IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR USE IN MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Vause, of Leeds, in the County of York, and
John Armitage, also of Leeds, in the said County, Engineers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR USE IN
MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Vause and John
Armitage at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th December
1879.
EDWARD VAUSE, of Leeds, in the County of York, and JOHN ARMITAGE, also of
Leeds, in the said County, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES,"
Our Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for lasting boots and shoes.
We provide a substantial frame having an opening for receiving the last, over
which the tops or uppers of boots and shoes have to be drawn or turned. Within
the said opening is a post for carrying or supporting the last at the heel, which
post is moveable longitudinally to suit various sizes of lasts.
The toe of the last is supported by a suitable holder made in parts, which are
caused by springs or otherwise to grip the top or upper and press it to the last
whilst being drawn or turned over at that part. Around the upper surface of the
aforesaid frame is a dovetailed or tee recess, by means of which is fixed an over-
hanging screw cramp for holding the last, the insole, and the upper in position, and
on the same frame are secured also by means of the dovetailed or tee recess
moveable posts, each carrying a screw, the nuts of which are mounted in universal
swivelling joints; on the inner end of each of these screws is a pair of forceps or
pincers for seizing and drawing or turning the upper over the last and insole. On
the outer end of each of the above screws and for turning the same is fixed a hand
wheel or bandle. The above posts, screws, and forceps are capable of being moved
to any desired position on the frame so to be directly opposite to that part of
the "upper" which for the time is being drawn over the last.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Edward Vause and John
Armitage in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th July 1880.
EDWARD VAUSE, of Leeds, in the County of York, and JOHN ARMITAGE, also of
Leeds, in the said County, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR {
APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
Our Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for lasting boots and shoes.
We provide a substantial frame having an opening for receiving the last, over
which the tops or uppers of boots and shoes have to be drawn or turned. Within
the said opening is a post for carrying or supporting the last at the heel, which
post is movable longitudinally to suit various sizes of lasts.
The toe of the last is supported by a suitable holder made in parts, which are
caused by springs or otherwise to grip the toe or upper and press it to the last
whilst being drawn or turned over at that part. Around the upper surface of the
aforesaid frame is a dovetailed or toe recess, by means of which is fixed an over-
hanging screw cramp for holding the last, the insole, and the upper in position, and
on the same frame are secured also by means of the dovetailed or toe recess movable
posts, each carrying a screw, the nuts of which are mounted in universal swivelling
joints. On the inner end of each of these screws is a pair of forceps or pincers for
seizing and drawing or turning the upper over the last and insole. On the outer
end of each of the above screws and for turning the same is fixed a hand wheel or
handle.
The above posts, screws, and forceps are capable of being moved to any desired
position on the frame so as to be directly opposite to that part of the upper which
By the time in haine Junon away the leat
DRAWINGS.
Reference being now had to the accompanying Drawings, in which like letters
represent like parts. Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a plan with the last
removed; and Fig. 3, an elevation, partly in section, of the toe holder.
A, A, are the standards bolted or otherwise secured to the top or table B, which 3
is provided with a recessed slot B¹ running partially or completely round it, and
with a central space or opening B³ through which the last E projects, also, if
desired, with wells B2, B3, at the corners for holding nails, etcetera; C, C, are the
movable posts with locknuts C³, C'; D, D, the screws working in oscillating
nuts D', and fitted at one end with a hand wheel or handle D³, and at the other 3
with a pair of forceps and attachment DS and D'; C is the movable post for
carrying the toe screw C³, which also is worked by a hand wheel or handle C*;
E is the last with the "upper" upon it, and E' is the toe holder, shown with two
sliding pieces E3 working in grooves Es pressed together by springs E* (helical in
the Drawing, though other forms may be used if preferred), so that as the screw Os 4
forces down the toe of the last these sliding pieces separate more or less, according
to the amount of pressure, and draw the "upper" tight over the last at that part.
Regulating screws Es pass through the helical springs into the sliding pieces and
hold them in proper position.
The last-supporting post F is so arranged that it can be moved in a vertical
plane as an adjustment for height by the screw F¹, or in a horizontal plane as a
lateral adjustment by the screw F2, each screw having a hand wheel or handle, as
in the former cases, and grooves Fs being provided for the nut or bracket F+ (to
which post F is secured) to move in. The arrangement of these parts is clearly
shown in Fig. 1.
A podger or handle G, which may be secured to the frame by a chain or
equivalent G, is used to fit into suitable holes in locknuts C¹ as a convenient way

page_text: of securing the movable posts at any desired part of the table; but, if preferred,
hexagonal or other nuts can be substituted for the circular ones shown in the
Drawing, and could be turned by an ordinary spanner; we prefer the circular ones
however, as shown. The upper part of posts C and C is preferably formed
separate from the lower part and recessed into it, so that the upper part can be
turned round independently of the base, and in the case of the forceps, posts C, the
upper part may be left loose so that they can be lifted out without disturbing the
bases, which is a convenient arrangement and likely to save time in use; the
post however we prefer to secure by means of a pin and groove, as shown in the
Drawing, or equivalent device, so that though free to turn round it will not lift out
of the base unless the pin be withdrawn. Each locknut screws on to a T or square
headed bolt coming up through and capable, when the nut is slacked, of moving in
the recessed slot B'; these bolts may be inserted through an opening I in the
underside of B¹.
We prefer to construct the framework and table of cast iron, and the posts of
cast iron or brass, but we do not bind ourselves to these precise materials, as we
may employ other known suitable materials as convenience or necessity directs.
METHOD OF WORKING.
"1
The "insole" and "upper" being placed upon the last this is put upon its supporting
post F and adjusted by screws F¹ and Fª so that the toe rests upon the toe
holder E', and the screw C³ being turned down the whole last is securely held, as
previously described. The forceps D³ aro caused to grip the "upper" at the
required places, and by turning screws D the desired degree of tension is imparted
to it. It will be noticed that these forceps are so contrived that the harder the
pull imparted by the screw the firmer is the grip of the jaws upon the leather, and
as these latter are generally grooved crosswise it is all but impossible for the
leather to slip out. The forceps are moved round from one part to another as the
soling proceeds till the whole is done, when by slacking the screws the last may be
readily removed and a fresh one substituted.
Sheet 2 shows the apparatus for pressing the upper while being drawn or turned
over round the toe. Figure 1 is a plan; Figure 2, a side elevation partly in section
A is the frame or bracket fastened to table of machine; B is a hand wheel;
C, screw attached therewith and working in a square or other sliding piece D
sliding in frame A and armed with the smoothing piece E at end. This piece E
slides over the too after it has been pressed into the cap by the clamp screw C³,
shown on Sheet 1. This, in combination with the cup, forms the entire toe
holder.
CLAINS
Having now described our Invention and the method of performing the same,
we wish it to be understood that what we claim and desire to protect under the
herein before in part recited Leters Patent is,-
-
1. In a lasting machine, the table (B) provided with a slot or recess (B¹) running
partially or wholly round the position where the last is placed, for the purposes
described.
2. The manufacture and use of lasting machines, as herein described, with the
forceps (D) or their equivalent arranged so that they can be brought to pull at any
required angle upon the upper, instead of their being all arranged to work in a
parallel direction.
3. In lasting machinery, the adjustable forceps (D) attached directly to and
supported by their screws (D) or intermediate swivel (D'), but without inter-
mediate flexible chains or equivalent connection, in combination with oscillating
nuts (D) movable along a path in a plane approximately parallel with that of the
general direction of the sole of the last operated upon,

page_text: 4. In a lasting machine, a movable arm (C³) carrying a screw (C³) or its
equivalent pressing vertically upon the last in combination with a toe holder (self
adjusting or adjustable horizontally), arranged substantially as described and
shown.
5. In a lasting machine, the herein described self adjusting or adjustable toet
holder (E¹) consisting essentially of two or more sliding pieces (E") working in a
suitable frame, grooves (E³) or parallel bearings for the sliding pieces, helical or
other springs (E) (or their equivalent, such as weighted levers), and adjusting
screws (or equivalent mechanism) (E), with or without the conjoint appliance
(as in Sheet 2) for pressing the upper while being drawn over, substantially as set 1
forth and shown.
6. In a lasting machine, the appliance, substantially as set forth and shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, with or without the self-
adjusting or adjustable toe holder E'.
7. The manufacture of lasting machines, arranged and generally constructed 1
substantially as herein described and shown.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edward Vause and John Armitage, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty fifth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
EDWARD VAUSE. (LS) 20
JOHN ARMITAGE. (L.S.)