IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Horatio Hodges, of Bristol, in the
County of Gloucester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HEELS FOR BOOTS
AND SHOES."
Scaled the 2nd November 1869, and dated the 3rd May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Horatio Hodges
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd May 1869.
I, SAMUEL HORATIO HODGES, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HEELS FOR BOOTS AND
SHOES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the combination and arrangement of certain
mechanism, by means of which the moulding of the heels, the formation
of the hollow on the upper part thereof, and the insertion of the requisite

page_text: number of nails can be performed by one operation instead of by three
several processes as heretofore. A column having a shoulder or flange
at the upper end is fixed by means of suitable supports in a vertical
position, the same being hollow, and having in the interior thereof a
spiral or other spring. A solid piston or plunger is placed in the hollow
portion of the column, in which it is free to have an upward and down-
ward motion above the spring, and is kept in its desired position by
means of suitable projections and grooves formed on and in the piston
or plunger and column respectively, or by means of any other suitable
contrivance. A block is fixed to the head or upper part of the piston
or plunger, and is perforated with circular holes corresponding in
number to that of the nails which it is intended shall be inserted in
the heels to be manufactured. In each of the holes is placed a pin, the
length of such pins being equal to the thickness of the block. A block,
in which is formed the heel die, is attached by means of a suitable
hinge to the piston block, so that it can be lifted and turned over on
one side, leaving the upper face of the latter exposed. A counter die,
the face of which is suitably curved to form the requisite hollow in the
upper face of the heel, is attached to supports connected with a press
of any suitable character, by means of which it is capable of being
brought down to the heel die with the desired amount of force.
The mode of using the apparatus is as follows:-The piston block
being in its normal position, that is to say, supported by the spring at
some distance from the shoulder or flange on the hollow column, the
heel die is turned over on its hinge, and the nails inserted in the holes
in the piston block; the heel die is then replaced in position and the
imperfect heel, which has been formed of pieces of leather pasted together
is placed in the die; the counter die is then brought down with the
force requisite to carry the piston downwards in the hollow column,
compressing the spring contained therein, and causing the pins, the
lower ends of which have rested on the shoulder or flange of the column,
to pass upwards through the perforations in the piston block, thereby
driving the nails through the heel, which at the same time, by reason
of the pressure of the counter die, is moulded into the desired shape and
the requisite hollow formed on the top thereof; on the counter die
being raised the reaction of the spring restores the piston to its normal
position, the heel is removed, and the like process repeated as often as
may
be desired.

page_text: The apparatus is constructed of steck or other suitable metal. It is
unnecessary to describe the press for actuating the apparatus, as any of
the well-known presses suitable for such, operations may be used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,.
filed by the said Samuel Horatio Hodges in the Great Seal Patent,
Office on the 3rd November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
HORATIO HODGES, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-.
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Horatio Hodges, Her special.
licence that I, the said Samuel Horatio Hodges, my executors, adminis-.
trators, and assigns, or such others. as I, the said Samuel Horatio.
Hodges, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time.
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-.
after 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Samuel Horatio Hodges, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
bands 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 Scal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Horatio Hodges, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My said Invention consists in the combination and arrangement of

page_text: certain mechanism, by means of which the moulding of the heels, the
formation of the hollow in the upper part thereof, and the insertion of
the requisite number of nails can be performed by one operation instead
of by three several processes as heretofore.. A column having a shoulder
or flange at the upper end thereof is fixed by means of suitable supports
in a vertical position, the same being hollow and having in the interior
thereof a spiral or other spring. A solid piston or plunger is placed
in the hollow portion of the column, in which it is free to have an
upward and downward motion above the spring, and is kept in its desired
position by means of suitable projections and grooves formed on and in
the piston or plunger and column respectively, or by means of any other
suitable and analogous contrivance. A block is fixed to the head or
upper part of the piston or plunger, such block being perforated with
circular or suitable holes corresponding in number to that of the nails
which it is intended shall be inserted in the heels to be manufactured.
In each of the holes is placed a metallic pin, the length of such pins
being equal to the thickness of the block. A block, in which is formed
the heel die, is attached by means of a suitable hinge to the piston block,
so that it can be lifted and turned over on one side, leaving the upper
face of the latter exposed. A counter die, the face of which is suitably
curved to form the requisite hollow in the upper face of the heel, is
attached to supports connected with a press of any suitable character, by
means of which it is capable of being brought down to the heel die with
the desired amount of force.
The mode of using the apparatus is as follows:-The piston block
being in its normal position, that is to say, supported by the spring at
some distance from the shoulder or flange on the hollow column, the heel
die is turned over on its hinge, and the nails inserted in the holes in the
piston block; the heel die is then replaced in position and the imperfect
heel, which has been formed of pieces of leather pasted together or
combined by means of any suitable adhesive material, is placed in the
die; the counter die is then brought down with the force requisite to
carry the piston downwards in the hollow column, compressing the
spring contained therein, and causing the pins, the lower ends of which
have rested on the shoulder or flange of the column, to pass upwards
through the perforations in the piston block, thereby driving the nails
through the heel, which at the same time by reason of the pressure of
the counter die is moulded into the desired shape and the requisite

page_text: hollow formed on the top thereof; on the counter die being raised the
reaction of the spring restores the piston to its normal position, the heel
is removed, and the like process is repeated as often as may be desired.
The apparatus is construoted of steel or other suitable metal, but it is
unnecessary for me to describe the press for actuating the same, as any
of the well-known presses suitable for such operations may be used.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim
as constituting the Invention secured to me by the said herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination and arrangement of
parts and mechanism as and for the purposes herein-before mentioned
and set forth, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Horatio Hodges, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
SAMUEL HORATIO HODGES. (L.S.)