An Improved Method of Attaching India Rubber and other Soles to Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Attaching India Rubber and other Soles
to Boots and Shoes.
We, PATRICK MILLAR MATTHEW, Managing Director, and JAMES MARSHALL
CHALMERS, Manager Victoria India Rubber Mills, Leith Walk, Leith, in the
County of Midlothian, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates primarily to boots and shoes, the soles of which are
composed wholly or partly of india rubber, but may be applied to boots or shoes
the soles of which are composed of any material capable of being attached by
the said improved method.
The said invention consists in connecting the soles with the uppers of the
boots and shoes by attaching to the said uppers by sewing or other suitable
means, a welting composed of cotton or other suitable fabric in combination
with india rubber & fastening the said welting to the soles by means of india
rubber solution, suitably prepared for this purpose.
The india rubber portions may thereafter be vulcanized by subjecting the
boots or shoes to a process of vulcanization, such as that commonly employed
in the manufacture of india rubber boots and shoes.
Dated this 28th day of November 1898.
PAT. MILLAR MATTHEW.
JAMES M. CHALMERS.
An Improved Method of Attaching India Rubber and other Soles
to Boots and Shoes.
We, PATRICK MILLAR MATTHEW, Managing Director, and JAMES MARSHALL
CHALMERS, Factory Manager, both of the Victoria Rubber Company, Limited,
Victoria India Rubber Mills, Edinburgh, 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:-
―
Our invention relates primarily to boots and shoes, the soles of which are com-
posed, wholly or partly of india rubber, but may also be applied to boots or shoes,
the soles of which are composed of any material, capable of being attached by
the process hereinafter described.
The said invention consists in connecting the soles with the uppers of the
boots or shoes by attaching to the said uppers by sewing, or other suitable means,

page_text: a welting composed of cotton, or other suitable fabric in combination with india
rubber, and fastening the said welting to the soles by means of a solution of india
rubber, specially prepared for that purpose.
In carrying out our invention, we first prepare the above mentioned welting,
by filling and covering the fabric with india rubber, compounded and coloured
to suit the particular nature of the work.
The fabrics which we prefer to use for the purpose are of an elastic nature,
such as stockinette, as the welting cut from such fabrics readily adapts itself,
without creasing, to the form of the boot or shoe at the parts to which it is
applied.
The rubber compound may consist of any such mixing as is commonly used in
the manufacture of rubber boots and shces. It should be of a strongly adhesive
nature, and should contain the usual proportions of litharge and sulphur re-
quired for perfect vulcanization.
The rubber compound, thus prepared, we apply to the upper surface of the
fabric, by means of the well known process of calendering such fabrics, while
to the under surface of the fabric, which is to be in contact with the soles, we
apply a coating of the rubber compound, by means of the ordinary process of
friction calendering. The yarns composing the fabric are thus firmly embedded
in the rubber, and cannot be detached therefrom.
The welting fabric thus prepared, we then cut into strips of suitable length
and width, and attach them, preferably by means of stitching, to the uppers of
the boots or shoes, and in cases where great strength is required, the width of
the welting may be increased, and a double row of stitching may be employed in
attaching it. The uppers may consist of leather, canvas, or other material, which
may be suitably employed for the purpose, or they may consist of any of the
materials in combination with india rubber commonly used in the manufacture
of rubber boots and shoes.
The soles may consist of india rubber compound, suitably prepared for subse-
quent vulcanization, and may be formed by moulding, or any other means com-
monly used in the production of such soles, or they may consist of leather, or
other soleing material, capable of being attached to the welting, by means of the
above mentioned india rubber solution, and prepared so as to be unimpaired by
exposure to the vulcanizing heat.
We prepare the welting and the soles at the parts which are to come in con-
tact, by applying to each a thin coating of india rubber solution, containing the
usual proportions of litharge and sulphur necessary for thorough vulcanization.
The two surfaces are then placed in contact, and firmly rolled down or pressed
together to ensure perfect adhesion.
The boots or shoes, which we prefer to form on lasts such as are used in the
manufacture of ordinary rubber boots and shoes, are then subjected to a process
of vulcanization, such as that commonly employed in the manufacture of rubber
shoes.
Having now fully described the nature of our invention and the means by
which the same is to be carried out, we declare that what we claim is:-
The method of attaching india rubber, and other soles to boots and shoes sub-
stantially by the process herein before described.
201
1
1000
PAT. MILLAR MATTHEW
JAMES M. CHALMERS.