Improved Shoe Tree for Private Use and Window Dressing.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Shoe Tree for Private Use and Window Dressing.
ALFRED SAVAGE, 176 & 178, New Kent Road, London, S.E., Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I use the front part of a wooden last or a shape made in shell form of card-
board or paper machie or calico stiffened with shellac. I then use a thin blade
of steel about of an inch wide & about 6 inches long. I fix the steel on a piece
of wood about 1 inch thick about the same length & width as the steel.
At one end of the wood I fix a small wheel about 2 inches in diameter & about
of an inch thick by means of two small metal plates one on each side of the
wood for the wheel to work on. The other end I fix under the last or shape about
3 inches from the toe, then the wood is cut through across the centre which is
about 3 inches from the ends leaving the blade of steel only to keep them together,
when the last or shape is pushed into the shoe the steel bends in the centre where
the wood is cut through, the wheel then rests on the top of the back part of the
shoe which is easily wheeled down into the heel of the shoe by the thumb or
finger at the same time pushing the last or shape well into the shoe & remaining
stationary.
For removing the tree from the shoe a 1 inch screw eye is fixed on the top
about inch from the wheel, the wheel being easily raised by the screw eye with
the thumb or finger & the tree withdrawn.
Made in all sizes to fit boots & shoes.
ALFRED SAVAGE, 176 and 178, New Kent Road, London, S.E., 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:-
I use the front part of a last or a shape made in shell form of cardboard or
papier mache or calico stiffened with shellac. I then use a thin blade of steel
about five eighths of an inch wide and about 6 inches long. I fix the steel
on a piece of wood about 1 inch thick about the same length and width as the
steel.
At one end of the wood I fix a small wheel about 2 inches in diameter and
about five eighths of an inch thick by means of two small metal plates one on

page_text: each side of the wood for the wheel to work on. The outer end I fix under the
last or shape about three inches from the toe, then the wood is cut through
across the centre which is about three inches from the ends leaving the blade of
steel only to keep them together, when the last or shape is pushed into the
shoe the steel bends in the centre where the wood is cut through, the wheel then
rests on the top of the back part of the shoe and is easily wheeled down into
the heel of the shoe by the thumb or finger at the same time pushing the last or
shape well into the shoe and remaining stationary.
For removing the tree from the shoe a 1-inch screw eye is fixed on the top
about inch from the wheel, the wheel being easily raised by the screw eye
with the thumb or finger and the tree withdrawn. The tree is made in all sizes
to fit boots and shoes.
For purposes of illustration, I will now refer to the annexed drawings in
which:-
Figure 1, is a sectional side elevation shewing my invention about to be
applied.
Figure 2, sectional side elevation shewing my invention in its stretching or
shaping position in the shoe.
a is the last or shape which may be formed of any suitable material, which I
term a shell. This shell may consist of cardboard, paper machie, or calico
stiffened with shellac, and may if desired be solid.
b is the support carrying the last or shape which is movably connected to the
piece c through the medium of a piece of flexible metal, such as steel. The end d
of the piece c carries the wheel e pivoted thereto at . It will be seen that the
essential feature of the invention consists in providing the wheel e for the purpose
of bearing upon the rear of the boot or shoe, so as to facilitate the insertion or
removal of the last or shape.
Although I have described the employment of a piece of flexible metal such as
steel for the purpose of connecting the parts b and c together, it will be readily
understood, and suggest itself, that an obvious modification may be made in
which a hinge or pivot might take the place of the piece of flexible metal or
steel.
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:-
1. The improved shoe tree, substantially as described and illustrated herein
and for the purpose set forth.
2. In shoe trees, lasts or shapes of the class herein described, the employment
of a movable bearing surface such as a wheel or roller for the purpose of
facilitating the insertion or removal of the tree last or shape from the boot or
shoe, a shape or the like being carried upon one section of the hinge or jointed
support and the movable surface, the wheel or roller being provided at the
required position upon said support, substantially as described and illustrated
herein and for the purpose set forth.
3. In boot trees, lasts or shapes, the employment of movable bearing surfaces
as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1900