A NEW OR IMPROVED SHOE AND BOOT CLEANING MACHINE ADAPTABLE IN PART FOR PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marcus Simon, of Frankfort-on-the-Maine, in the
Empire of Germany, at present residing at No 14, London Street,
in the City of London, Merchant, for the Invention of "A NEW OR
IMPROVED SHOE AND BOOT CLEANING MACHINE ADAPTABLE IN PART FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marcus Simon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th April 1875.
I, MARCUS SIMON, of Frankfort-on-the-Maine, in the Empire of
Germany, at present residing at No. 14, London Street, in the City of
London, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
for "A NEW OR IMPROVED SHOE AND BOOT CLEANING MACHINE ADAPTABLE IN
PART FOR POLISHING OR SHARPENING KNIVES AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES,'
to be as follows.
""
The object of this Invention is that the machine shall in an efficient
manner clean, black, and polish the boots and shoes.

page_text: The machine consists, firstly, of a rest upon which the shoe or boot
to be blacked is placed. The machine is built up on a frame supporting
the whole of the mechanism for the movement of the brushes. Those
brushes effecting the blacking operation have partially a rotating
movement and partially a reciprocating one, or in a modified construction
of the machine they may have a rotating movement only.
The base plate of the machine is made from wood, or iron, or other
suitable metal or material. The frame may be of wood or metal, but I
prefer it to be of iron, and consists of two parts connected together in a
suitable manner. A foot rest is provided on which the boot or shoe is
placed.
A brush is separately provided for the further extremity of the boot
or the upper leather. This brush is composed of three separate brushes,
one of which is for the purpose of blacking the middle part of the upper
leather. This composite brush is semicircular, and is pressed together]
by springs of any construction so that it may fit any form and size of
boot or shoe.
There are rotating brushes for the side parts of the shoc, and
spiral springs press the brushes against it. A brush is also provided for
the back part of the boot. This brush consists of three brushes like the
brush first named herein, and spiral spring or springs of any suitable
construction press the brush against the boot, so that this brush fits any
form or size.
These arrangements of brushes are worked by means of a central shaft
with grooved fly wheel and cranked handle operating by means of a
pulleys and cords or bands other shafts, and by them the brushes.
There is in addition another brush to be used either for cleaning purposes
or for distributing the blacking. There is provided at one end of the
machine an upper and lower brush facing each other so as to clean at
the same time the upper and lower part of boot before blacking.
The machine works in the following manner The boot to be blacked
is placed on the foot rest, and the fly wheel is turned. Thus is moved a
_crank shaft, giving a reciprocating motion to the brushes first named.
By a slight modification of construction this brush may also make a
rotating motion either full or half way. The rotating brushes doing the a
sides of foot are driven by cord pulleys placed on the shaft just named.
The brushes doing the heel are moved by cord pulleys, the crank shaft,

page_text: and lovers. These brushes have an up-and-down motion. The machino
may be thus modified:-The frame of the machine similar to that
above described, pulleys with brushes are fastened on their axes in
such a way that they may slide longitudinally to their axes. These
5 brushes are pressed by spiral springs or other means against the boot.
A brush of a large diameter fast to its axis blacks and polishes the upper
and further part of the boot, other brushes black and polish the back
part, and a separate brush works the toe of the boot.
All the brushes
are driven by a fly wheel. The foot rest with the boot is pressed against
the brushes by spiral or other springs. All brushes are so constructed
as to fit every size and form of boot.
Another construction of machine consists like the machine first
described of a foot rest upon which the boot or shoe to be polished 18
placed, and of a frame containing three compound rotating brushes
against which the boot or shoe to be operated is held. These three
brushes are each of three parts, one centre part of a cylindrical form,
but larger at its ends, and reducing or tapering slightly as its centre is
approached, and having bristles externally, and one brush on each side in
the form of a flat disc, oach with the bristles internally or next the central
cylindrical brush of the threc. The two disc brushes are free to move
within certain limits upon the shaft, the limits being determined upon
the one hand by stops upon the shaft, and upon the other by the central
cylindrical brush. Between the disc brushes and the stops are spiral
springs in order that the discs may be pressed against the boot or shoe,
and yet at the same time to yield if necessary so that any size of boot or
shoe may be placed between them. When the boot is on the rest one
set of the triple brushes, the front and lower one, is doing the toe part of
the boot; another, the upper set, is polishing the upper parts of boot;
and a third, or hind set, the hinder part or heel of boot. The sides or
hollowed out parts of boots are polished by rotary brushes, one on each
side of foot rest.
In another modification of this machine, as last described, I omit the
two side brushes just hercin-before alluded to, as also the front set doing
the toc part of boot, and use only the upper set described as doing the
upper part of boot, and the hinder set described as doing the heel part
of boot, and by these two compound brushes effect the polishing of the
whole of the boot. In order to effect this I place a second foot rest to
some extent behind and higher up than the first. After the boot has

page_text: been placed on the first foot rest, and the upper and hinder parts have
been thus polished, it is next placed upon the second foot rest, and
thus the hollowed out portion of the boot will come between the two
side or flat disc brushes of the hinder compound brush, and the toe part
or point of boot will come against the centre or cylindrical brush of the
upper set, and thus these parts of the boot will be polished, completing
the whole operation. In order to facilitate the getting of the foot
between the front and hind brushes the latter is carried on a frame
hanging to. the rotating shaft, and in this way the hinder brush can be
with ease moved forward and backwards, and the foot placed easily
between. I also place at any convenient positión a brush with hard
bristles to remove the mud from the boot before polishing, and another
for applying the blacking which is placed in-a suitable receptacle bencath
it.
Another modification of my machine consists of a frame carrying a 1
horizontal shaft upon which is set a compound or triple brush with
central, cylindrical, and two flat disc brushes, as used in the two forms
of machines last described, and provided with springs and stops also as
described. By holding the boot or shoc to this compound polishing
brush all parts can be polished with great facility. Upon the horizontal
shaft can also be carried a rotary brush for applying the blacking placed
in a suitable holder below, and a haid brush for removing the mud.
This machine can be worked by treadle or other motion.
In order to utalize to the fullest extent this machine, the hard brush
last named may be removed and a disc surfaced with leather or other
suitable substance substituted therefor and used for polishing or cleaning
cutlery and other articles, or a disc of stone for grinding and sharpening
cutlery.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARCUS
SIMON, of Frankfort-on-the-Maine, in the Empire of Germany, at present
residing at No. 14, London Street, in the City of London, Merchant,
send greeting.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Marcus Simon, Her special
licence that I, the said Marcus Simon, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Marcus Simon, 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, usc, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW
OR IMPROVED SHOE AND BOOT CLEANING MACHINE ADAPTABLE IN PART FOR
POLISHING OR SHARPENING KNIVES AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Marcus Simon, 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 saine to be filed in the Great Scal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marcus Simon, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to bo particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say.
The object of this Invention is that the machine shall in an efficient
manner clean, black, and polish the boots and shoes.
The machine consists, firstly, of a rest upon which the shoe or boot to
be blacked is placed The machine is built upon a frame supporting the
whole of the mechanism for the movement of the brushes. Those
brushes effecting the blacking operation have partially a rotating move-
ment and partially a reciprocating one, or in a modified construction of
the machine they may have a rotating movement only only.
In order that the nature of my Invention, and the means by which
the same is effected, may be clearly described and ascertained this
Specification is accompanied by two Sheets of Drawings having figures
and letters marked thereupon, which are herein-after referred to.

page_text: The base plate a, a,-of the machine (Sheet 1 in the Drawings, Figures
1 and 2) is made from wood, iron, or other suitable metal or material.
The frame b, b, may be of wood or metal (but I prefer it to be of iron),
and consists in two parts connected together in a suitable manner.
A foot rest c is provided, on which the boot or shoe is placed.
A brush & is separately provided for the further extremity of the boot
or the
upper leather. This brush is composed of three separate brushes,
one of which is for the purpose of blacking the middle part of the upper
leather. This composite brush is semicircular, and is pressed together
by springs of any construction, so that it may fit any form and size of
boot or shoe, &, d, are spiral springs pressing against the brush d, e, e,
are spiral springs pressing the foot rest with the boot thercon
There are rotating brushes for the side parts of the shoe and spiral
springs 9, 9, press the brushes against it. A brush h is also provided
for the back part of the boot. This brush consists of three brushes like
the brush & first named herein, and spiral springs or springs of any
suitable construction press the brush h against the boot, so that this
brush fits any form or size; k is a pulley for a cord.
These arrangements of brushes are worked by means of a central
shaft with grooved fly wheel and cranked handle operating by means
of pulleys and cords or bands other shafts, and by them the brushes.
There is an addition another brush, to be used either for cleaning
purposes or for distributing the blacking There is provided at one end
of the machine an upper and lower brush facing each other, so as to
clean at the same time the upper and lower parts of boot before blacking,
Z is a cranked shaft, m, n, are lovers giving motion to the brush h,
o, connecting rod, p, p, cord pulley for working the brush f; q, cord
pulley for moving the brush d, q', crank shaft; r, r, levers giving
motion to the brush d, 8, 8, frame supporting the brush, t fly wheel
with crank; t¹, cord pulley; t", shaft for the fly wheel; u, brush
fastened on the side of the machine, this brush serves either for cleaning
or for distributing the blacking on the boot.
The machine works in the following manner:-The boot to be blacked
is placed on the foot rest c and the fly wheel is turned. There is moved
a crank shaft q', giving a reciprocating motion to the brushes d, d, first
named. By a slight modification of construction this brush may also
make a rotating motion either full or half way. The rotating brushes, f

page_text: doing the sides of boot are driven by cord pulleys p, p, on the shaft q¹
just named
The brushes doing the heel arc moved by cord pulleys
qand, the crank shaft l, and levers m, n.
These brushes have an up-
and-down motion. The machine may be thus modified (sec Figures
3 and 4, Sheet 1, in the Drawings) :-The frame of the machine similar
to that above described, pulleys a, a, a, with brushes are fastened on
their axis c, c, c, in such a way that they may shde longitudinally to
their axis
The brushes are pressed by spiral springs or other means
against the boot. A brush 6 of a large diameter, fast to its axis, blacks
and polishes the upper and further part of the boot. Other brushes b
and 6 black and polish the back part, and a separate brush 6ª works
the toe of the boot. All the brushes are driven by a fly whcel d. The
foot rest with the boot is pressed against the brushes by spiral or other
springs. All brushes are so constructed as to fit every size and form of boot.
Another construction of machine consists like the machine just
described of a foot rest, upon which the boot or shoe to be polished is
placed, and of a frame containing three compound rotating brushes,
against which the boot or shoe to be operated is hold. Those threo
brushes are each of three parts, ono centre part, of a cylindrical form
but larger at its ends and reducing or tapering slightly as its centre is
approached, and having bristles externally, and one brush on each side
in the form of a flat disc, each with the bristles internally or next the
central cylindrical brush of the three. The two disc brushes are free
to move within certain limits upon the shaft, the limits being determined
upon the one hand by stops upon the shaft, and upon the other by the
central cylindrical brush. Between the disc brushes and the stops are
spiral springs, in order that the discs may be pressed against the boot or
shoe, and yet at the same time to yield if necessary, so that any size of
boot or shoc may be placed between them. When the boot is on the
rest one set of the triple brushes, the front and lower one, is doing the
toe part of the boot; another, the upper set, is polishing the upper parts
of boot; and a third, or hind set, the hinder part or heel of boot. The
sides or hollowed out parts of boot are polished by rotary brushes, one
on each side of foot rest.
In another modification of this machine, as last described, I omit the
two side brushes just herein-before alluded to, as also the front set doing
the toe part of boot, and use only the upper set described as doing the
upper part of boot, and the hinder set described as doing the heel part

page_text: of boot, and by these two compound brushes effect the polishing of the
whole of the boot This modification is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet II., in the Drawings; Figure 1 being one end view, and
Figure 2 a plan of a machine for street or other use. It is driven, as
will be seen, by hand by means of a crank handle opening a shaft
carrying a double grooved wheel B, which by means of a cord or gut
and pulley C, C, drives the two shafts D, D'. The construction and
arrangement of brushes, springs, and stops, may be similar to those
herein before described; but one important feature of the machine is
that the shaft D¹ is carried on a frame hanging on the shaft D, to which
it is attached and capable of being moved outwardly, as shewn by the
dotted lines in Figure 1, in order to facilitate the getting in and out of
the foot. In any position-the rotation of the shaft D¹ is maintained.
The rest upon which the foot is placed consists of a spring N.
Another modification of my machine is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, 1
Sheet II. Figure 3 is an end view, and Figure 4 a plan of a simple
machine suitable for hotels, schools, and household purposes.
It will be seen that a suitable framework, to the exact form of which
I do not confine myself, supports in bearings a motive shaft A upon
which is keyed a grooved wheel B, which by means of a band or cord
passing around the pulley C drives a second shaft D. Upon this shaft is
carried, firstly, a cylindrical receptacle E for the liquid blacking; this
receptacle is of metal punctured or perforated externally, and around
it is placed sponge, wool, or some other similar suitablo substance
through which the liquid blacking is slowly forced by the rotation:
of the cylinder, and by holding the boot or shoe against the sponge
or such like material it receives the blacking necessary. Upon the
shaft D is also carried a compound or triple brush, consisting of three
portions or parts, one centre part F of a cylindrical form, but larger
at its ends, and reducing or tapering slightly as its centre is approached,
and one brush on each side of it in the form of flat discs G, G¹, with
the bristles internally or next the centre brush. The two brushes are
free to move within certain limits upon the shaft, the limits being
determined upon the one hand by stops I, II, upon the shaft, and upon
the other by the central cylindrical brush. Between the disc brushes
G, G, and the stops H, H, are spiral or other springs.
In Drawing Figure 4 I show spiral springs I, I, as being convenient
for my purpose, which is to press the disc brushes against the boot or

page_text: shoc, and yet at the same time to yield if necessary, so that not only
any size of boot or shoe may be placed between them, but also to yield
if any extra or unduc pressure is applied, and thereby prevent injury
to the boot or shoe. This object is further assisted by the manner in
which the discs are mounted upon the shaft.
It will be seen by reference to Figure 3, where at K is shown the
manner in which the discs are bored or cut with an increasing or comical
borc, so that they will not only shde longitudinally upon the shaft, as
herein-before explained, but they can be deflected or pressed outwardly
from the centre to a certain angle, the spring always returning the discs
to their original position upon the removal of the pressure.
I havo herein-before stated that I do not confine myself to the exact
construction of springs, and in Figure 5 I show an arrangement of
central cylindrical brush and two external disc brushes, in which the
spiral springs are dispensed with, and instead thereof are used springs of
vulcanized india-rubber which pull together the discs, and thus answer
the same end as the spiral springs.
I do not limit myself to the number of the springs, but find three,
as shown by L, L, L, in the Drawing, Figures 5 and 6, a convenient
number. The brush for removing the dust or hard mud is marked M,
Figure 4; it can be removed and replaced if required by a disc for
cleaning, or a stone for grinding cutlery, or by a circular saw, or other
similar useful household tools.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the means by which the same is effected, I wish
it to be clearly understood that what I claim and desire to secure by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The construction and arrangement of machines as shewn in
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 (Sheet I., in the Drawings, and in this Specifica-
tion described.
Secondly. The peculiar arrangements and construction of compound
brushes with the arrangements for giving reciprocating or to-and-fro
and semi-rotary motion thereto.
Thirdly The arrangement, consisting of central cylindrical and two
5 flat disc brushes (conically fitted, as herein-before described and shown