IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Kennedy, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Boot and Shoe Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
Sealed the 31st August 1855, and dated the 7th March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Kennedy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
March 1855.
I, JOHN KENNEDY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Boot and
Shoe Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES" to be as follows:-
Instead of the usual method of making boots and shoes by using lapstone
and squeezer between the knees, I propose to use two pieces of wood or other
suitable material fixed to a bench and turn on a pivot with a tube and strap,
so that the work will be done without subjecting the operator to premature
disease, by the crippled position.of the body, as at present; and instead of
sewing or stitching the soles to the uppers I use metal rivets, by which, with
the aid of metal lasts, or wooden lasts covered or partially covered with metal,
the said rivets, when driven from the outside of the sole, will be rivetted both
inside and outside; or if wooden pegs, either whole or in part, should be
preferred, I make a groove in the said last to allow the pegs to enter, and then
to be cut off inside, as usual. And for the purpose of more easily cutting the

page_text: soles and insoles, I use two plates of metal the shape and size required, and
pin tightly any convenient number of soles or insoles between them, and cut
round the said plates with a chisel, which chisel I also use to cut round the
soles and heels, after they are rivetted to the uppers, instead of the usual
method of cutting or paring with a knife, to the great danger of cutting the
uppers; and in making the heel I use a metal shell, made the size and shape
of the intended heel, which being rivetted to its place, may either constitute
the heel itself, or it may be filled with leather, wood, or any other suitable
material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Kennedy-in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
KENNEDY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Boot and Shoe Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Kennedy, Her special licence that I, the said John Kennedy,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Kennedy, 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 THE
MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Kennedy, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal,, 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 John Kennedy, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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):-

page_text: My Invention consists, firstly, of using a peculiar apparatus for making
boots and shoes, instead of the lapstone and squeezer, the said apparatus being
made of two pieces of wood or metal or other suitable material fixed to a
bench, and turns on a pivot with a tube and strap, so that the work will be
done without subjecting the operator to premature disease by the crippled
position of the body, as at present.
Secondly, instead of sewing or stitching the soles to the uppers, I fasten
them together with metal nails, pins, or rivets, using metal lasts, so that when
the said nails or rivets are driven from the outside, the points will be slightly
bent in the inside, and thus held firmly; or if wooden pegs, either wholly or in
part, should be preferred, I make a groove in the last to allow the pegs to
enter it, and be cut off in the inside, as usual. I make the lasts in two parts,
and take a mould from the human foot, and divide it at the instep, to allow
them to be easily taken out of the boot when made. I am thus enabled to
cast the metal last to the exact shape of the foot, care being taken to allow
for the expansion of the foot; and in lastening the boots or shoes, I make two
holes in the sole of the metal last, one at the toe and the other at the heel,
and put in a plug of wood to hold the tack, for the purpose of fastening the
insole, which may be shaped to the last, on or off. I then place the of
the boot or shoe on the last in the usual way, and fasten it with metal pins.
Thirdly, for the purpose of more easily cutting the soles and insoles, I use
two metal plates with polished edges, the requisite shape and size, and hold
the leather to be cut tightly between them, by means of a vice or other similar
contrivance. By this plan any convenient number of soles or insoles may be
cut at the same time; but instead of a knife I use a chisel or cutter, which I
also use to cut round the soles and beels after they are fastened to the uppers,
by which I avoid the danger of cutting the uppers.
upper
Fourthly, in making the heels, I use a metal shell, made the size and shape
of the intended heel, which being rivetted or screwed to its place, and furnished
with a top piece of leather or other suitable material, constitutes the heel.
These my said improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and the letters of reference thereon, in
which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, Fig. 2 an external elevation, Fig. 3 a
plan, and Figs. 4 and 5 are parts detached, of my apparatus for holding the
last and the material upon it; Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are views of my improved
chisels or cutters; Fig. 9 is a section, and Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are detached
parts, of the metal shell and top piece constituting my improved heel; and
Fig. 13 is a view of my metal, last, shewing it in two pieces, with the method

page_text: of fastening them together and disconnecting them. The apparatus for
holding the last and work may be made of wood, metal, or any suitable
material.
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a represents part of a frame or table upon which is the
plate b, with a boss or bush c made fast to it, and fitting casily in a hole in
the plate d. The interior of the bush may be made square or other convenient
form that will prevent the head of the bolt e from turning. This bolt has a
nut and handle f, for the purpose of screwing down the strap j, and tightening
the boot on the cushions h, leaving the plate d at the same time capable of
being turned on its axis as desired; b is a plate or bed screwed on the bench
or table a; g shews the last resting upon the cushions h, placed in the small
frames or standards i, having their lower ends fitting the sockets k in the
plate d; the other sockets are for different sizes of lasts, and are covered
with the small knobs 1, to prevent the entry of cuttings and dirt. The plate
d is prevented from turning, except when desired, by a a pin seen detached at
Fig. 5, which passes through the hole m in the upper plate, and enters one of
the holes n in the lower plate, seen detached at Fig. 4. There are several
holes in the lower plate, so that the upper plate, with the work upon it, can be
held in any desired position. The cushions consist of picces of cork covered
at the top with a thin piece of caoutchouc, then covered with leather, and
made fast by a cord, thong, or wire passing through the holes in the frames i;
the last and work are held fast by the strap j. Fig. 6 represents the chisel for
cutting the soles; Fig. 7 an outside view, and Fig. 8 a section, of the chisel
for cutting the heels, which chisel o slides in the block p, and can be adjusted
to any depth of heel by having its tang passing through a nut on the handle q.
Fig. 9 is a section of the metal heel made fast to the sole by the screws r;
Fig. 10 is a plan of the web of the heel; s shews the holes through which the
screws 7 pass. Fig. 11 is a side view, and Fig. 12 a plan, of the top piece, which
may be made of leather, gutta percha, or other suitable substance. t represents
the top piece secured by the screws u to a piece of metal v, having the pin w,
which enters one of the holes x, in the web of the heel. The said pin can be
placed in any of the holes, and thus change the position of the top piece as it
becomes worn, or when completely worn a new piece can be screwed on.
said top piece is screwed to the web of the heel by the screwy. Fig. 13 shews
the last in two pieces, having a tongue on one of them fitting a recess in the
other. The pieces are made fast and disconnected by the screw z.
The
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I desire it to be

page_text: distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein
set forth, as such may be varied or modified without departing from the
principle thereof, but I claim as my Invention,
Firstly, the use of an apparatus for making boots and shoes, the said
apparatus being placed on a bench, which enables the operator to work in an
erect or easy position.
Secondly, the use of metal pins, nails, or rivets, in conjunction with metal
lasts.
Thirdly, the use of metal plates and chisels to cut soles and insoles.
And, fourthly, the use of metal heels, with top pieces of leather, gutta percha,
or other similar material, as such improvements are herein described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Kennedy, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of September, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five
JOHN KENNEDY. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-named
John Kennedy, in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,.
+
Patent Agent,
Manchester.