Improvements in the Manufacture of the Leather Soles of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1891

page_text: 'Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of the Leather Soles of Boots and
Shoes.
I LAURA HATTON VERNON SMITH trading as W. H. Smith and Co. of Nos. 82
and 83 High Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick Boot and Shoe
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described on inventions
for which Letters Patent were granted to my late husband William Henry Wilmer
Smith of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Leather Merchant and Manufac-
turer on the 2nd day of June 1860 No. 1362 and on the 21st day of March 1877
No. 1119.
My said invention consists in the use of the materials or compositions hereinafter
described in place of or in addition to the materials or compositions described in
the Specifications of the Patents referred to.
;
Instead of employing the composition described in the first named Patent for
waterproofing the soles of boots and shoes I employ a composition made of the
following ingredients in the proportions indicated; namely:-7 pounds of tallow
3 pounds of deer's fat; 1 pint of cod liver oil, 1 pint of neat's foot oil.
The tallow and deer's fat are melted and the oils added and thoroughly incor-
porated by stirring.
In some cases I also use as hereinafter explained a liquid having the following
composition; namely
―:
1 pound of bisulphide of carbon
1 ounce of gutta percha.
The gutta percha is dissolved without heat in the bisulphide of carbon and the
solution is kept in a closed vessel when not being used.
The soles to be waterproofed are immersed in cold water for twenty five to thirty
seconds and after removal from the water are piled on one another and allowed to
stand from half an hour to two hours. The water by which they were wetted soaks
into the leather and opens its pores. The flesh side of the sole is covered with the
first described composition applied by means of a brush. The grain side is covered
with pure tallow only which is applied by rubbing. The soles thus treated are
allowed to remain without further treatment for at least twenty four hours but they
may be left in the condition described for a longer time. They are then treated by
heat and pressure as described in the Specifications of the Patents referred to.
The absorbed water is thereby forced out at the edges of the soles and the
expanded pores of the leather filled with the fatty matter spread on the faces of
the sole.
Where a still further protection against moisture or damp
desired the soles
after the treatment described may be plunged into the solution of gutta percha
in bisulphide of carbon and immediately withdrawn therefrom. The solvent rapidly
evaporates and leaves a thin film of gutta percha on the sole.
Dated the 29th day of January 1891.
W. T. WHITEMAN,.
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of the, Leather, Soles of Boots and
Shoes.
I LAURA HATTON VERNON SMITH trading as W. H. Smith and Co. of Nos. 82
and 83 High Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick Boot and, Shoe
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what, manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described on inventions
for which Letters Patent were granted to my late husband William Henry
Wilmer Smith of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Leather. Merchant and
Manufacturer on the 2nd day of June 1860 No. 1362 and on the 21st day of March:
1877 No. 1119.
My said invention consists in the use of the materials or compositions hereinafter
described in place of or in addition to the materials or compositions described in
the Specifications of the Patents referred to.
Instead of employing the composition described in the second named Patent.for
waterproofing the soles of boots and shoes I employ a composition made.of.the
following ingredients in the proportions indicated namely:
pounds of tallow; 3 pounds of deer's fat; 1 pint of cod liver oil.; 1 pint of
neat's foot oil. All the ingredients I employ are articles of commerce, the. cod..
liver, oil being the common or commercial oil used by curriers....
The tallow and deer's fat are melted at as low a temperature, as., can, be con-
veniently employed and the oils added are thoroughly incorporated by stirring.
In some cases I also use as hereinafter explained a liquid having the following
composition namely:
:-
1 pound of bisulphide of carbon..
ounce of gutta percha.
The gutta percha is dissolved without heat in the bisulphide. of carbon and the,
solution is kept in a closed vessel when not being used.
The soles to be waterproofed are immersed in .cold water for twenty five to
thirty seconds and after removal from the water are piled on, one another and:
allowed to stand from half an hour to two hours. The water by which they were
wetted soaks into, the leather and opens its pores. The flesh side of the sole,is
covered with the first described composition applied by means of a currier's or other.
brush. The grain side is covered with pure tallow only which may be applied by
rubbing it in by cotton waste or a sponge or the like. The soles thus treated are.
again piled and allowed to remain without further treatment for at least, twenty.
four hours but they may be left in the condition described for a longer time without.
injury. They are afterwards treated by heat and pressure,, as described in the
Specifications of the Patents referred to. The absorbed water is thereby forced.
out at the edges of the soles and the expanded pores of the leather. filled, with, the
fatty matter spread on the faces of the soles...
Where a still further protection against moisture or damp is desired the soles
after the treatment described may be plunged into the solution of gutta percha in
bisulphide of carbon. and immediately withdrawn therefrom. The solvent rapidly
evaporates and leaves a thin film of gutta percha on the sole. This treatment is
resorted to principally in the manufacture of soles for shooting fishing and sporting 4
boots and of soles which in use are likely to be exposed to an exceptional or
prolonged wetting or immersion in water. For ordinary purposes the treatment
with solution of gutta percha in bisulphide of carbon is unnecessary.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my
invention of "Improvements in the manufacture of the leather soles of boots and
shoes:
"
Treating the soles of boots and shoes by the use of waterproofing compositions
made and applied substantially as herein before described.
Dated the 29th day of September 1891.
LAURA HATTON VERNON SMITH.