriate
metal framing is employed, on which the "sole tip" is formed; this face plate
admits of the elevation and depression of the die which forms the "sole tip," as
well as a similar motion which is given to two "fullering" studs, the "fullers"
being the two indentations of the metal at the interior corners of "sole tips."
The heated "tip iron " being cut into suitable lengths, the machine may be put
in motion and fed. The first motion of the machine is communicated to the
fullering studs" from a cam secured upon the main shaft of the machine; the
revolution of this cam depresses a vertical lever, the lower end of which working
between two jaws gives motion to a slide which carries the "fullering studs."
The slide now advancing, the studs are raised above the surface of the face
plate, ready to form the indentations on the "sole tip," known as "fullers." A
second motion now takes place by the depression of a second vertical lever
"

page_text: from a cam upon the main shaft of the machine or apparatus. On the lower
end of this lever a die is secured, so as in its depression on the "sole tip" to
form the "fullers" on the "fullering studs." The studs are now withdrawn by
the retreating slide beneath the surface of the face plate, and a third motion
is given from a slotted arm upon the main shaft through a vertical T piece, to
the projecting arms of which connecting rods act upon moveable arms which
carry
the shapes or dies of the sides of the "sole tip;" as the T pieces descend,
the connecting rods cause the closing in of the moveable arms and side dies
above the surface of the face plate, complete the "sole tip," with the slight
exceptions of "punching". and "bevilling." By the elevation of the T piece,
and the aid of a small finger secured upon it, the die is withdrawn from the
face plate, and the completed "sole tip" allowed to fall and give place for
the repetition of the manufacture. In both the above-described machines,
by the shifting of the dies various sizes of "sole tips" and "heels", may be
manufactured.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Mark Mason in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th October 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARK
MASON, of Dukinfield, in the County of Chester, Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Mark Mason, Her especial licence that I, the said Mark Mason, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Mark
Mason, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agrec
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 "IMPROVED MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC SOLE TIPS' AND 'HEELS' FOR CLOGS, BOOTS,
OR OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Mark Mason, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same:

page_text: 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 Mark Mason, 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
and accompanying Drawings, that is to say:
Hitherto "sole tips and heels" have been made by manual labor: I pur-
pose by this Invention to manufacture "sole tips and heels" by machinery or
apparatus, which I will now proceed to describe, commencing with the machine
or apparatus for the manufacture of. "heels." I first divide the "tip iron "
used in the manufacture of the "heel irons "into lengths proportionate
to the size of the "heel iron" required. In a strong framing of metal
is employed a steel face plate, on which are secured two adjustable ledges or
rests for the reception of the pieces of "tip 'iron" heated. A piece of "tip
iron" having been placed upon the rests by an attendant "feeder," and the
machine put in driving gear, the first motion is obtained from an excentric
on the main shaft of the machine or apparatus, which, in connection with a
lever and die working in vertical slides, forces the die down upon the piece of
heated "tip iron," and imparts to it the desired curve of the heel. A second
motion is now brought into operation, by which the extreme ends of the heels
are slightly pressed inward. This motion is obtained from a disc on the main
shaft, from which two teeth or clicks project, which in the revolution of the
disc simultaneously depress and elevate two vertical side levers, operating upon
two small dies sliding laterally; these dies as they slide on to the heel give
the inward pressure to the extreme ends of the heel, or this motion may be
otherwise similarly effected. It now becomes necessary that at this part of the
manufacture the heel should be firmly retained in its position; this is effected
by a third motion, consisting of a V-shaped lever (worked from a fourth
motion), carrying at one end a tongue, which at the proper time slightly
advances and firmly secures the heel upon the face plate, while the fourth
motion is brought into action, the effect of which is to flatten the extreme ends
of the heel. This motion is worked from an excentric at the back of the
machine' or apparatus, and secured upon the main shaft. This excentric, in con-
nection with a vertical rod and connecting beam working beneath the machine,
operates upon two jaws placed within the " tipping slide;" as these jaws are
elevated and depressed, the slide advances and recedes at each advance, effec-
tually flattening on the face plate the extreme ends of the heel. The heel
being now perfected, with the exception of 'the holes being punched, the third
motion above described is released and the heel allowed to fall, giving place for

page_text: a repetition of the entire operation. In the second machine or apparatus for
the manufacture of "sole tips," a face plate mounted in an appropriate metal
framing is employed, on which the "sole tip" is formed; this face plate
admits of the elevation and depression of the die which forms the "sole tip,"
as well as a similar motion which is given to two "fullering studs," the
"fullers "being the two indentations of the metal at the interior corners of
"sole tips." The heated tip iron being cut into suitable lengths, the machine
may be put in motion and fed: The first motion is communicated to the
"fullering studs" from a càm secured upon the main shaft of the machine;
the revolution of this cam depresses a vertical lever, the lower end of which
working between two jaws gives motion to a slide which carries the " fullering
studs." The slide now advancing, the studs are raised above the surface of the
face plate, ready to form the indentations on the "sole tip," known as
"fullers." A second motion now takes place by the depression of a second
vertical lever from a cam upon the main shaft of the machine or apparatus. On
the lower end of this lever a die is secured, so as in its depression on the "sole
tip" to form the "fullers" on "the fullering studs." The studs are now
withdrawn by the retreating slide beneath the surface of the face plate, and
a third motion is given from a slotted arm upon the main shaft through a
vertical T piece, to the projecting arms of which connecting rods act upon
inoveable arms, which carry the shapes or dies of the "sole tip." As the
T pieces descend, the connecting rods cause the closing in of the moveable
arms and side dies, which, as they envelope the die above the surface of the
face plate, complete the sole tip, with the slight exceptions of "punching" and
"flattening." By the elevation of the T piece and the aid of a small finger
secured upon it, the die is withdrawn from the face plate, and the completed
"sole tip"allowed to fall and give place for the repetition of the manufacture.
In both the above described machines, by the shifting of the dies various sizes
of "sole tips" and "heels "may be manufactured.
In order that this Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached two Sheets of Drawing, made upon a scale of
about two and a half inches to the foot, and having similar letters or figures
of reference marked on corresponding parts of the machinery or apparatus in
the several Figures. Sheet 1 relates to the manufacture of "heels," and fully
illustrates the several modes preferable for attaining the required motions.
Sheet 2 relates to the manufacture of "sole tips," and fully exhibits the
preferable methods of obtaining the motions desired. Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) repre-
sents a front elevation of the first part of this Invention, and applies to the
manufacture of "heels;" Fig. 2 (Sheet 1) being a side elevation of the same.

page_text: Fig. 1 (Sheet 2) exhibits a front elevation of the second part of this Inven-
tion, and is applicable to the manufacture of "sole tips;" Fig. 2 (Sheet 2)
being a side elevation of the same. The explanation of the machines will
become clearer by confining it exclusively in the first place to the machine
(Sheet 1) for the, manufacture of."heels." On a strong metal framing a, a,
(Fig. 1, Sheet 1) is secured a steel face plate 6, on which the "heel" is formed.
The tip iron heated being first cut into the desired lengths, the attendant
feeder places one of these lengths upon the moveable ledges or rests c, c; the
machine being now put in driving gear, motion is communicated from the
driving pully d along the shaft e to the pinion f, from thence to the spur
wheel 9 and shaft h. On each end of the shaft h is mounted one of the two
discs, j and k; from the disc j the first motion is imparted, for by its revolution
it brings down the connecting arm l, the lower part of which is secured to the
block m, working in the slides n, n; in this block is secured the die o, which
in its descent presses on the piece of heated tip iron, resting on the moveable
ledges or rests c, c, imparting to it its form and carrying it down with it, but
as it is necessary that the extreme ends of the heel should be slightly bent
inwards, the moveable rests c, c, are controlled and pressed upon by the weighted
levers p, p, the weights upon these levers being so adjusted as to yield the
necessary pressure to the sliding rests c, c, to cause the " tip iron" closely to
enfold or encircle the shape of the die o. The piece of "tip iron" having now
been pressed beneath and through the moveable rests c, c, and the die o
having assumed its lowest depression, the continued revolution of the disc j
causes the re-elevation of the die o; but as the die o would now have a tendency
to carry up with it the encircling tip iron," two small shifting slides p', p',
one on each side of the "tip iron," are forced in upon it and retain it in its
position, allowing the die o to ascend separately; this is effected by securing on
the sliding block m two appropriately bent plates of metal 9 and 1, either end of
which bent pieces form an inclined plane. Secured likewise to any convenient
part of the framing arc, also two vertical rods of metal s, s, one on each side
of the framing; these rods moving upon a centre are connected by a bent
arm t, t, to the shifting slides p, p, and regulate their action; at the precise
moment that the die o ascends with the "tip iron" encircling it, the sliding
block m has brought down the bent plate of metal q. the inclined planes at
either end of which are pressing upon the inner inclined planes on the upper
part of the vertical rods of metal s, s, thus forcing in the shifting slides p', p',
on the tip iron, and for the time retaining it in its position and allowing
the withdrawal of the die o. It is now necessary that the extreme ends of the
"tip iron" under operation (or nearly. perfected" heël") should be tipped or

page_text: "
"
comes into
"
11:
flattened; but to effect this the slides p, p, must be removed to allow of the
" tipping slide
or punch u to operate upon the "tip iron;" but previous to
this, the shifting slides having been removed, the "tip iron" has still to be
firmly retained in its position while the punch or "tipping slide
operation. This is effected by securing on the side of the "tipping slide'
graduated click v, (Fig. 2, Sheet 1,) one end being furnished with an incline;
on the side of the framing is secured an opposed incline w; from the disc k on
the shaft h a connecting arm a actuates the lever y, passing longitudinally
beneath the machine; at the extreme end of the lever y a pin z secures a
small connecting rod a', which at its upper end works between two jaws
(dotted in Fig. 2); these jaws actuate the "tipping slide" u, in which a
tendency always to be drawn back from the face plate is maintained by the
spring b. c is a solid block of metal cast with the framing, and against
which the jaws gain purchase for actuating the "tipping slide" u. It will now
be observed, on reference to Fig. 2 (Sheet 1), that d' represents a lever with
a broad flat head, which would always be retained against the face plate 6 by
the bent lever d' and spring c', was it not for a third lever e¹, (all being secured
upon the same shaft f¹.) e¹ is regulated in its action by the projection or
notch upon the click v, and in such a manner, that by the sliding out of the
tipping slide," the incline plane on the click v may come in contact with
the incline plane w, and release the lever el simultaneously with the withdrawal
of the 'slides p', p', and thereby allowing the broad flat head of the' lever d
to secure the "tip iron" firmly on the face plate until the tipping slide u and
punch has advanced and flattened the extreine ends of the now perfected heel
(with the exception of the holes being punched). The projection on the click
piece v in the retraverse of the "tipping slide" now again presses back the
lever e, the effect of which is necessarily by drawing back the flat head of
the lever d to release the perfected "heel," and allow it to fall from the
face plate. The rests or ledges c, c, being now re-fed, the above motions are
repeated, and a succession of "heels" formed. Figs. 3 and 4 (Sheet 1) repre-
sent respectively about full size the piece of "tip iron" for the manufacture of
the "heel," and a plan view of the "perfected heel."
"
I will now proceed to describe the somewhat similar motions of the "sole
tip" machine (Sheet 2, Figs. 1 and 2).
. On a strong metal framing 1, 1, the front of which recedes at such an angle
as may be found convenient for the manufacture, is employed a steel face
plate 2, and on this face plate are retained the interior die or shape 3 of the
"sole tip," as well as the fullering studs 4, 4; on the face plate 2 is likewise
secured a slotted guage 5, for regulating the proper position of the "tip iron."

page_text: The "tip iron: (heated) having been divided into appropriate lengths, is fed
on to, the face plate 2, and rests upon the fullering studs, which slightly
project above the face plate. Motion is communicated from the driving pulley
6. through: the shaft.7. to the bevil pinion 8, from thence through the bevil
wheel 9.to the shaft..10, on which are secured two cams 11 and 12 and disc
18, from which the principal motions are obtained. The proper length of " tip
iron (heated) having been placed upon the projecting fullers, a simultaneous
motion is given to ardie 14 and shifting arms 15; 15. The motion to the
die 14. is imparted from the cam 12 through the vertical. rod or bar 16,
which has a constant tendency to be raised by a spring secured to the framing;
the depression of the shifting arms 15, 15, is communicated from thé disć 18
through the connecting arm 17, the lower end of which is secured to a metal
frame 18,.working in the slides-19, 19.
The primary acting motion being communicated from the cam 12, the
die..14 is brought down upon the piece of "tip iron," resting upon the
"fullering studs" and "face plate;" this has the effect of indenting the fullers
in the "tip iron;" as well as securing the indented "tip iron" on the upper
part of the interior die 3...The next motion is the withdrawal of the "fullering
studs.". These "fullering studs." are actuated from the cam 11, which is con-
nected by a vertical rod 20, the lower part of it working between two jaws,
and actuating a similar arrangement of machinery or apparatus, as before
described, at the tipping' slide u in the heel machine (Sheet 1), which with-
draws and protrudes the "fullering studs," the proper time for so doing being
regulated by the cam 11. The "fullering studs "being now withdrawn, the
following continuous motion is brought down by the sliding frame 18 against
the outer sides of the levers 15, 15; other weighted levers 18", 18*, operate in
such a manner and with such pressure that the descending levers 15, 15, cause
the "tip iron," secured on the upper portion of the die 3, to bend round and
assume the shape of the die 3. The die 3 is now withdrawn by means of a
finger 20, which descends with and is secured upon the frame 18; this finger
in its descent at the proper moment presses upon and drives back the incline
plane 21, thereby withdrawing the interior die; this interior die is otherwise
always maintained in its position by the balance weight 22 and lever 23 acting
upon the vertical shifting rod 24, which carries the incline plane 21. From
the rod.24 a cross lever 25 runs, extending to the other side of the framing,
and to this cross lever 25 the die 3 is secured at its centre. The sliding frame
18 still continuing to descend, the ends of the levers 15, 15, are brought in
contact with the distending planes. 26, 26, of the plate 27, which cause a
slight expanding of the levers 15, 15, thereby allowing the nearly completed

page_text: "sole tip" to fall through the levers 15, 15, and beneath the plate 27.
There
is now but one more operation to complete the "sole tip," and that consists in
the flattening of the "fullers;" this is effected by the hammer 28.' The "sole
tip" in its fall is caught and sustained for a short time on the guage plate 29,
until the hammer 28 is brought into operation; this is effected by employing.
on one end the shaft, 30 of the hammer 28 a short arm 31, held firmly
down by a spring secured to the side of the framing; on the opposite end of
the shaft of the hammer a small bent lever 32 is employed and secured, the
upper end of which forms an incline. On one side of the sliding frame is
secured a pendant rod 33, carrying near its lower end a small block of metal
34, the upper surface of which forms an incline, as well as one side, and at the
extreme end of the rod 33 is likewise a small projection 85. It may now be
seen, on reference to Sheet 2, that the hammer 28 would, in consequence of the
action of the spring attached to the short arm 31, be always retained upon the
face plate; but it will be observed, that on the, opposite side of the framing,
the incline on, the lever 32, by opposing the lower incline of the block 34,
causes the pendant rod 33 to spring outwards in its descent with the sliding
frame 18; this continues until the incline has traversed the block 34, when
the pendant rod 33 resumes its place opposite to the small lever 32. It will
now be observed, that upon the ascent of the sliding frame the upper incline
of the block 34 comes into contact with the upper projecting tooth (one side
inclined) of the small bent lever 32; this has the effect of throwing back the
lever 32 and hammer 28, as well as distending the spring attached to the short
arm 31, thereby allowing the already formed "sole tip" to fall into position
on the guage plate. While the tooth of the bent lever 32 is still traversing
the block, the hammer is held in suspension, and the "sole tip" to be com-
pleted has fallen into position, but so. quickly as the passage of the tooth of
the lever 32 over the surface of the block 34 is terminated the spring collapses,
and the hammer by falling flattens the fullering, and the "sole tip" is com-
pleted. It now alone remains for the support of the "guage plate" and the
removal of the pressure of the hainmer from the "sole tip," to be effected by
the still continued elevation of the pendant lever 38, the lower projection of
which causes the slight elevation of both, thereby releasing the "perfected
sole tip" (with the exception of punching holes), and allowing a constant
repetition of the motions above described with a corresponding production of
"sole tips." Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet 2, represent respectively. a plan of the
piece of "tip iron" when first placed in the machine or apparatus to be
operated upon, and also a plan view of the same when completed, and are
drawn about full size.

page_text: Having now fully described the nature of this Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be put into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim the novel employment, application, and use, and also
the general arrangement, of the several parts and motions of the machinery or
apparatus (or any slight modification of the same) as herein particularly
described and set forth, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for the
purpose of manufacturing "sole tips" and "heels " for clogs, boots, or other
covering for the feet.
In witness whereof, I, the said Mark Mason, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
MARK MASUN.
(LS.)