IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING BOOTS, SHOES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Choules, of Badury, Chisledon, in the County of
Wilts, Farmer, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING BOOTS, SHOES, AND SIMILAR
ARTICLES."
Sealed the 17th March 1876, and dated 4th, January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Choules at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1876.
THOMAS CHOULES, of Badbury, Chisledon, in the County of Wilts, Farmer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING
BOOTS, SHOES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES."
The object of my present Invention is to produce a simple and comparatively
inexpensive machine or apparatus for cleaning and polishing boots, shoes, slippers,
and other similar articles.
In carrying out my said Invention in practice I form a convenient framing of
two uprights connected by tie rods. In the lower part of this framing I place a
treadle arrangement, by preference with two treadles, on the crank axle of which I
fix a fly wheel, which wheel, by means of a connecting strap, operates a shaft or
axle above it, on which shaft the hard and polishing brushes are securely fixed.
These brushes are circular, and have the bristles fixed in the periphery thereof.
On the outside of the said framing I place a small mushroom-shaped brush or a
sponge to apply blacking to the articles to be polished. This brush has a slow
motion produced from the said crank axle by a small wheel thereon operating a
A box or other suitable
larger wheel fixed on the axle or stem of the said brush.
contrivance is placed under the said blacking brush or sponge for containing the
blacking.
My said apparatus is operated by a pair of treadles, and the articles to be
cleaned, blacked, or polished are held to the respective brushes by the hand or
honda

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Choules in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th June
1876.
THOMAS CHOULES, of Badbury, Chiselton, in the County of Wilts, Farmer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING
BOOTS, SHOES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my said apparatus; Figure 2 is an end elevation
thereof; Figure 3 is a horizontal plan of the same.
The object of my present Invention is to produce a simple and comparatively
inexpensive machine or apparatus for cleaning and polishing boots, shoes, slippers,
and other similar articles.
In carrying out my said Invention in practice I form a convenient framing of
two uprights a, connected by the rods b, b¹. In the lower part of this framing I
place a treadle arrangement c, c¹, on the crank axle c¹ of which I fix a heavy
wheel d, which performs the functions of both fly wheel and driving wheel, which
wheel d, by means of a connecting or driving band or strap e, passing also over the
wheel or pulley d¹, operates the axle f, on which axle the hard and polishing.
brushes g are securely fixed. These brushes g are circular, and have the bristles
fixed in the peripheries thereof, see Figure 2. On the outside of the said framing I
place a small conical or mushroom-shaped stock h, which may be either fitted with
bristles or hair so as to form a brush, or be covered with a sponge to apply
blacking to the articles to be polished. This brush or sponge h has a slow motion
produced from the said crank axle c¹, by a small wheel i fixed thereon operating by
the driving band ja larger wheel k fixed on the axle 1 of the said brush or sponge h.
The motion of this brush or sponge can be increased by reducing the diameter of
the wheel k, or by enlarging the diameter of the wheel i, or by both such
alterations. A box or other suitable contrivance for containing blacking may be
placed immediately under the said brush or sponge h, or it may be held there by
the hand when needed.
My said apparatus is operated by the treadles c, and the articles to be cleaned,
blacked, or polished are held to the respective brushes g, g, h, as required, by the
hand or hands.
By substituting other and more suitable brushes my said apparatus may be used
for cleaning and polishing plate and the like articles.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the method of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not
claim the several parts of my said apparatus as new, per se, but I claim as my
Invention, and desire to secure by the before-mentioned in part recited Letters
Patent, the machine or apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Choules, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
THOMAS CHOULES. (L.S.)