Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Heels for Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Heels for Boots
and Shoes.
I, CHARLES TISSIER, of No. 105 Boulevard Sebastopol, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of heels for boots and shoes and
consists in providing the said heels with an envelope or covering of celluloid.
Heels with envelopes or outer casings of fabric, leather, or other decorative
material have been largely manufactured of late; but they have been found to
have the defect, that their enveloping material rapidly wears out and shows rents
or holes or, in the case of leather cracks and portions thereof becomes fretted or
roughened by wear. Moreover the cleaning of these casings or coverings, when
soiled by mud or the like, is impracticable.
This invention obviates the disadvantages above referred to and consists in
covering wooden heels with a celluloid casing or envelope, imparting to the heels a
durable, smooth, brilliant outer surface, which it is easy to keep clean and in a
presentable condition.
In manufacturing heels with celluloid casings, a piece of celluloid of a size and
shape permitting it to envelop the heel, is cut out of a sheet of this material;
this piece of celluloid is then softened by being dipped into alcohol such as methyl
(wood-spirit) or the like. The heel is then provided with a layer of an adhesive
material or cement, the chief ingredient of which is preferably celluloid dissolved
in acetic acid. The piece of softened celluloid is then applied to the cemented or
sized block or heel of wood in the same manner as the usual covering of leather or
fabric is applied the heel being thereby enveloped so as to completely conceal the
wood from view. The edges of the sheet of celluloid are now folded down, on the
top and bottom of the wood block or heel, and the celluloid casing, which firmly
adheres to the wood, finally polished in the usual manner.
Celluloid heel casings may also, if preferred, be formed in moulds; in which
case a blank is first formed in a cast iron mould fitted with a counter-part made of
the same metal. The shape and size of the blank will, of course vary according
to the nature or type of heel to be made.
The wooden heel which may, if required, be covered first with celluloid cement
or glue, is then placed on the blank, and with it immersed in hot water, for the
purpose of softening the celluloid. The celloulid is next folded down at the top and
bottom, and in the front. The whole is then placed in a hollow mould exactly
fitting the desired external shape of the heel. As the heel is forced with con-
siderable power into this second mould, the celluloid tightly adheres to the wooden
heel and the projecting edges or flaps at the top and bottom and in front are neatly
and evenly turned down.
Celluloid covered heels may also be made by directly using the wooden heel,
and without the employment of a blank in a special mould.
By the method described heels provided with black, white yellow, leather-
coloured or other celluloid coverings or casings (in accordance with the style or
Dature of the boots or shoes for which the heels are intended) may be obtained.
The heel thus made is ready to be delivered to the boot and shoe manufacturer
and to be immediately secured to the boot or shoe and provided at the bottom with
the usual "lift" or plate of leather. The protruding edges will consequently be
concealed from view and the celluloid securely retained in place. On the front
D

page_text: side the edges are, in the usual way, covered over by the leather forming an
extension of the sole.
Dated this 7th day of June 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
i
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Heels for Boots
and Shoes.
I, CHARLES TISSIER, of No. 105 Boulevard Sebastopol, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Merchant, 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 :-
My invention relates to the manufacture of heels for boots and shoes and
consists in providing the said heels with an envelope or covering of celluloid.
Heels with envelopes or outer casings of fabric, leather, or other decorative
material have been largely manufactured of late; but they have been found to
have the defect, that their enveloping material rapidly wears out and shows rents
or holes or, in the case of leather, cracks, and portions thereof become fretted or
roughened by wear. Moreover the cleaning of these casings, when soiled by mud
or the like, is impracticable.
This invention obviates the disadvantages above referred to and consists in
covering wooden heels with a celluloid casing or envelope, imparting to the heels a
'durable, smooth, brilliant outer surface, which it is easy to keep clean and in a
presentable condition.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, the several figures of the
drawing being hereinafter referred to.
In manufacturing heels with celluloid casings, a piece of celluloid of a size and
shape permitting it to envelop the heel, is cut out of a sheet of this material; this
piece of celluloid is then softened by being dipped into alcohol, such as methyl
(wood-spirit) or the like. The heel is then provided with a layer of an adhesive
material or cement, the chief ingredient of which is preferably celluloid dissolved
in acetic acid. The piece of softened celluloid is then applied to the cemented or
sized block or heel of wood, in the same manner as the usual covering of leather or
fabric is applied, the heel being thereby enveloped so as to completely conceal the
'wood from view. The edges of the sheet of celluloid are now folded down, on the
top and bottom of the wood block or heel, and the celluloid casing, which firmly
adheres to the wood, is finally polished in the usual manner.
Celluloid heel casings may also, if preferred, be formed in moulds; in which
case the envelope E is first formed in a cast iron mould A fitted with a counter-
part B made of the same metal (see Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing). The shape
and size of the envelope will, of course, vary according to the nature or type of
heel to be made.
The wooden heel C Fig. 6 which may, if required, be covered first with celluloid
cement or glue, is then placed in the envelope, and with it immersed in hot water,
for the purpose of softening the celluloid. The celluloid is next folded down at
the top (a) and bottom (6) and in the front (c), see Figures 4 and 7.
The whole is then placed in a hollow mould A exactly fitting the desired
'external shape of the heel. As the heel is forced with considerable power into this
second mould, the celluloid tightly adheres to the wooden heel and the projecting
edges or flaps at the top and bottom and in front are neatly and evenly turned
down, see Fig. 5.

page_text: Celluloid-covered heels may also be made by directly using the wooden heel, and
without the employment of a blank in a special mould.
By the method described heels provided with black, white, yellow, leather-
coloured or other celluloid casings (in accordance with the style or nature of the
boots or shoes for which the heels are intended) may be obtained. The heel thus
made is ready to be delivered to the boot and shoe manufacturer and to be
immediately secured to the boot or shoe and provided at the bottom with the usual
"lift" or plate of leather. The protruding edges a a and b b Fig. 7 will con-
sequently be concealed from view and the celluloid securely retained in place. On
the front side the edges c c are, in the usual way, covered over by the leather
forming an extension of the sole.
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 :-
1. The method of manufacturing celluloid-covered heels, carried out substantially
in the manner hereinbefore set forth.
2. As a new article of manufacture, heels of wood or other material fitted with a
casing or envelope of celluloid which may be of any shape or size.
Dated this 7th day of March 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.