IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Randall of Northampton in the county of
Northampton, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES AND IN MACHINERY
THEREFOR
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Randall at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st December 1882.
HENRY EDWARD RANDALL, of Northampton, in the county of Northampton,
Boot and Shoe Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS
AND SHOES AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
ور
This invention relates more particularly to improvements in the manufacture of
lawn tennis shoes, the object of the improvements being to improve their
appearance, lessen the cost of their manufacture and to increase their durability.
Hitherto it has been the practice to fix the india rubber soles of lawn tennis
shoes on to the leather sole by means of solution and this mode of fixing possesses
disadvantages amongst others the solution becoming soft under the effect of heat
the india rubber sole in consequence frequently comes away from the leather sole.
Now by my invention these defects are remedied and india rubber soles
connected to the leather soles according to my improvements are not liable to leave
the leather sole from the effect of heat or other cause, and my invention consists
in constructing the sole in such a manner as to allow it to be stitched to the leather
sole, in the manner hereinafter described.
In carrying out my invention instead of cutting the soles from sheets of india
rubber as hitherto, I form them separately of the required shape, and with a flango
or plain border all round and of the required width and strength for the purpose
of allowing the rubber sole to be stitched on to the leather sole.
To the ordinary boot stitching machine in place of the usual foot presser I adapt
a foot presser constructed with two prongs for pressing on the flange of the rubber
sole during the stitching operation the needle passing through the space between
the prongs whereby the stitching operation may be performed without injury to
the rubber.

page_text: The india rubber sole constructed as hereinbefore described is placed on the
leather sole of the shoe a small portion of solution being preferably employed to
hold the same in place while being stitched; in stitching on the rubber sole the
herein before described foot presser presses the flange or border closely against the
leather sole while the needle passes through the leather sole and the flange of the
rubber sole and firmly stitches them together.
Lawn tennis shoes having india rubber soles manufactured as hereinbefore
described may thus be "fair stitched" which has not hitherto been practicable and
the rubber sole will be as securely fixed to the leather sole as an ordinary leather
outer sole would be.
Instead of the india rubber soles and heels being formed in one piece they
may be made in separate pieces the hereinbefore described flange passing all round
the sole and heel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Edward Randall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st May 1883.
HENRY EDWARD RANDALL of Northampton in the county of Northampton
Boot and Shoe Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS
AND SHOES AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
ور
This invention relates more particularly to improvements in the manufacture of
lawn tennis, boating or cricketing shoes, the object of the improvements being to
improve their appearance, lessen the cost of their manufacture and to increase their
durability.
Hitherto it has been the practice to fix the india rubber soles of lawn tennis and
similar shoes on to the leather sole by means of solution and this mode of fixing
possesses disadvantages amongst others the solution becomes soft under the effect
of heat and the india rubber sole in consequence frequently comes away from the
leather sole.
Now by my invention these defects are remedied and india rubber soles
connected to the leather soles according to my improvements are not liable to leave
the leather sole from the effect of heat or other cause, and my invention consists
in constructing the sole in such a manner as to allow it to be stitched to the leather
sole in the manner hereinafter described.
In order to enable my improvements to be fully understood I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1, is
a side elevation of a lawn tennis shoe manufactured according to my invention;
figure 2, is a plan of the sole of the same; figure 3, is a plan shewing the india
rubber sole and heel in separate pieces; figures 4, and 5, are elevations of the foot
pressers I employ in carrying out my invention, and figures 6, and 7, are plans of
figures 4, and 5. Similar letters in all the figures represent similar or corresponding
parts.
In carrying out my invention instead of cutting the soles from sheets of india
rubber as hitherto I form the soles a, separately (in moulds or otherwise) of the
required shape and with a flange or plain border b, all round and with projections
or ribs and of the required width and strength for the purpose of allowing the
rubber sole a, to be stitched onto the leather sole c.
To the ordinary boot stitching machine in place of the usual foot presser I adapt
a foot presser constructed either with one prong d, as shewn in figures 4 and 6, or
with two prongs d', d, as shewn in figures 5, and 7, for pressing on the flange b,
of the rubber sole a, during the stitching operation the needle passing at the side
of the prong d, or through the space e, between the prongs d¹ d', whereby the
stitching operation may be performed without injury to the rubber. I have found
that the presser with one prong d, is best suited for use when the flange b, of the
sole is required to be left narrow; and the presser with two prongs d¹d', when
the flange b, is required to be left wider.
The india rubber sole a, constructed as hereinbefore described and shewn is
placed on the leather sole c, of the shoe a small portion of solution being advan-
tageously employed to hold the same in place while being stitched; in stitching on
the rubber sole the herein before described foot presser presses the flange or border b,
closely against the leather sole c, while the needle passes through the leather sole c,
and the flange b, of the rubber sole a, and firmly stitches them together
Lawn tennis shoes having india rubber soles manufactured as herein before
described may thus be "fair stitched" which has not hitherto been practicable and
the rubber sole a, will be as securely fixed to the leather sole c, as an ordinary

page_text: leather outer sole would be and the india rubber sole being stitched to the leather
and as this leather is blocked to the shape of the model or last on which it is
made the india rubber sole is drawn up to the shape of the same so as to produce
an arch at the waist of the sole and thereby improve the appearance and fit of the
shoe, whereas when the india rubber soles are cemented on as hitherto the same
are flat and uncomfortable to the wearer.
Instead of the india rubber soles and heels being formed in one piece as herein-
before described and shewn in figures 1, and 2, they may be made in separate
pieces as shewn in figure 3, the hereinbefore described flange b, passing all round
the sole and heel.
"
Instead of the india rubber sole a, being "fair stitched to the leather sole c, as
hereinbefore described the india rubber sole may be sewn to the leather sole by the
ordinary boot sewing machine of the kind known as the Blake and Goodyear boot
sewing machine in which case the foot pressers hereinbefore described and shewn in
figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 would not be required.
The flange b, of the india rubber sole a, may be formed with a groove to receive
the stitches and in. all cases the stitches may if required be covered with a suitable
cement.
:
In the drawing I have shewn the india rubber sole and heel formed with
transverse projections or ribs of a triangular shape in section but it will be evident
that the projections of the sole may be of any other suitable shape such as lozenge
or pyramidal or of an ornamental design as may be required.
Having thus described my said invention and the best means I am acquainted
with of carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood that what I
claim is:-
Firstly. Forming the india rubber outer soles and heels of lawn tennis, boating,
- cricketing and other boots and shoes with a flange around the same to allow of the
soles and hels being stitched or sewn to the boot or shoe substantially as and for
the purposes hereinbefore described and represented in figures 1, 2 and 3, of the
accompanying drawing.
Secondly The manufacture and use of boots or shoes having an india rubber
outer sole stitched or sewn thereto substantially as hereinbefore described.
"
Thirdly. The use in combination with an ordinary boot stitching machine of
foot pressers constructed with either one or two prongs to allow of "fair stitching '
an india rubber outer sole such as that berein described to a boot or shoe
substantially as hereinbefore described and represented in figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 of
the accompanying drawing.
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Edward Randall have hereto set my
hand and seal this thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three