IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- PACTURE OF SOLES FOR CLOGS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Walker, of Rhodes, near the City of Man-
chester, Engraver, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
PACTURE OF SOLES FOR CLOGS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET, AND IN
THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 19th July 1861, and dated the 16th February 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
February 1861.
I, JAMES WALKER, of Rhodes, near the City of Manchester, Engraver, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF SOLES FOR CLOGS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET, AND IN THE
MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in manufacturing the soles of clogs or other coverings
for the feet of a combination of sawdust or shavings of wood or leather, with
marine glue and gutta percha, or other suitable adhesive and water-repellent
materials; which said materials are put into moulds or dies of the requisito
shapes, and subjected to hydraulic or other pressure for the purpose of con-
solidating and shaping them.
Another part of my Invention consists in preparing blocks of wood by steam
or otherwise, so as to render them soft and plastic, and afterwards to compress
them in moulds to the shape of the soles required. By this means soles

page_text: suitable for clogs and other coverings for the feet, baving the requisite grooves
for attaching the top leathers, can be produced with the greatest economy and
despatch.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
August 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WALKER, of Rhodes, near the City of Manchester, Engraver, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Iler
reign, did, for Herself, Her.heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Walker, Her special licence that I, the said James Walker,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Walker, 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 SOLES FOR CLOGS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE FEET, AND IN
THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said James Walker, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 James Walker, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
My Invention consists in manufacturing the soles of clogs or other coverings
for the feet of a combination of sawdust or, shavings of wood or leather,
with glue or gutta percha, or other suitable adhesive. and water-repellent
materials; which said materials are put into moulds or dies of the requisite
shapes, and subjected to hydraulic or other pressure for the purpose of con-

page_text: solidating and shaping them. By this means soles suitable for clogs and
other coverings for the feet, having the requisite grooves for attaching the top
leathers, can be produced with the greatest economy and dispatch.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into operation, I will proceed to describo the means pursued by me, reference
being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the figures and
letters marked thereon.
In manufacturing the soles of clogs or other coverings for the feet, I take
equal quantities by weight of sawdust, wood turnings, pareings or shavings of
leather, hair, or other fibrous substances, or a mixture of the said substances,
and of the glue known as Hay's patent glue, gutta percha,, or other suitable
adhesive and water-repellent materials. These said materials are combined or
mixed together, and are put in a plastic state into moulds of the requisite size
and shape, similar to those shewn in the Drawing, which represents three views
of the same mould, Figure 1 being a longitudinal section; Figure 2, a transverse
section, and Figure 3, a plan view. The mould consists of two parts marked
a and b, which are jointed together lengthwise of the sole, and held in their
relative positions by steady pins or screws; the two parts of the mould are
held together by a strong clamp or other convenient means. When a piece of
the required size of the plastic composition has been put into the mould the
die c is placed in the mould and pressed down by hydraulic or other pressure
for the purpose of consolidating the plastic composition and forcing it into tho
mould, which is made with a projecting rib all round, of the shape of the
groove or gripping required in clog soles for the attachment of the top leathers.
When a sole has been pressed into the mould it is released from the clamp or
other apparatus in which it was held, and on separating the two parts a and b
the sole can be easily taken out. The mould is then put together again to be
ready for the next operation. In order to render the soles more durable iron
heel pieces may be placed in the mould, as shewn at d in Figure 1, and steel
or iron borings, turnings, or filings, or pounded emery may be put into the
mould, so that when the plastic composition is compressed the said heel
piece and the borings or other hard substances become embedded in or incor-
porated with the composition, thereby rendering the soles more durable.
It is evident that when soles for boots or shoes are made according to the
improved method above described, the grooves or gripping shewn in the
Drawing are not required, or they are modified according to the peculiar shape
of the sole to be produced. By means of these improvements soles possessing
great durability can be manufactured with economy and dispatch.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner

page_text: of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself
to the details given, as the proportions and the ingredients may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of my Invention. I would also
remark that I do not intend to claim the materials described for manu-
facturing the soles for clogs or other coverings for the feet when taken
separately; but what I do claim is, the improved combinations of materials
described for the manufacture of clog and other soles, and the moulds and dies
employed therein, as shewn and described..
In witness whereof, I, the said James Walker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
JAMES WALKER. (LS.)