Improvements in or relating to Lasts for use in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 13th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Lasts for use in the Manufacture of
Boots and Shoes.
I, THOMAS BRINING, of 4, Lindley Grove, Richmond Hill, Leeds, in the County of
York, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in lasts for use in the manufacture of boots
and shoes. Its object is to produce a last with its heel portion separated from its toe
portion, but so arranged as to be capable of being securely and firmly held together
in position when in use.
According to this invention the last may be made or formed in two parts, either
in wood or iron, and the division line between the heel and toe portions thereof is
made or formed in an irregular direction, that is to say, from the sole to the top of
the last. The division line is first cut or otherwise formed transversely across the
last at any required distance from the heel, and it is then continued from the sole of
the last into the main portion thereof for any desired depth or distance in either a
straight, angular, or curved direction so as to form a stop a stop or abutment or pro-
jection against which the front of the heel portion of the last will abut during the
lasting or re-lasting operation. The division line is afterwards continued for a suit-
distance in a direction from, say, the toe towards the heel, at or about a right or
other angle to the just described abutment, or, say, parallel or otherwise with the
sole of the last, after which it is finally continued at any suitable angle to the sole
of the last so as to pass out at the top, that is, the portion opposite to the sole,-
of the last at any suitable distance from the top of the heel.
The toe and heel portions of the last may be held together by male and female
dovetails or tapering or other projections (made of wood or metal) arranged to fit into
corresponding recesses, formed in and on the portions of the last or let into the last
in a similar manner to that described in the Specifications of Letters Patent granted
to me the Twelfth day of January 1895, No. 795, and the Twenty-third day of
July 1896, No. 16316, only instead of arranging or letting in the dovetails or pro-
jections from the sole of the last as previously described, in this invention they are
arranged or let in from the top of the last. An arrangement of male and female dove-
tails or projections may also be provided and formed on or attached to the portions
of the last on the horizontal or angular portion of the division line that has been
previously described as running parallel or otherwise with the sole of the last.
By this arrangement it will readily be understood that there are two sets of dove-
tails or projections, and corresponding recesses in the opposite portions of the last,
that is to say, one set of dovetails or projections, say, on the toe portion are arranged
to run horizontally, say, parallel, or nearly so, with the sole of the last, and fitting
into a recess formed in the heel portion, or vice versa. Whilst a second dovetail or
projection is arranged, say, at an angle to the just described horizontal one, on the
heel portion and to fit into a recess in the toe portion or vice versa. The last named
dovetail or projection may be made in two parts-one part a fixture and the other
part arranged to be pivotted to, say, the heel portion so as to work in a recess, of

page_text: the same or varying depths and widths formed for its reception therein. This
pivotted portion may be made to act as a catch or sneck for holding the two parts of
the last together, and it may or may not be provided with a heel portion at its back
against which a helical spring works for retaining the catch in position. Or, if so
desired, the helical spring may be dispensed with and the front portion of the pivotted
projection arranged to form a cam against which the opposing face of the other
portion of the last acts when the two portions thereof are required to be secured
together. Or the two portions of the last may, if desired, be held together by any
suitable arrangement of spring or springs, or spring pin or pins actuated by a cord,
chain, strap, or cam, or combinations of two or more of them, or it or their
equivalents, or, in some cases, the springs, or spring pins, cord or the like, may, if so
desired, be dispensed with altogether. Or a hole may be bored in one of the portions
of the last which may be plugged with leather, or india rubber, with or without a
metal cap, arranged to slightly project and to form a kind of brake or wedge for
forcing the two portions of the last apart, so as to increase the friction on the parts
of the dovetails that are in contact to prevent the portions of the last working
apart.
When the lasts are formed or made of wood they may or may not be provided with
metal sole plates.
Dated this Fleventh day of June 1900
Improvements in or relating to Lasts for use in the Manufacture of
Boots and Shoes.
I, THOMAS BRINING, of 4, Lindley Grove, Richmond Hill, Leeds, in the County of
York, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in lasts for use in the manufacture of boots
and shoes. Its object is to produce a last with its heel portion separated from its
toe portion, but so arranged as to be capable of being securely and firmly held
together in position when in use.
In the drawings hereunto annexed
:-
Fig. 1 is a part longitudinal and sectional elevation of a last showing the toe
and heel portions locked in position.
Fig. 2 a plan of last shown at Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 a part sectional elevation of the toe portion of the last shown at
Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 an end view of same.
Fig. 5 a plan of toe portion shown at Fig. 3, looking at the underside.
Fig. 6 a sectional elevation of the heel portion of the last shown at Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 an end elevation of same.
Fig. 8 a plan looking on the top of Fig. 6.
Fig. 9 a part sectional elevation of a toe portion of a last showing another form of
dovetail.
Fig. 10 an end view of same.
Fig. 11 a plan looking on the top of Fig. 9.
Fig. 12 a sectional elevation of heel portion made to fit the toe portion shown
at Fig. 9.
Fig. 13 an end view of same.

page_text: Fig. 14 a plan looking on the top of Fig. 12.
Fig. 15 a side elevation of one form of catch or sneck for holding the two portions
of the last in position.
Fig. 16 a plan of same.
Like parts in all the views are marked with similar letters of reference.
According to this invention the last may be made or formed in two parts, a tɔe
portion A and a heel portion B, either in wood or iron, (an iron last being shown in
the drawings), and the division line, shown dotted at C and D, between the heel and
toe portions thereof is made or formed in an irregular direction, that is to say, from
the sole E to the top F of the last. The division line C to D is first cut or otherwise
formed transversely across the last at any required distance from the heel, and it is
then continued from the sole E of the last into the main portion thereof for any
desired depth or distance in either a straight, angular, or curved direction as shown,
so as to form a stop or abutment G or projection against which the front of the heel
portion B of the last will abut during the lasting or re-lasting operation.
The division line C to D is afterwards continued for a suitable distance in a direc-
tion from, say, the toe towards the heel, at or about a right or other angle to the just
described abutment G, or, say, parallel, or nearly so, as shown, with the sole E of the
last, after which it (the division line) is finally continued at any suitable angle to the
sole of the last so to pass out at the top F,-that is, the portion opposite to
the sole E, of the last at any suitable distance from the top of the heel, thus
providing a solid portion at each part where a strain is likely to occur upon the two
portions of the last, during the hammering and lasting process.
When the
last is moulded or cast the two portions may be formed to the shape described
above.
The toe and heel portions of the last may be held together by male and female
dovetails or tapering or other projections (made of wood or metal) arranged to fit
into corresponding recesses, formed in and on the portions of the last or let into the
last in a similar manner to that described in the Specifications of Letters Patent
granted to me the Twelfth day of January 1895, No. 795, and the Twenty-third day
of July 1896, No. 16316, only instead of arranging or letting in the dovetails or
projections from the sole of the last as previously described, in this invention they
are arranged or let in from the top of the last. An arrangement of male and female
dovetails or projections may also be provided and formed on or attached to the
portions of the last on the horizontal or angular portion of the division line C to D
that has been previously described as running parallel or otherwise with the sole of
the last.
By this arrangement it will readily be understood that there are two sets of dovetails
or projections, and corresponding recesses in the opposite portions of the last, that is
to say, one set of dovetails or projections, say, on the toe portion A,-a projection is
shown at H, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 and 11,-arranged to run horizontally, say, parallel,
or nearly so, with the sole E of the last, and which fits into a recess I forined in the
heel portion B, or vice versa. The projection or male portion H of the dovetail on
the toe portion A of the last is shaped as shown at Fig. 5, and fits into the female
portion or recess I of the last, which is suitably shaped to receive it, as shown at
Fig. 8.
A second dovetail or projection J-a projection being shown in the drawings-is
arranged, say, at an angle to the just described horizontal one H, on the heel
portion B and it is made and shaped to fit into a recess K formed in the toe
portion A of the last or vice versa. The recess K is cast or formed in the toe por-
tion A and projection H, the shape being such as is shown at, say, Figs. 3, 4,
and 5.
The last named dovetail or projection J may be made in two parts-one part J a
fixture and the other part L arranged to be pivotted to, say, the heel portion B, as
shown at l, Figs. 1, 6 and 7, so as to work in a recess M, of the same or varying
depths and widths formed for its reception therein in the heel portion B. This
pivotted portion L may be made to act as a catch or sneck (and is hereafter termed

page_text: a catch L) for holding the two parts of the last together, and it may or may not be
provided with a heel portion at its back against which a helical spring 12 works
for retaining the catch in position. The catch L is provided at its top with a hook
projection for retaining the two portions of the last in position.
That is to say, when the heel portion B is passed into the toe portion A, the
catch L will be pressed by the back of recess K into the recess M, and, as soon as
the two portions of the last fit into each other, the catch I will be pressed forward
by the action of the spring 12, and the hook projection 13 will catch on the toe
portion A at its top at the part marked 2 as shown in the drawings at Fig. 1, and
will retain its hold until released by hand or otherwise.
When it is desired to keep the catch L back in the recess M when the toe and heel
portions are apart, or when they are being placed into or out of contact with each
other, a small lever, pawl, or catch N is provided, which is pivoted on the head
portion of the catch L, and is shown in dotted lines at Fig. 1. When the said
catch L is pressed back by hand or otherwise into the said recess M, the projection
or tooth on the pawl N pisses into the recess provided for its reception on the top of
the heel portion B, thus retaining the catch L in the said position until the pawl N
is released.
At Figs. 9 to 14 the toe portion A and heel portion B are formed in a similar
manner to the already described toe and heel portions, except that the projection H
on the toe portion A is formed with a rib or strengthening piece h, as shown at
Figs. 9 and 11, which fits into a recess i in the heel portion B, shaped to receive it
as shown at Figs. 12, 13, and 14.
The recess I is formed deeper into the heel portion B than the recess i and is
shaped as shown at Fig. 14, the projection H on toe portion A being formed to fit
into the said recess I, and being shaped as shown at Fig. 11.
The toe portion A has a second recess formed at the back of the recess K. Into
this recess a second projection j formed on the projection J is made to fit, and the
recess and projection j are shaped as shown at Figs. 9 to 14.
At Figs. 15 and 16 a catch L is shown which fits into the recess M in the heel
portion B shown at Figs. 12, 13, and 14, the catch working on a pivot . When
the two portions A and B of the last are apart the catch L is in the position as
shown in dotted lines at Fig. 12, the catch having been pressed back by hand or
otherwise, and the cam piece 4 locked against the projection 15 on the heel portion,
by means of the spring 12.
When the heel portion B of the last is slid or passed into the toe portion A, a
projection on the catch L, will come into contact with the top of the recess k
which forms a stop piece k¹. On continuing to press the heel portion B into the toe
portion A, the pressure on the projection will withdraw the cam piece /* from
contact with the projection 5 and the spring 12 will then press against the heel
portion of the catch and force the catch L into the recess K, which will then lock
the two portions of the last together by means of its hook portion 13 resting on
and retaining hold of the toe portion A at the part marked k² in the drawings, as
shown at Fig. 9.
If desired the helical spring may be dispensed with and the front portion of the
pivotted projection arranged to form a cam against which the opposing. face of
the other portion of the last acts when the two portions thereof are required to be
secured together. Or the two portions of the last may, if desired, be held together
by any suitable arrangement of spring or springs, or spring pin or pins actuated
by a cord, chain, strap, or cam, or combinations of two or more of them, or it or
their equivalents, or, in some cases, the springs, or spring pins, cord, or the like,
may, if so desired, be dispensed with altogether. Or a hole may be bored in one
of the portions of the last which may be plugged with leather, or india-rubber, with
or without a metal cap, arranged to slightly project and to form a kind of brake or
wedge for forcing the two portions of the last apart, so as to increase the friction
on the parts of the dovetails that are in contact to prevent the portions of the last
working apart.

page_text: When the lasts are formed or made of wood they may or may not be provided
with metal sole plates, and the last is first sawn into the toe and heel portions
along the herein before described division line. The projection or male dovetail
on the toe portion may be made of wood, brass, or other suitable metal and fixed
thereon by, say, screws, or partially recessed into the toe portion, and may be shaped
somewhat similar to that for the iron last shown at Fig. 11. The female dovetail
is recessed into the heel portion of the last and may be also made of wood, brass,
or other metal and shaped as shown for an iron last as at Fig. 14, to receive the
projections or inale dovetail on the toe portion of the last. The second male dove-
tail or projection is suitably fixed or formed on the heel portion, and the herein
described catch may be pivoted thereto, both the projection and catch passing into
the recess provided on the toe portion as described for the iron last.
To prevent the loss of the heel portion of an iron or wood last it may be con-
nected to the toe portion by means of a wire, cord, or the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
In a boot last divided as herein described and shown, the combination of the toe
portion A and heel portion B, provided with male and female dovetails, or projec-
tions and recesses, for connecting and holding the said two portions of the last in
position, and a catch or sneck L constructed as described and shown, for retaining
the two portions of the last together during the hammering or lasting operation, all
substantially as described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Eleventh day of March 1899.
THOMAS BRINING.