IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOT AND SHOE LASTS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Young Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1878.
WILLIAM YOUNG EDWARDS, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America,
now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOT AND
SHOE LASTS."
The said Invention relates to boot and shoe lasts composed of a number of parts
or pieces which are adjustable or interchangeable in such a manner that one last
may be adapted to the manufacture of boots or shoes of different sizes, shapes, and
styles.
When prepared or arranged for making a boot or shoe of any given size and
shape the said last consists of three pieces, namely, first, a combined bottom and
toe piece; second, an intermediate piece; and third, a top piece or block. The
bottom piece has a flange or rim extending from the toe part all around the sides
and heel for the reception of the lower edge of the intermediate piece, which is thus
kept accurately in place. The said bottom piece has at the heel a tongue or tooth
projecting upward inside the said intermediate piece, and I pass a screw or pin
through the heel of the said intermediate piece into the said tongue, and thereby
hold the said intermediate piece upon the bottom in such a manner that it will be
very securely held while in place, but may be readily removed when it is desired to
change or vary the form or configuration of toe of the last.
The block or instep piece is provided at its front end with a small tongue or pro-
jection, which fits into a groove or slot in a cross bar which forms the front of the
intermediate piece. The said block also has a tongue or projection at its rear end,
which fits in a slot in the heel of the intermediate piece. These tongues and slots
serve to insure the accurate fitting of the said block upon the intermediate piece.
And
prefer to use a screw or other device to attach the said block to the inter-
mediate piece in such a manner that it will be securely held, but at the same time
will be capable of ready changing or adjustment.
The most important and peculiar feature of my Invention is the manner of
forming and fitting together the parts of the last whereby the said combined bottom
and toe piece, and also the block or instep piece, either one or the other, or both,
may be easily and expeditiously removed and replaced by a corresponding piece or
77

page_text: part of different size or shape, thus affording the means whereby one last may be
adapted to the manufacture of boots or shoes of all shapes, sizes, and patterns.
I provide each last with any desired number of the said combined bottom and
toe pieces, and of the blocks or instep pieces, but only one intermediate piece is
required. Each of the said bottom pieces has a different form of toe piece, that is
to say, without making any other change or adjustment of the last I may make the
toe thereof square, round, or pointed, and broad or narrow; I can also by changing
the-block-or-instep-piece-give-to the-last-a-low-instep. -And-it-will-be-seen-that-by-
changing the said bottom pieces and instep pieces sufficient variations or changes
may be made in the shape or configuration of the last to render one pair of my
improved lasts as efficient as a great number of ordinary lasts.
I may in some instances modify the construction of my last by making the first
piece, that is to say, the bottom and toe in two or more parts, so that the toe may
be changed without removing the whole of the bottom part. The said two parts
of the bottom are fitted together with a tongue and groove, and in some instances
I may secure the intermediate piece on the bottom by means of tongues or pro-
jections on one piece fitted to slide in grooves in the other piece, and I may use
screws or other suitable means for securing the pieces when properly fitted
together.