IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES OR SIMILAR COVERINGS FOR THE FEET, AND IN THE MANU- FACTURE THEREOF
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abraham Illingworth, of Halifax, in the County of
York, Boot and Shoe Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOOTS AND SHOES OR SIMILAR COVERINGS FOR THE FEET, AND IN THE MANU-
FACTURE THEREOF."
Sealed the 27th November 1863, and dated the 2nd June 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abraham Illingworth at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd June 1863.
I, ABRAHAM ILLINGWORTH, of Halifax, in the County of York, Boot and
Shoe Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BOOTS AND SHOES OR SIMILAR COVERINGS FOR THE FEET, AND IN THE
MANUFACTURE THEREOF," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in placing a wood sole or a layer of any
suitable kind of wood betwixt the leather insole and outsole, which is secured
thereto by rivetting or nailing without the aid of sewing, and in some
cases the outsole only extends part way on to the wood sole, the remaining
portion being covered or partly so with iron or other suitable material. By
this Invention boots and shoes or feet coverings are rendered more comfort-
able, the breaking of the sides of the uppers or tops prevented, the cost of
production diminished, and repairs more readily and economically executed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Abraham Illingworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st December 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ABRAHAM
ILLINGWORTH, of Halifax, in the County of York, Boot and Shoe Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Abraham Illingworth, Her special licence that I, the said Abraham Illing-
worth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Abraham Illingworth, 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, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOOTS AND SHOES OR SIMILAR COVERINGS FOR THE FEET, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE
THEREOF," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Abraham
Illingworth, 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 Abraham Illingworth, 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 (that is to say) :-
:-
These improvements consist in placing a wood sole or a layer of any
suitable kind of wood betwixt the leather insole and outsole, which is secured
thereto by rivetting or nailing without the aid of sewing, and in some
cases the outside only extends part way on to the wood sole, the remaining
portion being covered or partly so with iron or other suitable material. By
this Invention boots and shoes or feet coverings are rendered more comfort-
able, the breaking of the sides of the uppers or tops prevented, the cost of
production diminished, and repairs more readily and economically executed.
The manner in which this Invention is performed or carried into practical

page_text: effect is as follows:-The wood sole is formed to the proper size and shape
required by any ordinary or other suitable means or apparatus for cutting or
shaping wood. I prefer the wood sole to be made to extend only to the
instep or hollow part of the foot, and to be sloped or tapered off to a thin end,
so that the ordinary outsole may overlap, and when secured "give flexibility
thereto. An iron last is employed, and the upper leather or top with the
insole are placed thereon, and held together in proper position by means of
tacks, which are clenched against the last. The wood is then placed in
position, and nails driven therethrough and through the upper leather and
insole, which are also clenched or rivetted against the iron last, so that these
parts are securely fastened to each other; and in some cases, to obtain a
better finish, I place a thin piece of leather betwixt the insole and the wood,
which extends to the out edges thereof, so as to have the appearance of a
welt. A leather sole is then placed over all, and nailed to the upper leather
and insole of the heel and instep parts in the same manner as the wood sole
is nailed thereto, the nails being clenched or rivetted on the iron last. The
said leather sole overlaps and is nailed to the wood, but the nails may or may
not be clenched on the last, as the wood in some cases is of sufficient thickness
to be capable of holding the nails therein. The leather sole need not cover
the whole surface of the wood, but only extend part way thereon, so as to be
secured to the taper end of the wood, and the remainder of the wood may
have strips of iron, gutta percha, or other suitable material nailed thereon,
which can readily be replaced as it becomes worn off. The heels also may
be of wood nailed to the leather, the nails being clenched against the iron
last, as before described, and a top piece of leather or other suitable material
nailed on the wood.
It will be observed that by this Invention sewing is not necessarily
required in fixing the soles to the tops of boots and shoes, yet sewing may be
adopted, if desirable, by the employment of welts in the usual manner, but I
prefer nailing of the parts together, as described. And it will be evident
that by the placing of wood soles betwixt the insole and outsole in the manner
described, boots and shoes will be rendered more comfortable, the breaking of
the sides of the uppers prevented, the costs of production diminished, and
repairs more economically executed.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is or may be performed or carried into practice, I
would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details
or manner of application as herein set forth; and I would also observe that
I am aware it is not new to employ wood as soles, or to nail or rivet soles

page_text: to tops of boots and shoes, I therefore do not claim such separately con-
siderd; but what I do claim, and believe to be new within this realm, is the
application of wood betwixt the insole and outsole of boots and shoes, in
manner substantially as berein explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Abraham Illingworth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three.
AB. ILLINGWORTH. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Abraham Illing-
worth, in the presence of
ARTHUR BENJ. CROSSLEY,
Clerk to Wm. Tasker,
Patent Agent,
Halifax.