IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS FOR BOOTS
Year: 1885

page_text: This Specification was, upon the 16th day of September 1886, amended under
Sections 18 to 21 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, 1883.
The Amendmento une bonum i'm manned and isntin tama
We, HARRY WILLIAM MOBBS Boot Manufacturer and ALFRED LEWIS, Engineer
both of Kettering in the County of Northampton do hereby declare the nature of
our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS FOR BOOTS to be as follows :—
This invention relates more particularly to lasts which are used in the manu-
facture of boots and shoes by machinery but it is also applicable to lasts for hand
made boots and shoes.
The ordinary manufacturing last is made of metal and is placed upside down on
a post which is fitted into a socket on a table or in any other suitable position.
During the manufacture of the boot the last is subjected to a good deal of
hammering and it is therefore necessary that the foot portion of the last should be
very solid. For this reason that portion is generally made in one piece the instep
portion only being removable to allow for the being taken off the last when
completed.
In the natural foot the length from the toe to the heel is greater than from the
toe to the back of the foot in or about in line with the ankle and the heel is also
much wider than that part of the foot and the boot or shoe being cut accordingly,
great difficulty is experienced in getting the boot off the last, causing not only
much loss of time which is a considerable item in the manufacture but also greatly
straining the upper in order to get the boot over the projecting heel.
Now the object of our invention is so to construct the last that these difficulties
may be overcome.
To this end we form the last with a loose heel piece which we so arrange that it
will lock with the last in the direction in which the hammering takes place but
will readily detach itself in the other direction when it is desired to take the
finished boot off the last so that the foot portion after the instep piece has been
removed will readily come out of the boot leaving the heel piece therein to be
removed afterwards.
By the use of our improved last a much better fit round the ankle can be
obtained as the upper can be cut to fit tightly instead of being as at present cut
loose to allow the heel of the last to come out,

page_text: We HARRY WILLIAM MOBBS, Boot Manufacturer and ALFred Lewis, Engineer,
both of Kettering in the County of Northampton do hereby declare the nature of
our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS FOR BOOTS, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
This invention relates more particularly to lasts which are used in the manu-
facture of boots and shoes by machinery, but it is also applicable to lasts for hand
made boots and shoes.
The ordinary last used for machine-made boots consists of metal, and is placed
upside down on a post, which is fitted into a socket in a table, or in any other
suitable position.
During the manufacture of the boot, the last is subjected to a good deal of
hammering, and it is therefore necessary that the foot portion of the last should be
very solid firm. For this reason that portion is generally made in one piece, the
instep portion or block only being removable to allow for the boot being taken off
the last when completed.
In the natural foot, the length from the toe to the heel is greater than from the
toe to the back of the foot above the heel, and the heel is much wider than the part
of the foot above the heel. Great difficulty is therefore experienced in the removal
of the boot from the last, causing not only much loss of time, which is a consider-
able item in the manufacture, but also greatly straining or bursting the upper
seans, and often breaking the sole at the waist. Hence repeated attempts have
been made to construct u divided last.
Now the object of our invention is so to construct the a last, that these in which
the above mentioned difficulties may be are overcome, that the parts of the divided
lust shall To this end we form the last in two parts, which we so arrange that
they will lock together, and when so locked, will admit of the hammering and
other operations taking place, and-that-they-will-also-be such parts being capable
of ready detachment, when it is desired to take the partly formed or the finished
boot off the last, and of ready replacement in the boot for further operations or
finishing.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1, Sheet I, is an elevation, partly in section
(taken on the centre line of Fig. 2), of our improved last. In this figure, the last
is shown fitted onto the post, and in the inverted position ready for working.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved last; Fig. 3 is a view of the rear face of
the foot portion; and Fig. 4 is a view of the corresponding face of the heel portion;
Fig. 5 shows an Oxford ahoe with the last partly withdrawn.
A is the post, which is secured to a table, or in any other convenient manner;
B is the foot portion of the last, and O the heel piece. D is the removable block

page_text: or instep piece, which is usual with all lasts, and forms no part of the present
invention.
The adjoining faces of the parts B and C are formed on the bevel, or inclined at
a greater or less angle in either direction, as may be preferred, which will admit of
the parts B or C, when unlocked, sliding rearwards or forwards, as the case may be,
when being drawn out of the boot, and thus provide for the facile removal of the
last. The parts B and C will be cast in any convenient manner, care being taken
that the two faces are perfectly true.
In Sheet I, this bevel or incline is shown as made in the direction from the heel
downwards towards the toe (see Fig. 5), in which case, to effect the withdrawal of
the last from the boot or shoe, the foot portion B must be first removed.
In the modifications shown in Sheet II, this incline or bevel is made in the
contrary direction, so that the heel portion must be first withdrawn.
The rear face of the part B is formed with a hooked portion a. and a recess b,
and the corresponding face of the part C is formed with a recess o to receive the
hooked portion a of the part B, and with a recess d in which is pivotted at d³,
a catch This catch e is pressed outwards by a spring f, and is intended to
engage in the recess 6 of the part B; thus the two parts B and C will be effectually
locked together, and can only be separated by inserting a key at g to push. back
the catch e.
When the catch is unlocked, the part B can be readily drawn out of the shoe,
the part C remaining in the heel of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 5, to be subsequently
removed. In like manner, the parts B and C may be replaced in the shoe when
required, the order being reversed.
In Sheet II, Fig. 6 is a side view, partly in section, of a modification in the
form of the last, the positions of the various locking parts being reversed, and Fig. 7
shows the parts B, C, and D, detached. In this modification, the heel piece Ŏ is
provided with the socket to receive the post A.-Fig. 8 shows a slight modification
of the last modification, the socket for the post A. being in the part B of the last.
In the modifications, care must be taken that the length of the foot portion shall
be such, that this portion will readily come out of the boot when the heel piece is
removed. In the smaller sizes of last, we may cast into the body of the last
a wrought-iron or steel shank, carrier or stud, which will take into a socket formed
on the post A to receive it.-The ports B and O, when locked together, will form
a solid firm last of sufficient strength to resist any strain likely to be put upon it
during the making of a boot or shoe.
We may here remark that we do not confine ourselves to the exact form of catch,
as herein shown, to effect the locking of the parts B and C together, as other well
known mechanical means for effecting this object may be employed, neither do we
confine the invention to metal lasts, as it is equally applicable to wooden lasts.
We may also mention what when using our improved last, it is not always
necessary to have the removable block D, and this is especially the case in respect
to lasts for shoes.
Among the disadvantages which will be avoided by the use of our improved
last, we may mention, that there will be no risk of breaking the waists or the
stiffeners in removing the last, neither will there be burst vamps nor torn golosh
quarters; loops will not be pulled out, nor top bands ripped, neither will there be
any torn linings, as it will be quite unnecessary to use force to get the last out of
the boot, all which disadvantages entail loss of money, labor, and material, as boots
and shoes thus strained have to be repaired, and can then only be sold as damaged
goods.
The saving of time to the maker, in being able to withdraw the last and
replace it, as required, at various stages of the manufacture without difficulty,
is enormous, while a perfect fit may be guaranteed, as there need be no "foul
leather" (or fulness) at the top of the heel, such as is necessary, under ordinary
circumstances, to allow space to get the last out of the boot or shoe.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
A boot last constructed as shown and described, that is to say, of two parts B
and C, so arranged as to be capable of being locked together to form a solid firm
last on which the boot may be manufactured, and-to-permit, and unlocked by the
insertion of a key, such last permitting, when unlocked, of the its ready withdrawal
of the last from, or replacement of the same in, the boot as set forth.

page_text: We, HARRY WILLIAM MOBBS Boot Manufacturer and ALFRED LEWIS, Engineer
both of Kettering in the County of Northampton do hereby declare the nature of
our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS FOR BOOTS to be as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to lasts which are used in the manu-
facture of boots and shoes by machinery but it is also applicable to lasts for hand
made boots and shoes.
The ordinary manufacturing last is made of metal and is placed upside down
on a post which is fitted into a socket on a table or in any other suitable position.
During the manufacture of the boot the last is subjected to a good deal of
hammering and it is therefore necessary that the foot portion of the last should be
very solid. For this reason that portion is generally made in one piece the instep
portion only being removable to allow for the being taken off the last when
completed.
In the natural foot the length from the toe to the heel is greater than from the
toe to the back of the foot in or about in line with the ankle and the heel is also
much wider than that part of the foot and the boot or shoe being cut accordingly,
great difficulty is experienced in getting the boot off the last, causing not only
much loss of time which is a considerable item in the manufacture but also greatly
straining the upper in order to get the boot over the projecting heel.
Now the object of our invention is so to construct the last that these difficulties
may be overcome.
To this end we form the last with a loose heel piece which we so arrange that it
will lock with tho last in the direction in which the hammering takes place but
will readily detach itself in the other direction when it is desired to take the
finished boot off the last so that the foot portion after the instep piece has been
removed will readily come out of the boot leaving the heel piece therein to be
removed afterwards.
By the use of our improved last a much better fit round the ankle can be
obtained as the upper can be cut to fit tightly instead of being as at present cut
loose to allow the heel of the last to come out.
Da thin 7
1007

page_text: +
We HARRY WILLIAM MOBBS, Boot Manufacturer and ALFRED LEWIS, Engineer,
both of Kettering in the County of Northampton do hereby declare the nature of
our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LASTS FOR BOOTS, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates more particularly to lasts which are used in the manu-
facture of boots and shoes by machinery, but it is also applicable to lasts for hand
made boots and shoes.
The ordinary last used for machine-made boots consists of metal, and is placed
upside down on a post, which is fitted into a socket in a table, or in any other
suitable position.
During the manufacture of the boot, the last is subjected to a good deal of
hammering, and it is therefore necessary that the foot portion of the last should be
very solid. For this reason that portion is generally made in one piece, the instep
portion or block only being removable to allow for the boot being taken off the
Last when completed.
In the natural foot, the length from the toe to the heel is greater than from the
toe to the back of the foot above the heel, and the heel is much wider than the part
of the foot above the heel. Great difficulty is therefore experienced in the removal
of the boot from the last, causing not only much loss of time, which is a consider-
able item in the manufacture, but also greatly straining or bursting the upper
seams, and often breaking the sole at the waist.
Now the object of our invention is so to construct the last, that these difficulties
may be overcome.
To this end we form the last in two parts, which we so arrange that they will
lock together, and when so locked, will admit of the hammering and other opera-
tions taking place, and that they will also be capable of ready detachment, when
it is desired to take the partly formed or finished boot off the last, and of ready
replacement in the boot for further operations or finishing.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1, Sheet I, is an elevation, partly in section
(taken on the centre line of Fig. 2), of our improved last. In this figure, the last
is shown fitted onto the post, and in the inverted position ready for working.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved last; Fig. 3 is a view of the rear face of
the foot portion; and Fig. 4 is a view of the corresponding face of the heel portion;
Fig. 5 shows an Oxford shoe with the last partly withdrawn.
A is the post, which is secured to a table, or in any other convenient manner;
B is the foot portion of the last, and C the heel piece. D is the removable block

page_text: or instep piece, which is usual with all lasts, and forms no part of the present
invention.
The adjoining faces of the parts B and O are formed on the bevel, or inclined at
a greater or less angle in either direction, as may be preferred, which will admit of
the parts B or C, when unlocked, sliding rearwards or forwards, as the case may be,
when being drawn out of the boot, and thus provide for the facile removal of the
last. The parts B and C will be cast in any convenient manner, care being taken
that the two faces are perfectly true.
In Sheet I, this bevel or incline is shown as made in the direction from the heel
downwards towards the toe (see Fig. 5), in which case, to effect the withdrawal of
the last from the boot or shoe, the foot portion B must be first removed.
In the modifications shown in Sheet II, this incline or bevel is made in the
contrary direction, so that the heel portion must be first withdrawn.
The rear face of the part B is formed with a hooked portion a. and a recess b,
and the corresponding face of the part C is formed with a recess c to receive tho
hooked portion a of the part B, and with a recess d in which is pivotted at d',
a catch e. This catch e is pressed outwards by a spring f, and is intended to
engage in the recess 6 of the part B; thus the two parts B and C will be effectually
locked together, and can only be separated by inserting a key at g to push back
the catch e.
When the catch is unlocked, the part B can be readily drawn out of the shoe,
the part C remaining in the heel of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 5, to be subsequently
removed. In like manner, the parts B and C may be replaced in the shoe when
required, the order being reversed.
"
In Sheet II, Fig. 6 is a side view, partly in section, of a modification in the
form of the last, the positions of the various locking parts being reversed, and Fig. 7
shows the parts B, C, and D, detached. In this modification, the heel piece is
provided with the socket to receive the post A.-Fig. 8 shows a slight modification
of the last modification, the socket for the post A.being in the part B of the last.
In the modifications, care must be taken that the length of the foot portion shall
be such, that this portion will readily come out of the boot when the heel piece is
removed. In the smaller sizes of last, we may cast into the body of the last
a wrought iron or steel shank, carrier or stud, which will take into a socket formed
on the post A to receive it.-The parts B and C, when locked together, will form
a solid last of sufficient strength to resist any strain likely to be put upon it during
the making of a boot or shoe.
We may here remark that we do not confine ourselves to the exact form of catch,
as herein shown, to effect the locking of the parts B and C together, as other well
known mechanical means for effecting this object may be employed, neither do we
confine the invention to metal lasts, as it is equally applicable to wooden lasts.
We may also mention that when using our improved last, it is not always
necessary to have the removable block D, and this is especially the case in respect
to lasts for shoes.
Among the disadvantages which will be avoided by the use of our improved
last, we may mention, that there will be no risk of breaking the waists or the
stiffeners in removing the last, neither will there be burst vamps nor torn golosh
quarters; loops will not be pulled out, nor top bands ripped, neither will there be
any torn linings, as it will be quite unnecessary to use force to get the last out of
the boot, all which disadvantages entail loss of money, labor, and material, as boots
and shoes thus strained have to be repaired, and can then only be sold as damaged
goods.
The saving of time to the maker, in being able to withdraw the last and
replace it, as required, at various stages of the manufacture without difficulty,
is enormous, while a perfect fit may be guaranteed, as there need be no "foul
leather" (or fulness) at the top of the heel, such as is necessary, under ordinary
circumstances, to allow space to get the last out of the boot or shoe.

page_text: Having now, particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
.
A. boot last constructed as shown and described, that is to say, of two parts B
and C, so arranged as to be capable of being locked together to form a solid last on 5
which the boot may be manufactured, and to permit, when unlocked, of the ready
withdrawal of the last from, or replacement of the same in, the boot as set forth.
Dated this 00sh
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants. 10