Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 26th Oct.,
1888
I ALBERT EDWARD STIRCKLER late of Boston Massachusetts United States America
but at present residing at No. 8 St. Giles Terrace Northampton in the County of
Northampton Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
-
This Invention has for its object to provide a simple and convenient apparatus for
"Jack" at
facilitating the lasting of boots and shoes in place of what is known as a
present in use.
According to this invention two blocks, preferably of wood are hinged or pivoted
in close proximity to each other to a bench or table so as to be capable of being
turned or opened out on their pivots or hinges in a horizontal direction. The ends
of these blocks opposite to those by which they are hinged to the bench are connected
together by a bolt passing through holes in the said blocks the head of the bolt
bearing on the outer side of one of the blocks whilst a nut screwed on to the stem
of the bolt bears upon the outer side of the other block. Between the two blocks is
a spring which tends to force the blocks apart the distance to which they are
permitted to separate being governed by the position to which the nut is screwed
along the stem of the bolt and which may be varied as required according to the size
of boots or shoes to be lasted.
The upper edges of the contiguous faces of the two blocks are hollowed out or the
blocks are so shaped and preferably covered with leather as to form a bed or bearing
for a last when placed between them. To last a boot on this apparatus the last with
the inner sole and the upper placed in position thereon is placed in the recess formed
between the two blocks and with say the heel towards the outer ends thereof, the
upper is then drawn over the edge of that end of the last and fixed by tacks in
the ordinary manner after which the last with the upper attached is removed from

page_text: between the blocks and replaced therein with the toe or opposite end towards the
outer end of the said blocks and the upper drawn over and secured by tacks to
complete the lasting.
The outer ends of the blocks may extend outside the edge of the bench to which
they are hinged and may be supported by wooden or iron struts or otherwise.
Dated this 20th day of March 1888.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Facilitating the Lasting of Boots
and Shoes.
1 ALBERT EDWARD STIRCKLER late of Boston Massachusetts United States of
America but at present residing at No. S St. Giles Terrace Northampton in the
County of Northampton Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:―
My Invention has for its object to provide simple and convenient apparatus or
means for facilitating the lasting of boots and shoes in place of what is known as a
"Jack" and consists in providing in a bench or table or in or between blocks attached
to a bench or table a recess of such a size and shape as to afford a good bearing for
the main portion of a last when placed in position therein in combination with a fixed
or adjustable support for the toe of the last.
I will describe my Invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 of which represents in plan and Figure 2 in transverse section an apparatus
constructed according to my Invention and the remaining Figures represent modifi-
tions hereinafter referred to.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 A A are two blocks preferably of wood hinged or pivotted
in close proximity to each other to a bench table or other suitable support CC so as
to be capable of being turned or opened out in a horizontal direction on their hinges
or pivots to vary as required the size of the recess B between the blocks to accom-
modate different sized lasts. If desired one only of these blocks may be made
adjustable the other block being fixed.
The outer ends of these blocks opposite to those by which they are hinged to the
bench or table are connected together by a bolt D passing through holes in the said

page_text: blocks A. the head of the bolt bearing on the outer side of one of the blocks whils
a nut screwed on to the stem of the bolt bears upon the outer side of the other
block. Between the two blocks A is a spring E which tends to force the blocks
apart, the distance to which they are permitted to separate being governed by the
position to which the nut is screwed along the stem of the bolt B which position
may be varied as required according to the size of the boots or shoes to be lasted.
Or instead of the spring E and the head d of the bolt D the said bolt may have on
the opposite ends respectively a right and a left hand screw thread as shewn in
Figures 3 and 4 working in corresponding nuts & in the blocks A so that on turning
the bolt D the two blocks may be simultaneously moved nearer to or further from
each other as required.
The contiguous faces or edges of the two blocks A are hollowed out or. shaped
substantially as shewn at a and are preferably padded or covered with leather or other
suitable material so as to form a bed or bearing for the main portion of the last when
placed in the recess formed between the blocks the padding serving to hold the upper
securely while the last is depressed therein when the edge of the upper is being drawn
over the edge of the last and prevent creases in the upper.
When the apparatus is employed only for fixing the inner sole to the last the
padding or leather covering may be dispensed with.
To last a boot by means of this apparatus the last having the inner sole attached thereto
by tacks (which may be done in this apparatus or otherwise) is placed with the upper
in the recess between the blocks A with say the heel towards the outer ends and
with the toe resting on the toe support H. The edge of the "upper" projecting
above the last is then drawn over the toe of the last and fixed by tacks in the ordinary
manner after which the last with the "upper" is removed from the recess and
replaced therein with the toe towards the outer end of the blocks and the remaining
portion of the projecting edge of the upper is drawn over the last and secured by
tacks to complete the lasting.
The outer ends of the blocks A may extend outside the edge of the bench C and may
be supported by struts F as shown in Figure 4 or otherwise or the said blocks may
be entirely supported on the bench if desired.
If desired, instead of making the recess adjustable in size to suit different sized
lasts a separate recess may be provided for each size of lasts in which case the recesses
may be made in the top of the bench or table itself and each recess be provided with
a support for the toc of the last.
To enable the apparatus to suit lasts of different springs or forms I make the toe
support Hadjustable as shewn in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 the said toe support being
connected by the rod I to a treddle K so that by depressing the end of the
treddle the support H may be raised bodily in a vertical direction being guided by
the bolts (Figures 3 and 4) which form the fulcrum on which the blocks A turn.
Or instead of the support H being raised bodily in a vertical direction it may be
caused to turn on an axis c as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. I do not limit myself
to the arrangement described for raising and lowering the toe support as various
means may be employed for adjusting it both vertically and laterally nor do I limit
myself to the details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated as they
may be considerably varied without departing from the nature of my Invention.
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 :-
1st. In apparatus or means for facilitating the lasting of boots and shoes the
combination with a recess the sides of which afford a support for the main portion of
the last, of a fixed or adjustable support for the toe of the last substantially as herein-
before described.
2nd. In apparatus or means for facilitating the lasting of boots and shoes, a recess
the sides of which afford support for the main portion of the last and capable of
being adjusted in size to suit different sized lasts, in combination with a fixed or

page_text: adjustable support for the toe of the last substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
3rd. In apparatus or means for facilitating the lasting of boots and shoes a recess
suitably shaped to afford support for the main portion of a last and a fixed or
adjustable support for the toe of the last the sides or edges of the recess and the too
support being padded or covered with leather or other suitable material substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
"
4th. The general constructions combinations and arrangements of parts consti-
tuting apparatus or means for facilitating the lasting of boots and shoes substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.