Improvements in or connected with the Treatment of Threads for Boot Stitching and other Sewing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in or connected with the Treatment of Threads for
Boot Stitching and other Sewing Machines.
I, ISIDOR FRANKENBURG, of the Greengate Rubber Works, Salford, in the County
of Lancaster, Waterproof Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates chiefly to boot soleing machines but is applicable to other
machines and other classes of work.
Hitherto it has been customary to saturate the thread with wax which requires
the application of heat to soften or liquefy the wax. This heat has usually been
obtained from a gas flame either applied to the arm of the machine or to a recep-
tacle for the wax.
In the case of the boot soleing machine with a revolving arm it has been found
necessary in order to make a gas tight joint between the gas supply pipe and the
revolving arm to use a cup or seal of mercury and the use of the mercury in this
way and the spent gas have been found very injurious to the health of the
operatives.
I find that the use of heat and consequently of the gas and mercury can be dis-
pensed with and a much better result obtained than by the use of wax by
employing a solution of rubber to treat or waterproof the thread.
My invention therefore consists essentially in saturating or coating the thread
as it passes through the machine with a rubber solution for the purpose of water-
proofing strengthening or securing the thread.
As applied to boot soleing machines I dispense entirely with the gas jet and
mercury seal and affix to the revolving arm a receptacle to hold the rubber solu-
tion through which the thread from the reel is drawn before passing up the arm
to the needle. And as applied to other machines place the receptacle of rubber
solution in any convenient position for the thread to pass through.
The receptacle is provided with inlet and outlet apertures at or near the bottom
through which the thread passes and these apertures are fitted with a leather or
other washer and screw cap or other form of controlling device to regulate the
supply of the solution or the thread may be passed from the top down over guide
rods or the like into the solution.
The invention may be applied to the stitching of seams of waterproof garments
and to other purposes.
The advantages to be gained by this invention are;
(a). Saving of gas now employed for heating wax.
(b). Saving of labour in the winding of reels of waxed thread.
(e). Dispensing with the employment of mercury and obviating the injury
arising to health consequent thereon.

page_text: (d). Better securing of the stitches in position on breakage or wear of the
thread.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Improvements in or connected with the Treatment of Threads for
Boot Stitching and other Sewing Machines.
I, ISIDOR FRANKENBURG, of the Greengate Rubber Works, Salford, in the County
of Lancaster, Waterproof 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 relates chiefly to the stitching of boots and shoes and to boot
soleing machines but is also applicable to other machines and other classes of
work.
•
Hitherto it has been customary to saturate the thread by which the sole is
stitched or secured with wax which requires the application of heat to soften or
liquefy the wax and keep it soft during the operation of sewing, consequently it has
been necessary to apply a flame of gas to the arm of the machine to keep it hot in
addition to heating the wax receptacle during the operation of waxing the thread.
In the boot soleing machine with a revolving arm the gas has been carried by
a pipe to the arm and in order to make a gas tight joint where the arm swivels
between the gas supply pipe and that carried by the arm a cup or seal of mercury
has been used and the use of the mercury in this way and the spent gas have
been found very injurious to the health of the operatives.
I find that the use of heat and consequently of the gas and mercury can be
dispensed with and a much better result obtained than by the use of wax by
employing a solution of rubber to treat or waterproof the thread.
My invention therefore consists essentially in saturating or coating the thread
as it passes through the machine with a rubber solution for the purpose of water-
proofing, strengthening or securing the thread, and in the construction of the
soleing machine dispensing with the gas pipe and mercury seal.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which sufficient of a boot stitching machine is shown to illustrate it.
The machine is constructed with a revolving or swivelling arm A of the usual
shape but without any gas pipe or jet and consequently without any mercury
or other seal to make a gas tight joint.
To the base of the revolving arm is fitted a receptacle B to hold a rubber solution
or rubber varnish of a consistency to impregnate the thread as it is passed through
it. A spindle C carried by a suitable plate or bracket D capable of rotating with
the arm is fitted at one side of the receptacle B. and upon the spindle is placed a
reel E of thread e.
The receptacle B is formed with an inlet aperture 6 and an outlet aperture 6¹
at or near the bottom, through which the thread & passes, and these apertures
are fitted with a leather or other washer and screw cap or other form of controlling
device to regulate the supply of the solution.
As applied to other machines I place the receptacle B for rubber solution in
any convenient position to receive the thread.

page_text: Instead of passing through inlet and outlet apertures in the sides of the recep-
tacle B the thread e may be passed from the top down over guide rods or the like
into the solution.
In the inner side of the arm A is fitted a pipe or tube G through which the
thread e passes. To its upper end is pivoted a lip g to catch any drops of solution
from the thread as it is drawn into or through the material and its lower end gl
is bent or curved over the edge of the receptacle B to return any surplus solution
thereto. The lip g is pivoted to permit of it being moved aside to thread the eye
through which the thread passes. Instead of being pivoted the lip g may be
made to slide.
The solution of rubber or rubber varnish for treating the thread is prepared with
from 1 to 4 oz. of turpentine or sesquiturpentine to 1 pound of rubber and to
this there may be further added from 1 to 6 oz. of paraffin wax or ceresin.
The thread may be treated in the sewing machine in the manner described or
it may be treated on a separate machine and performed as a separate operation
and wound on to a reel.
The invention may be applied to the stitching of seams of waterproof garments
and to other purposes.
The advantages to be gained by this invention are; —
(a). Saving of gas now employed for heating wax.
(b). Saving of labour in the winding of reels of waxed thread.
(c). Dispensing with the employment of mercury and obviating the injury
arising to health consequent thereon.
(d). Better securing of the stitches in position on breakage or wear of the thread.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The treating of thread for boot stitching and other purposes with a rubber
solution or varnish substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In a boot stitching or soleing machine the combination with the revolving
or swivelling arm of a receptacle containing a cold rubber solution or varnish
and a reel containing the thread rotating with the arm substantially as described.
3. A boot stitching or soleing machine having the several parts constructed
and arranged in combination substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 25th day of August 1898
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool and London, Patent Agents.