NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE USED. IN THE MANUFACTURE OF UPPER LEATHERS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE WHOLLY OR MAINLY OF LEATHER
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Wilmer Henry Smith
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th July 1869.
I, WILLIAM WILMER HENRY SMITH, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Leather Merchant and Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE USED.
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF UPPER LEATHERS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES AND OTHER
ARTICLES MADE WHOLLY OR MAINLY OF LEATHER," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of machinery constructed in the manner herein-
after described for beading or folding the edges of the leather portions of
the said upper leathers and the linings of the said upper leathers and
other articles of leather. The said beading or folding is applied chiefly
to those parts of the upper leathers to which elastic fabric is applied,
and consists in folding the edges and compressing the folded edges
preparatory to the securing of the elastic fabric thereto. Machinery
constructed according to my Invention may be applied to the beading of
any parts of the upper leathers of boots and shoes which may require to

page_text: be beaded as well as to the beading of other articles made wholly or
mainly of leather.
The machine by which I effect the beading of the edges of the leather
parts of the said upper leathers is constructed essentially as follows:-
On the table of the machine is a cross head in which a vertical bar slides,
the said bar carrying at its lower end a horizontal blade or strip of metal.
On the said table of the machine and immediately underneath the said
vertical bar is a clamp consisting of two strong horizontal bars of steel or
other hard material connected together by a screw, and capable by
turning a hand wheel or winch on the end of the said screw of being
brought together or separated. The vertical sliding bar deseribed is fixed
at its top to a lever, to which motion can be given by a treadle and con-
necting rod, the pressure of the foot on the treadle causing the descent
of the said sliding bar and horizontal blade connected to its bottom end;
in its descent the said blade passes between the two bars of the clamp.
In using the machine the edge of the leather to be beaded is placed on
the top of the open clamp and the treadle is pressed down by the foot.
The edge of the leather is thereby folded and carried down by the blade
between the bars of the clamp. On moving the foot from the treadle the
blade rises, and by now turning the screw of the clamp the said clamp
closes and so compresses the folded or beaded edge of the leather as to
cause it to, retain its shape. On unscrewing the clamp the beaded leather
may be removed from the machine. Two leathers may be beaded at the
same time. For beading or folding the lining of the said upper leathers
the machine is constructed in essentially the same manner as that
described, but as the said linings have two edges inclined to one another
requiring to be folded the vertical bar carries two. blades suitably inclined
to one another and the clamp is double, that is, contains two com-
pressing parts inclined to one another, into which the two inclined blades.
enter by pressing down the treadle.
Although my Invention is especially applicable to the manufacture of
upper leathers for boots and shoes, yet my said Invention is also appli-
cable to the beading or folding of the edges of other articles or parts of
articles made wholly or mainly of leather.