Improvements in or relating to Apparatus used in the Lasting of Boots, Shoes, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus used in the Lasting of
Boots, Shoes, and the like.
We, JOHN THOMAS MAWBEY of 33 Twycross Street, Leicester, Foreman, and
WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS of Springfield Road, Leicester, Boot and Shoe
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to apparatus used in the lasting of boots, shoes and
the like and is designed principally for use with or as an accessory to other lasting
machines, such for example as the " Magnetic Tacking Machine," although the
said apparatus may be used by itself for lasting purposes if desired.
A lasting apparatus constructed according to this invention may consist of a
vertically adjustable and spring controlled pedestal and last stand upon which the
last is carried.
The last stand on the upper part of the pedestal is provided with a suitable screw
and hand wheel or similar means by which the pitch of the last may be adjusted or
varied, so as to permit of the upper thereon being presented at any convenient
angle to a lasting machine.
The said last stand may also be furnished at a convenient point in its length with
a basket or framework to contain a number of uppers which may be placed over
the stand and raised one at a time under the last to be lasted thereon.
A clip, spring plate or equivalent bears against the heel portion of the last to
hold the upper in position immediately the latter is raised under the last.
The pedestal has a universal joint or movement at or near the base-plate and is
also provided with a number of radially fixed springs so as to permit of being moved
in any position by the operator and returning to its normal or vertical position.
At a certain point in its length the pedestal may fit into a tubular socket and be
provided with a spiral spring or equivalent means to break the force from the
hammer or driver consequent upon forcing the tacks through the upper into the
insole and also to keep the partially lasted upper up to its work against the tacking
mechanism i.e. when being used in connection with another lasting machine as
hereinbefore referred to.
A footstep or pedal is also provided near or at the lower part of the pedestal
so that the operator by placing his foot thereon may hold the last stand and pedestal
firm and rigid while the upper is being drawn over the last in the well known
manner preparatory to being temporarily tacked in position thereon by the
operator.
By means of the apparatus herein before described a boot or shoe upper may be
temporarily secured on the last by tacks prior to being completely lasted or tacked
by the magnetic tacking or similar machine, or the operator may completely finish
the lasting process thereon by hand labour, in the manner well known in the trade.
In addition to the pedestal being furnished with a universal joint the last stand is
fixed on the pedestal in such a manner as to permit of it being rotated thereon
to facilitate the preparatory process of temporarily tacking the upper to the
insole.
Dated this 17th day of April 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus used in the Lasting of
Boots, Shoes, and the like.
We,
JOHN THOMAS MAWBEY of 47 Earl Howe Street, (late of 33 Twycross
Street,) Leicester, Foreman, and WILLIAM HENRY STEVENS of Springfield Road,
Leicester, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to apparatus used in the lasting of boots, shoes and
the like and is designed principally for use with or as an accessory to other lasting
machines, such for example as the "Magnetic Tacking Machine" although the
said apparatus may be used by itself for lasting purposes if desired.
A lasting apparatus constructed according to this invention may consist of a
vertically adjustable and spring controlled pedestal and last stand upon which the
last is carried.
The last stand on the upper part of the pedestal is provided with a suitable screw
and handwheel or similar means by which the pitch of the last may be adjusted or
varied, so as to permit of the upper thereon being presented at any convenient
angle to a lasting machine.
The said last stand may also be furnished at a convenient point in its length with
a basket or framework to contain a number of uppers which may be placed over
the stand and raised one at a time under the last to be lasted thereon.
A clip, spring plate or equivalent bears against the heel portion of the last to
hold the upper in position immediately the latter is raised under the last.
The pedestal has a universal joint or movement at or near the baseplate and is
also provided with a number of radially fixed springs so as to permit of being moved
in any position by the operator and returning to its normal or vertical position.
At a certain point in its length the pedestal may fit into a tubular socket and be
provided with a spiral spring or equivalent means to break the force from the hammer
or driver consequent upon forcing the tacks through the upper into the insole and
also to keep the partially lasted upper up against the tacking mechanism i.e. when
being used in connection with another lasting machine as hereinbefore referred to.
A footstep or pedal is also provided near or at the lower part of the pedestal so that
the operator by placing his foot thereon may hold the last stand and pedestal firm
and rigid while the upper is being drawn over the last in the well-known manner
preparatory to being temporarily tacked in position thereon by the operator.
By means of the apparatus hereinbefore described a boot or shoe upper may be
temporarily secured on the last by tacks prior to being completely lasted or tacked
by the magnetic tacking or similar machine, or the operator may completely finish
the lasting process thereon by hand labour in the manner well known in the trade.
In addition to the pedestal being furnished with a universal joint the last stand is
fixed on the pedestal in such a manner as to permit of it being rotated thereon
to facilitate the preparatory process of temporarily tacking the upper to the
insole.
The invention will be understood from the following further description in
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lasting apparatus constructed in accordance
with this invention and
Figure 2, is a central vertical section of same.
A is a tubular pillar over the upper end A' of which the usual slot in the last A'
is passed in the well known way. This tubular last supporting pillar fits loosely
over an upright rod B and has a slot A³ in the side thereof in which is located a
pin B projecting from the rod B.

page_text: The last supporting pillar A rests upon a nut C³ and may be moved up or down,
i.e. adjusted vertically by raising or lowering the nut on the screwthreaded
portion B2 of the said rod.
The rod B is flattened at B³ and hinged between two knuckles C¹ formed on one
end of a horizontal plate C.
The part of the said rod B underneath the plate C is formed into a fork B' the
two members of which are located one each side of a circumferential groove D¹ in
the boss of a hand wheel D, the said boss being internally screwthreaded to move
on a threaded spindle E formed with or connected to a sleeve C which supports the
horizontal plate C.
By turning the handwheel D thereby causing it to move to or fro on the spindle E,
the fork moves therewith and on its fulcrum so as to tilt the last A2 at the upper
end thereof and thus enable it to be presented at different angles to the "Magnetic
Tacking (lasting) Machine."
Connected to the rod B by a screw bolt B is a spring plate F which extends
upwardly and bears against the heel portion of the last so as to maintain the upper
in position thereon.
A basket or framework also encloses the last supporting pillar and is supported
by a vertical rod G at one end fixed to the plate C and by two side arms G¹³ whose
lower ends are supported on the knuckles C of the plate C.
The uppers H (shown by dotted lines) to be lasted, say half-a-dozen or more, are
placed over the pillar A (when the last is removed) and are raised one at a time
under the last, whereon they may be lasted in any of the well known ways.
In order to give the greatest facilities to the laster or operator, it is desirable that
the last supporting pillar A should be revoluble so that when desired the last may
be rotated or turned completely round during the lasting process, whereby it is
unnecessary for the laster to alter his position, as is the case with fixed stands.
For this purpose the sleeve C² by which the said stand is supported fits over the
upper end of the tubular pedestal J and rests on a collar J' thereon so that it can
be freely and easily rotated thereon when desired.
The lower portion of the pedestal J fits over a rod K and is supported by a
spring K encircling the said rod K and resting on the boss L of a hand
wheel L.
The tubular portion J of the pedestal can be adjusted vertically, i.e. raised or
lowered, by turning the hand wheel L which in the former case so compresses the
said spring K' that in resuming its normal condition it raises the portion J or in the
latter case the boss of same travels away from the spring and the weight of
the pedestal causes the latter to follow it.
The principal object of the spring K', however, is to intercept the concussion and
break the force of the hammer when driving nails or tacks through the insole into
the upper and also to keep the last and upper thereon up against the tacking
mechanism wben being used as an accessory to another lasting machine such as
herein before described.
The part M of the pedestal is furnished with a cup or socket M¹ supported
movably on a ball N on the upper end of the portion N of the pedestal which fits
into the base plate O which may be rigidly secured to a floor by bolts passing
through holes O' therein.
Instead of the ball and socket described any form of universal joint may be
employed.
The last supporting pillar and the pedestal consisting of the parts herein before
described between it and the ball and socket joint are maintained in a normal
upright position through the medium of radially fixed springs P connected at one
end to hooks P' at different points in the periphery of a collar P2 and at the
opposite ends to a semi-circular band Q supported by two arms R extending
upwardly from the base plate.
In order to place the apparatus more under the control of the operator, the
movable portion of the pedestal bas a footstep or pedal S fixed thereto by a

page_text: bolt S¹ which passes through a collar S2 thereon, the stem of the said footstep also
passes between a fork U the boss U₁ of which is secured by a bolt U' to the rigid
portion N'.
The operator by placing his foot on the said pedal can hold the apparatus firm
and rigid so that it is uninfluenced by the springs P during the time the upper is
being fitted on the last in any of the well known ways.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
--
1. In a lasting apparatus such as described, a revoluble and vertically adjustable
last supporting pillar, substantially as described.
2. In a lasting apparatus such as described, a last supporting pillar and means for
varying the pitch or angle thereof substantially as described.
3. In a lasting apparatus such as described, the combination with the last
supporting pillar of an upper carrying basket or framework substantially as
described.
4. In a lasting apparatus such as described, the combination with the last
supporting pillar of an upper carrying basket or framework and means to hold the
upper against the last substantially as described.
5. In a lasting apparatus such as described, the combination with a last
supporting pillar with or without means to adjust the height or vary the pitch or
angle thereof, of a pedestal having a universal movement and springs to maintain
the said pedestal normally in an upright position substantially as described.
6. In a lasting apparatus such as described, the combination with a last
supporting pillar of a spring controlled pedestal having a universal movement
and foot pedal for holding said pedestal in a rigid position substantially as
described.
7. In a lasting apparatus such as described, the combination with a last
supporting pillar of a spring controlled pedestal having a universal movement and
means for regulating the height of the said pedestal and also for intercepting
the shock or jar thereto during the nailing process substantially as described.
8. The complete lasting apparatus consisting of the parts constructed, arranged
and operating substantially in the manner described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of January 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.