IMPROVED METHODS OF RENDERING THE SOLES AND HEELS OF BOOTS, SHOES, AND CLOGS MORE DURABLE, AND FOR IMPROVED MODES OF CONSTRUCTING THE ARTICLES TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, AND ALSO FOR IMPROVED METHODS OF FASTENING MOVEABLE HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wadsworth, of Heaton Norris, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVED METHODS OF RENDERING THE
SOLES AND HEELS OF BOOTS, SHOES, AND CLOGS MORE DURABLE, AND FOR
IMPROVED MODES OF CONSTRUCTING THE ARTICLES TO BE USED FOR THAT
PURPOSE, AND ALSO FOR IMPROVED METHODS OF FASTENING MOVEABLE HEELS
OF BOOTS AND SHOES."
Sealed the 28th May 1867, and dated the 29th November 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wadsworth at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th November 1866.
I, JAMES WADSWORTH, of Heaton Norris, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED METHODS OF
RENDERING THE SOLES AND HEELS OF BOOTS, SHOES, AND CLOGS MORE DURABLE, AND
FOR IMPROVED MODES OF CONSTRUCTING THE ARTICLES TO BE USED FOR THAT
PURPOSE, AND ALSO FOR IMPROVED METHODS OF FASTENING MOVEABLE HEELS OF
BOOTS AND SHOES," to be as follows:-
The first part of my improvements consists in constructing small flat or
corrugated plates of sheet metal, each with one or more conical holes made

page_text: with dies and punches or other suitable tools, so as to throw up a burr or
projection around the hole on one side of the plate, which plates may be made
round, oblong, or of any suitable shape or ornamental pattern. To any part
of the sole or heel of the boot or shoe which is likely to wear away the
quickest I attach a number of the aforesaid metal plates by means of one or
more nails or pins having conical heads, the nails or pins passing through the
holes in the plates into the soles or heels, and the heads into the holes with
the burrs or projections in contact with the leather, so as to enable the nails
or pins to retain the plates until they are worn away, and the said plates are
placed at any suitable distance from each other to allow the sole to yield to
the spring of the foot.
The second part of the said improvements consists in the employment of
new or old wire cards, such as are used in the carding of cotton, and also
other similar cards for the wearing parts of the soles and heels of boots, shoes,
and clogs, and filling up the spaces between the teeth of the said cards with
gutta percha, elastic glue, or other suitable material to make it solid, and this
solidified card I use instead of leather and nails or other materials for the soles
and heels of boots and shoes or clogs.
The third part of my improvements consists in certain improvements upon
Inventions for which Letters Patent were granted, one to myself and another
to Joseph Wadsworth, both being entitled improvements in the construction
and manufacture of moveable or adjustable heels for boots and shoes, the first
to myself, dated the Thirteenth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-two, Number 687, and the second to Joseph Wadsworth, dated the
Fourteenth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four,
Number 102.
My present improvements consist in forming the moveable discs or plates of
such aforesaid heels to which the wearing parts are attached with a circular
recess, into which I insert the wearing part instead of fastening the said
wearing parts on with screws; such wearing parts may be made of wire card
filled with gutta percha, elastic glue, or other material, or they may be made
of leather and nails, or other well-known material, and I fasten the moveable
parts of such heels by means of gutta percha, elastic glue, or other cement
instead of using a spring latch or detent to prevent the moveable parts from
turning, as described in the Specifications of the Patents before mentioned.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Wadsworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WADSWORTH, of Heaton Norris, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said James Wadsworth, Her special license that I, the
said James Wadsworth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the James Wadsworth, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVED METHODS OF RENDERING THE SOLES AND HEELS OF
BOOTS, SHOES, AND CLOGS MORE DURABLE, AND FOR IMPROVED MODES OF CON-
STRUCTING THE ARTICLES TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, AND ALSO FOR IMPROVED
METHODS OF FASTENING MOVEABLE HEELS OF BOOTS AND SHOES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said James Wadsworth, my executors or
adminstrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Wadsworth, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
The first part of my improvements consists in constructing small flat or
corrugated metal plates, each with one or more conical holes made with dies
and punches or other suitable tools, so as to throw up a burr or projection
around the hole on one side of the plates, which plates may be made round,
oblong, or of any suitable shape or ornamental pattern. To any part of the
sole or heel of the boot or shoe which is likely to wear away the quickest I
attach a number of the aforesaid metal plates by means of one or more nails
or pins having conical heads, the nails or pins passing through the holes in

page_text: the plates into the soles or heels, and the heads into the holes with the burrs
or projections in contact with the leather, so as to enable the nails or pins to
retain the plates until they are worn away, and the said plates are placed at
any suitable distance from each other to allow the sole to yield to the spring
of the foot. For gutta percha soles or heels the nails or pins are not. required,
for when the plates are pressed on hot they are firmly held by the. burrs when
the gutta percha is cold.
The second part of the said improvements consists in the employment of
new or old wire cards (such as are used in the carding of cotton.or other
similar cards) for the wearing parts of the soles and heels of boots, shoes, and
clogs, and filling up the spaces between the teeth of the said cards with gutta
percha, elastic glue, or other suitable material to make it solid, and this
solidified card I use instead of leather and nails or other, material for the soles
and heels of boots and shoes or clogs.
The third part of my improvements consists in certain improvements upon
Inventions for which Letters Patent were granted one to myself and another
to Joseph Wadsworth, both being entitled "Improvements in the Construction
and Manufacture of Moveable or Adjustable Heels for Boots and Shoes,"
the first to myself, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, Number 687, and the
second to Joseph Wadsworth, dated the Fourteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, Number 102.
My present improvements consist in constructing the moveable discs or
plates of such aforesaid adjustable heels to which the wearing parts are
attached with a circular recess, which discs or plates when so constructed
form outside shells for the wearing part of the heel, into which shells I insert
the wearing part instead of fastening the said wearing parts on with screws ;.
such wearing parts may be made of solidified wire card, leather, and nails,
blocks of india-rubber or gutta percha, and I fasten the moveable parts of
such heels by means of gutta percha, elastic glue, or other cement instead of
using a spring latch or detent to prevent the moveable part from turning, as
described in the Specification of the Letters Patent before mentioned, and the
moveable or wearing part of the heel can be turned to any position when the
fastening material is softened by heat. Similar discs or shells may be cast or
may be stamped or spun from sheet metal and fixed to the boot or shoe with
screws or nails without the foundation or fixed plates described in the
Specifications of the before-mentioned Letters Patent. The shells are fixed
to the boots or shoes previous to the introduction of the wearing parts, which
wearing parts are fixed by means of gutta percha, elastic glue, or other

page_text: The wearing parts may be made of solidified wire card, leather,
india-rubber, or gutta percha, and the shells or discs may be made circular, or
the shape of the ordinary heel, and when leather is used it can be strengthened
by nails or plates previous to its introduction into the discs or shells.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I claim,
First, the flat or corrugated metal plates having burrs or projections at one
side of the plates around the holes, for enabling the conical headed nails or
pins to retain the plates until they are worn away.
Secondly, the solidified wire card, as described.
Thirdly, the method of fastening the moveable heels to the foundation or
fixed plates by gutta percha, elastic glue, or other cement.
And fourthly, the employment of discs or shells fixed to the boots or shoes
for retaining the wearing parts of the heels, as all such improvements are
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wadsworth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named James Wadsworth,
in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
JAMES WADSWORTH. (L.S.)