IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR 'LASTING' BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Balme and William Hall, both of Leeds, in the
County of York, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR 'LASTING' BOOTS AND SHOES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Balme and William
Hall at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th June 1880.
ALFRED BALME and WILLIAM HALL, both of Leeds, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR 'LASTING' BOOTS
AND SHOES."
The object of our Invention is to produce a saving of time in the "lasting" of
boots and shoes, at the same time producing a more perfect fit than when hand
labour is used. For this purpose the boot upper is placed on a "last" by ordinary
ineans and mounted on a suitable table. In order to complete the "lasting" of the
boot or shoe it is necessary that the upper should be stretched or drawn over the
"last." For this purpose we provide any required number of vertical side arms,
either mounted and hinged in suitable bearings on the table, or carried on vertica!
springs attached to the table. On the top of these side arms are provided
adjustable nippers for the purpose of gripping the edge of the leather that has to
be drawn over. In combination with these we employ round the heel and toe
similar vertical arms, having on their tops small plates secured; these are brought
in contact with the leather simultaneously with the grippers, and force the leather
they are brought in contact with over the "last." In order to give motion to the
vertical arms carrying the grippers and plates we surround them with a metal
belt, to which a vertical motion is imparted by means of a hand lever. This belt
acting on inclines formed on the backs of the vertical arms causes them to move
inwards, and simultaneously to carry the leather over the "last" ready to be
secured to the inner sole on the "last." In order to release the vertical arms from
the uppers we lower the metal belt down the inclines formed thereon, which
liberates them and allows them to be brought free from the work. The vertical
arms carrying the grippers and plates are moved clear of the work by means of
springs or their equivalents after being released from the pressure of the belt.

page_text: thereto, through which apertures are provided to admit of tacks being passed and
driven into the "upper and in sole;" this also applies to q'; q has on its upper
extremity nipping jaws 8 and 8'; these are brought together for the purpose of
gripping the leather by means of the hand lever t, and retained in any desired
position by means of the pin u, spring v, and ratchet teeth w. Openings are
provided at and also on g of the side arms a through which tacks are driven for
purposes herein set forth.
y is the adjustable pillar for supporting the toe part of the boot or shoc, and
is also an adjustable pillar for supporting the heel, and adjusted by means of the
screw 2. Pillar y is carried in socket 1, which is provided with a thread at its
lower end 2 for the screw 3; this screw 3 is employed for adjusting the vertical
pillar y. At the top of the pillar y is mounted a hinged piece 4, this being provided
so that it may adapt itself to the different formation of boots and shoes. On the
socket 1 is supported the bed carrying the arms q', which may be raised or lowered
at pleasure through the medium of the socket 1, screw 5, and hand lever 6. The
socket 1 is prevented turning round during the movement of the hand lever 6 by
a key 7. In order to give motion to the vertical arins α, 7, 21, and q², the metal
belt n is brought into operation, which acting on inclines 8 forined on the backs
of vertical arms causes them to move inwards, and simultaneously to carry the
leather over the "last" ready to be secured to the "in sole." In order to release
the vortical arms from the "upper" we lower the metal belt n down the inclines 8,
which liberates them and allows them to fall back from their work; 9 is a sliding
picco fitted in the table c and carries the vertical side piece at the heel; this is
adjusted to suit any size of boot or shoe through the medium of the set screw 10.
On the belt is provided a sliding piece or support 11, which may be also adjusted
to allow the vertical arms to fall back to suit the various sizes of boots and shoes.
The apparatus may be mounted upon a table or suitable standard or frame-
work 12.
The side arms may be also hinged at 13 so as to be capable of a radial movement
as well as the movement for drawing the leather over the "last in order to put
the required "draft" thereon which is necessary in better class of work. The
radial movement is effected by a pin 14 on the bolt n acting upon the inclino 15
as the belt n rises.
The set screws 16 are employed for adjusting the vertical arms to suit the size
of the boot or shoe.
The set screws 17 are employed to adjust the side arins to suit the width of the
boot or shoe.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and described by the
aid of Drawings how the same may be carried into practice, we would have it
understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details or configuration of
the parts we have described and shewn, as the same may be varied or modified
without departing from the nature or principle of our said Invention, but what we
claim and desire to be secured to us by Letters Patent is,-
The arrangement, construction, and combination of the various parts forming
the improvements in machinery or apparatus employed for "lasting" boots and
shoes, substantially as herein set forth."
In witness whereof, wc, the said Alfred Balme and William Hall, have
hereunto set our bands and seals, this Twenty second day of December, in
1