A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF MANUFACTURING BOOTS OR SHOES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Rice, of the State of Massachusetts, of the
United States of America, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
METHOD OF MANUFACTURING BOOTS OR SHOES."-A communication from
Henry G. Tyer and John Helm, of the State of New Jersey, of the said
United States.
Sealed the 15th February 1856, and dated the 27th November 1855...
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Rice at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
November 1855.
I, CHARLES RICE, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "A NEW OR
IMPROVED METHOD OF MANUFACTURING BOOTS OR SHOES" to be as follows:-
The said Invention consists in uniting the insole, upper, (made wholly or
in part of india-rubber,) and outsole of boots and shoes firmly and durably,
by means of india-rubber or other analagous cements passing through perforȧ-
tions in the upper, in the manner and under the conditions herein-after
described and set forth.
In the manufacture of india-rubber shoes it would be very desirable to
attach leather soles thereto, but from a peculiar property in vulcanized india-

page_text: rubber, no cement at present known to the trade will permanently adhere
thereto when the rubber is perfectly vulcanized; consequently the manufacturers
engaged in this great and extensive business are limited to the rubber compo-
sitions, and united and made into shoes prior to the vulcanization.
The great heat also to which rubber goods are subjected in the process of
vulcanization (250° to 280° Fahrenheit) entirely precludes the use of leather
and some other material. I am well aware that an attempt has been made to
surmount this difficulty, by affixing before vulcanization to the insole and
upper of rubber shoes what may be termed a false or intermediate sole, made
of muslin or linen uncemented or uncoated on the outer side, and after vulcan-
ization attaching a leather sole thereto by means of ordinary cement. This
method, from causes known to the trade, was not satisfactory, and to the best
of my knowledge is now entirely disused.
I claim by my Invention to remove all the above-mentioned obstacles, and
to produce by means thereof a boot or shoe combining all the valuable
qualities of india-rubber, with the lightness and elegance attainable by the
use of other materials. Boots and shoes so made by this Invention are capable
of being re-soled whenever necessary, whereas the ordinary vulcanized rubber
shoe, when worn or accidentally cut, it is well know, generally speaking, cannot
be repaired to advantage, and consequently becomes worthless.
To enable others skilled in the manufacture of boots and shoes to use my
Invention, I will proceed to describe minutely the mode of operation.
Having selected a last of the required size, I attach thereto by tacks or other
convenience an insole cut from cloth, leather, or any other suitable material.
I next cement the outer surface with ordinary rubber cement (or any other
cement of which rubber or gutta percha is a component part,) unless the
same has been previously coated with india-rubber or gutta percha by any
well-known process. I next procure the upper, as usually cut and fitted, and
made wholly or in part of vulcanized india-rubber, and around the lower
interior edge I cement the same with cement as aforesaid about half an inch
in width, and when it is in proper sticking condition I draw the same over the
last, and turn down the cemented edge over the insole, and roll or hammer it
until it closely adheres thereto; I next skive off with a knife the plaits or
creases around the toe and heel, and produce as near as possible a uniform
surface.
So far I have described no novelty, and I adopt this latter process merely
for the convenience of maintaining the upper and insole in their relative and
true positions, until with an ordinary shoemaker's punch or other similar tool
(the form thereof immaterial) I make perforations around and through the

page_text: upper, until I pierce to the cemented surface of the insole, see Fig. 1 in
Drawing annexed, letter a being the upper, of vulcanized india-rubber; and b,
the insole. Where an extra strain may be reasonably anticipated, as across
the ball and around the toe and heel, I do at option make an additional row
of perforations to give additional strength (sce Drawing Fig. 1).
I do not confine myself to making the perforations after the upper has
been what is technically termed lasted; but the upper may be drawn tempo-
rarily over the last, and with a pointed instrument a mark can be made
around the upper as a guide by which the holes may be properly punched or
made before the lasting. In either way, after the upper is lasted I proceed
to press in and fill up the holes or perforations with the cement alluded to
throughout this Specification.
The outer sole having been duly coated and prepared with cement in a
similar manner to the insole, when it is arrived at the true sticking condition,
known to adepts, it is to be pressed upon, and by hammering and rolling
cemented and united to the insole, the cement passing through the upper
at intervals, and securing the same as firmly and durably as if sewed or
stitched. If sufficient strength be used to slightly separate these several
parts of a boot or shoe so united as above set forth, the rubber filament or
thread can be distinctly seen, as shown in the Drawings annexed (Figure 2).
If desirable, the punch holes may extend through the insole to the lining of
the shoe, so there may be two or more outer soles. The surfaces of them to
which the cement is to be applied, as well as the surfaces of the inner solc,
may be roughened or indented, in order that they may securely attach
themselves to the cement.
Having now, as I believe, clearly explained my new and useful Invention,
what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, the uniting of the outer
sole and upper, manufactured in part or wholly of vulcanized india-rubber, with
the insole of boots and shoes by cement, the cement passing through perfora-
tions made for that purpose in the upper, in the manner substantially and for
the purposes above described.
I also claim, extending the cement through the upper and the insole to the
lining of the shoe, substantially as specified.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Rice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
RICE, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of America, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of November, A.D. 1855, in the
nineteenth year of Her reign, did, for. Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and graut unto me, the said Charles Rice, Her special license that I, the said
Charles Rice, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, tho
said Charles Rice, 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 Isles, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
METHOD OF MANUFACTURING BOOTS OR SHOES," (the same being a communication
from Henry G. Tyer and John Helm, of the State of New Jersey, of the said
United States,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles
Rice, 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 Charles Rice, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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):-
-
The nature of the said Invention consists in uniting the insole, upper, (made
wholly or in part of india-rubber,) and outsole of boots and shoes firmly and
durably by means of india-rubber or other analogous cement passing through
perforations in the upper, in the manner and under the conditions herein-after
described and set forth.
In the manufacture of india-rubber shocs it would be very desirable to
attach leather soles thereto, but from a peculiar property in vulcanized india-
rubber no cement at present known to the trade will permanently adhere
thereto when the rubber is perfectly vulcanized; cousequently the manufacturers
engaged in this great and extensive business are limited to the use of rubber

page_text: compositions only, and united and made into boots and shoes prior to the
vulcanization. The great heat also to which rubber goods are subjected in'
the process of vulcanization (250° to 280° Fahrenheit) entirely precludes the
use of leather and some other materials.
I am well aware that an attempt has been made to surmount this difficulty,
by affixing before vulcanization to the insole and upper of rubber shoes what
may be termed a false or intermediate sole, made of muslin or linen uncemented
or uncoated with rubber on the outer side, and after vulcanization attaching a
leather sole thereto by means of ordinary cement. This method, from causes
known to the trade, was not satisfactory, and to the best of my knowledge is
now entirely disused.
I claim by my Invention to remove all the above-mentioned obstacles, and
to produce by means thereof a boot or shoe combining all the valuable qualities
of india-rubber, with the lightness and elegance attainable by the use of other
materials. Boots and shoes so made by this Invention are capable of being
re-soled when necessary, whereas the ordinary vulcanized rubber shoe, when
worn or accidentally cut, it is well known, generally speaking, cannot be repaired
to advantage, and becomes worthless.
To enable others skilled in the manufacture of boots and shoes to use my
Invention, I will proceed to describe minutely the mode of operation.
Having selected a last of the required size, I attach thereto by tacks or
other convenience an insole, cut from cloth, leather, or any suitable material.
I next cement the outer surface thereof with ordinary rubber cement, or any
other cement of which rubber or gutta percha is a component part, unless the
same has been previously coated with rubber or gutta percha by any well-
known process. I next procure the upper, as usually cut and fitted, and mado
wholly or in part of vulcanized india-rubber, and around the lower interior edgo
cement the same with cement, as aforesaid, about half an inch in width, and
when it is in a proper sticking condition I draw the same over the last, and
turn down the cemented edge over the insole, and roll. or hammer it until it
closely adheres thereto; I next skive off with a knife the plaits or creases
around the toe and heel, and produce as nearly as possible a uniform surface.
So far I have described no novelty, and I adopt this lattor process merely for
the purpose of maintaining the upper and insole in their relative and true posi-
tion, until with an ordinary shoemaker's punch or other similar tool (the form
thereof immaterial) I make perforations around and through the upper, until I
pierce to the cemented surface of the insole (see Figure 1 in Drawing annexed,
letter a being the upper, of vulcanized india-rubber; and b, the insole.. Where
an extra strain may be reasonably anticipated, as across the ball and around the

page_text: toe and heel, I may, and do, at option, make an additional row of perforations
to give additional strength (see Drawing, Figure 1).
I do not confine myself specially to making these perforations after the upper
has been what is technically termed lasted, but the upper may be drawn
temporarily over the last, and with a pointed instrument a mark can be made
around the upper as a guide, by which the holes may be properly punched or
made before the lasting. In either way, after the upper is lasted I proceed to
press in and fill up these holes or perforations with the cement alluded
to throughout this Specification.
The outer sole having been duly coated and prepared with cement in a
similar manner to the insole, when it is arrived at the true sticking condition
(known to adepts), it is to be pressed upon, and by hammering and rolling
cemented and united to the insole, the cement passing through the upper at
intervals, and securing the same as firmly and durably as if sewed or stitched.
If sufficient strength be used to slightly separate these several parts of a
boot or shoe so united as above stated, the rubber filament or thread can be
distinctly seen, as shown in the Drawing annexed, Figure 2. If desirable, the
punch holes may extend through the insole to the lining of the shoe, so there
may be two or more outer soles; the surfaces of those to which the cement
is to be applied, as well as the surfaces of the inner sole, may be roughened or
indented, in order that they may securely attach themselves to the cement.
Having now, as I believe, clearly explained my new and useful Invention,
what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, the uniting of the outer
sole and upper, manufactured wholly or in part of india-rubber, with the insole
of boots and shoes by means of cement, the cement passing through perfora-
tions made for that purpose in the upper, in the manner substantially and for
the purposes above described.
I also claim, extending the cement through the upper and insole to the lining
of the shoe, substantially as specified.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature and seal, this
Fourteenth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
CHARLES RICE. (L.S.)

page_text: FIG.2.
The Upper Partially separated
Insole & shewing the thread.
Outsole distended as formed by
the rabber cement passing through
the perforations.