IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING the Preparation of the Uppers oF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Philip Schwartz at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th July
1870. A communication from abroad by Monsieur Giessner, of
Paris, in the Empire of France.
I, PHILIP SCHWARTZ, of 19, Boulevard Prince Eugène, Paris, in the
Empire of France, but at present residing at Klein's Hotel, Finsbury
Square, in the County of Middlesex; do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING
the Preparation of the Uppers oF BOOTS AND SHOES,” a communication to me
from abroad by Monsieur Giessner, of Paris, in the Empire of France, to
be as follows:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus
for facilitating the preparation of the uppers of boots and shoes, and
relates to means whereby facility is afforded for placing the upper leather,
the elastics, the lining, and the front loop in correct position with
relation to each other, and retaining them in such position until the glue
with which the parts are united has set, when the upper is removed and
another placed in position.

page_text: C
The apparatus is formed in two frames hinged together, each frame
being provided with two plates, in which openings of a similar form to
that of the gussets or elastics are made. Each of these openings is
provided with a moveable plate of a similar form, and around each of
these openings is a recess into which the edge of the moveable plate fits,
and is received, so as to be capable of lying flush therein. Each of these
moveable plates is supported on springs, which when allowed act to raise
such moveable plates above the surface of the adjacent parts, and such
moveable plates are acted upon by inclined or other suitable catches
which act to draw them down flush with the fixed plate, and the two
frames which are hinged together are provided with catches or fastenings
to hold them firmly together when the various parts of an upper are
arranged in position between them. The plates having the openings there-
in are fitted upon the frames and are provided with means to shift them
laterally thereon, so as to adapt the apparatus to various sizes of uppers.
In carrying the Invention into operation it is preferred to mount two
sets of apparatus upon a single frame or standard, so as to be capable of
turning thereon, and such frame or standard is also mounted upon an
axis of motion, so as to enable the operations to be continuously per-
formed, but if desired one or more than two sets of apparatus may be
mounted upon a single frame or standard. In using the apparatus the
leather upper with its face down is first laid upon one of the frames with
the edges around the gusset or elastic openings under the projecting
edges of the moveable plates, which moveable plates are then forced down
by means of the inclined or other catches so as to hold the upper leather
firmly in position. The gussets or elastics are then laid upon the upper
leather and the apparatus is turned round on its axis, so as to bring the
other frame into position when the lining is placed thereon with the
edges around the gusset or elastic openings under the edges of the
moveable plates, such moveable plates are then forced down as before
described to hold the lining between the edges of the moveable plates
and the recesses around the opening in which the moveable plates work,
when the two frames are closed together and locked firmly in position, so
as to press the upper leather, gussets, or elastics, front loop, and lining
firmly together and hold them in such position until the glue or cement
is set, when the frames are unlocked and the "upper" removed therefrom
ready for completion by sewing. If kid or other thin leather is employed
for the " uppers " then the openings for the gussets or elastics are made
smaller so as to enable the leather to be doubled over or "beaded" which

page_text: is effected according to the present Invention by means of a knife or
instrument of a corresponding form to the gusset or elastic acting to
press the leather in between the edges of the moveable plate and the
recesses around the openings in the fixed plate. This knife or instrument
also acts to double or fold the lining in a similar manner to the leather.