A New or Improved Boot Tree for Keeping Boots in Shape when not in Wear and to Clean them upon.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Boot Tree for Keeping Boots in Shape when
not in Wear and to Clean them upon.
ALFRED SAVAGE 176 New Kent Road London Shoe Polish Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
I make a shape of the front part of a foot by covering the front part of a boot
last with three or four substances, of cotton or fine canvas & iron shelac in them
with a hot iron, then I take it off the last & trim it round leaving no bottom on
it, it is then the shape of the front part of a last in shell form, I then fix a piece
of inch thin steel round the inside across the joint, I then fix a handle 4 inches
long to the instep of the shape with a piece of g of an inch steel fixed to the end
of the handle under the instep of the shape bending it round & fixing the other
end of the steel under the toe of the shape. This spring will raise the shape well
up when pushed in a boot, the steel spring round the joint will open out the sides
of the shape well filling the boot out, keeping it in shape when not in wear &
for cleaning them upon. It is easily adjusted to the boot or shoe by simply
pushing it in by the handle fixed to. the instep. They are made rights & lefts or
straights.
Dated 8th day of February 1894
COME LEIE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Boot Tree for Keeping Boots in Shape when
not in Wear and to Clean them upon.
I, ALFRED SAVAGE 176 New Kent Road London S.E. 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 :-
I make a shape of the whole or part of a foot by covering the whole or part of
a boot last or tree with three or four substances of cotton or thin canvas ironed
together with a hot iron with shellac cement so as to make them adhere together,
or a covering of other suitable material, then I take the covering off the last and
trim it round leaving no bottom on it, it is then the shape of the whole or part of
a boot in shell form, 1 then fix a piece of narrow thin steel round or across the
inside at or near the joint of the foot. I also fix a short handle at or near the
instep of the shell and another piece of similar steel running from about the end
of the handle inside shell bending it round and fixing the other end of the steel at
or near the toe of the shell. When the tree thus formed is pushed into a boot or
shoe this last named spring pressing against the inside of the sole will raise
the shell well up. The steel spring round or across the joint will open out
the sides of the shell so that it will adjust itself and well fill the boot or shoe,
keeping it in shape when not in wear, preventing creases from settling in the
uppers, and being convenient for cleaning the boot or shoe upon. The trees
are easily applied by simply pushing them in by the handle aforesaid and are
made in various sizes straights and rights and lefts to fit various boots and shoes.

page_text: In order that my invention may be fully understood I now refer to the annexed
drawings in which :-
Figure 1. is a side elevation of my invention showing the shell formed in one
piece.
Figure 2. plan view.
a is the shape or shell in which the steel spring b is attached at the parts c & d
by nails, screws, or such suitable means. e is a steel band or spring which acts
upon the shape or shell a. f is a handle affixed to the shell a and to which one
end of the spring b is attached at d.
The trees above mentioned may be in one piece or two or more pieces jointed
together or not and may be used by themselves or the front may be used in
combination with the heel portion of ordinary wooden or other trees fixed thereto
or not as occasion may require.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
In boot and shoe trees a shell or casing formed in one or more parts of a flexible
nature in combination with springs and a handle piece, so that when the tree is
inserted in a boot or shoe it adapts itself to the shape of the boot or shoe,
substantially as described and illustrated herein.
Dated this 5th day of November 1894