Iμ- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lanham, of Parkside Street, Battersea,
in the County of Surrey, Shoemaker, for the Invention of "Iμ-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
Sealed the 4th November 1873, and dated the 8th May 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lanham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th May 1873.
I, John Lanham, of Parkside Street, Battersea, in the County of
Surrey, Shoemaker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
My said Invention relates, first, to a novel method of applying the
heel of the boot or shoe to its sole; for this purpose in cutting the sole
leather I leave thereon an extension to form the hecl, that is to
say, I
form the sole and heel of one piece of leather instead of building up
the heel of a number of "lifts," or otherwise fixing it upon a separate

page_text: sole. The portion of leather to form the heel is bent into a shape
approximating to that of the finished heel, and its extremity is united
to the other portion by stitching; the line of junction and stitching
being one of the corners of the heel and extending down from the
sole.
As will be clear from the above description the heels thus formed are
hollow, and are made solid by filling them with wood or other suitable
material.
When the heel has been stitched it is "turned," and is then placed
in my improved shaping apparatus, which is constructed as follows:-
The said apparatus has a base plate of cast iron or other suitable metal.
This base plate supports a fixed bar, against which the inner side of the
heel is placed, and an external adjustable die, which is forced against
the back of the heel; and these parts operate in combination with an
internal die which is introduced into the heel. The said internal and
external dies are shaped to give the required contour or configuration
to the said heel. The internal die is attached to a plate or slab which
is held in place preferably by a screw passed through an adjustable
cross head; the latter turns on a pivot at one side of the said apparatus,
and at the other side is held by a bolt head or other suitable contrivance,
which allows it to be conveniently secured and released to permit
the ready introduction and removal of the work; or instead of the
adjustable cross head I may use a fixed cross head or bar. The
adjustable dio is operated by a screw passed through a nut in a cross
bar at the end of the apparatus; the said screw is provided with a
suitable hand wheel or handle. After the heel has been shaped in this
improved apparatus it is filled with wood or other suitable material.
Another part of my said Invention relates to a contrivance whereby
in the manufacture of "turned " work the upper may be sewn upon
the sole after the heel has been put on the same; this part of my
Invention is especially designed for use in connection with the aforesaid
improved method of forming the heels upon the soles, but it is applicable
to work wherein the heels are fitted in the ordinary manner upon the
soles. The object of this part of my Invention is effected by making
in the last a cavity or recess for the reception of the heel. The
stitching around the sole and the subsequent "turning" of the work are
performed in the ordinary manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Lanham in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 8th November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
LANHAM, of Parkside Street, Battersea, in the County of Surrey,
Shoemaker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Lanham, Her special licence, that I,
the said John Lanham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Lanham, 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 ex-
pressed, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Lanham, 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 John Lanham, 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 accompanying Drawing
forming a part of this Specification :-
My said Invention relates, first, to a novel method of applying the heel
of a boot or shoe to its sole.

page_text: Figures 1, 2, and 3 shew the sole and heel of a boot or shoe in the
different stages of the manufacture thereof according to my Invention.
Figure 4 is a plan of my improved shaping apparatus. Figure 5 is
a longitudinal section of the same, on the line x, x, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line y, y, Figure 4.
Fig. 7 is a plan of a last constructed according to my Invention;
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of the same. Like letters indicate
the same parts throughout the Drawing.
In the manufacture of boots and shoes according to this Invention I
cut the sole leather with an extension a to form the heel, as shown in
Figure 1, that is to say, I form the sole and heel of one piece of leather
instead of building up the heel of a number of "lifts," or otherwise
fixing it upon a separate sole. The portion of leather a to form the
heel is bent into a shape approximating to that of the finished heel,
as shewn in Figure 2, and its extremity is united to the other portion
by stitching; the line of junction and stitching b. being one of the
corners of the heel and extending down from the sole, or I modify the
said Invention by making the sole in two separate picces, and join
them together at the waist. As will be clear from the above description
the heels thus formed are hollow, they therefore are afterwards made
solid by filling them with wood or other suitable material.
The heel in the stage of its formation, shewn in Figure 2, has the
wrong side of the leather outward, and when stitched it is turned, that
is to say, its position on the sole is reversed by forcing the leather
which forms the heel through the aperture thereof. The sole with the
heel thus formed on it is then placed in my improved shaping apparatus,
Figures 4, 5, and 6, which is constructed as follows: The said
apparatus has a base plate c of cast iron or other suitable metal, and
which has an upwardly projecting flange or wall c¹ at the sides. The
base plate c supports a fixed bar d, which is held in place by the
cross bar e, and which is properly shaped at its end d¹ to receive and
support the inner side of the heel a, as clearly shown in Figure 5; fis

page_text: an external adjustable die, which is forced against the back of the heel;
g is another die or block, which is introduced into the cavity of the heel,
as shewn in the same Figure. The said internal and external dies are
shaped as shewn to give the required contour or configuration to the
said heel. The internal die g is attached to a plate or slab of metal
or other suitable material, which is held in place by another plate i and
a screw j passed through an adjustable cross head ; the latter turns on
a pivot at k³ at one sido of the apparatus, and its free end is formed with
a slot k³, whereby it is held by a bolt head or other suitable
contrivance which allows it to be conveniently secured and released to
permit the ready introduction and removal of the work. I may
however in some cases use a fixed cross head or bar in place of this
adjustable cross head. The external dicfis adjusted by a screw passed
through a nut m in a cross bar n secured like the cross bar e to the
sides of the apparatus. The said screw is provided with a suitable hand
wheel o or a handle whereby it is conveniently manipulated. The
bar d, and dies fand g, may be made of a number of plates, sheets, or
layers, so that their thickness or depth may be varied to suit different
sized heels. After the heel has been shaped in this improved apparatus
it is filled with wood or other suitable material to give it the required.
solidity.
I will now describe the contrivance whereby in the manufacture of
"turned" work the uppers may be sewn upon the soles after the heels
have been put on the same; this part of my Invention is especially
designed for use in connection with the aforesaid improved method of
forming the heels upon the soles, but it is applicable to work wherein
the heels are fixed in the ordinary manner upon the soles. The object
of this part of my Invention is effected by making in the last p a cavity
or recess q for the reception of the heel. This cavity must be of such
a size as to admit the heel to its full depth, so that the sole rests
properly upon the last. The stitching around the sole and the
subsequent "turning" of the work are performed in the ordinary
manner.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim, —
First. Forming the heel of a boot or shoe upon the sole, and in one
piece therewith, by making an extension on the sole leather and
properly shaping and stitching the same, as herein described.

page_text: Second. The apparatus for shaping the said heels, consisting of the
bar d, and the dies f and 9, combined and operating together and with
the other parts of the said apparatus, as herein set forth.
Third. A last with a recess or cavity formed in its heel, as hercin set
forth, and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lanham, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
H. J. NOONE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
JOHN LANHAM. (L.S.)