AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEWING THE SOLES OF BOOTS OR SHOES AND DESIGNED TO SERVE AS AN ATTACHMENT TO A SEWING-MACHINE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake &
Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEWING THE SOLES OF BOOTS OR SHOES AND
DESIGNED TO SERVE AS AN ATTACHMENT TO A SEWING-MACHINE" communi-
cated to him from abroad by James H Cutten and Lee E Moore both of
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th April 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEWING THE
"
SOLES OF BOOTS OR SHOES AND DESIGNED TO SERVE AS AN ATTACHMENT-TO A
SEWING MACHINE [A communication to him from abroad by James H Cutten
and Lee E Moore both of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America]
This invention relates to an attachment designed to be used on a straight needle,
wax-thread sewing machine, and by its use such a machine is adapted for sewing
the inner sole of a boot or shoe to the upper, or upper and welt. The inner sole
should be prepared so that it will have on its underside around the fore part and
shank, and near the edge, a shoulder, or lip, or flap, projecting somewhat below the
bottom surface of the in-sole to receive and hold the stitches. The inner sole may
be channelled on the bottom or lower side near the edges, in such a manner that
the flap of the channel will project inwards towards the centre of the sole and by
the use of my attachment, an inner sole so channelled, may be readily sewed to the
upper, or upper and welt on many of the well known wax-thread machines. I am
also enabled by the use of my attachment to make a turned shoe which will have
the loop ends of the stitches on the sole.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a work-rest and guide,
which consist of a horizontal part and an inclined upwardly projecting beak
rounded at the top and provided with a notch which is open rearward from the

page_text: point at which the needle passes. This guide is secured to the top of the post by
a screw which works in a slot in the guide so that the guide may be adjusted with
reference to the needle.
By the use of a guide of this construction the post may be set farther back from
the line of the needle and thus out of the way of the work while it is being
sewed,
The projecting beak of the guide serves not only as a guide, but also as a rest
to hold the work up, and enables the stitches to be laid with their loop ends on
the under side of the inner sole, or in a groove or channel formed therein, thus
producing a neater seam on the out or welt side where a neat line of stitches, free
from bunches, is desirable. When a welt is sewed on, a welt guide is used. This
guide is preferably secured in position with reference to the needle so as to hold
and lay the welt in proper position to be secured to the shoe by the same sewing
operation which secures the upper to the sole. In sewing the upper, or upper and
welt to the inner sole of a boot or shoe on a machine provided with my attachment,
if the inner sole is channelled the operator places the channel over the beak of the
guide and the needle enters from the channel and proceeds outwardly, the channel
serving as a guide for the beak of the rest. If the inner sole is to be sewed
through a flap, projecting from its lower or bottom side, the work is placed on the
guide or rest so that the beak will press against the under side of the inner sole
at the foundation of the projecting flap, that is, at the point where the flap turns
downwardly.
In making a turned shoe, as will be obvious, the needle will first enter the sole,
and the loops of the stitches will be laid in the groove or channel in the sole, or
on the inside surface of the sole when the shoe is turned.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th October
1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEWING THE
SOLES OF BOOTS OR SHOES, AND DESIGNED TO SERVE AS AN ATTACHMENT TO A
SEWING-MACHINE" A communication to me from abroad by James H. Cutten
and Lee E. Moore, both of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
This Invention relates to apparatus for sewing the soles of boots or shoes, and
designed as an attachment to a sewing machine.
The said apparatus is designed to be used on a straight needle wax-thread
sewing machine, and by its use such a machine is adapted for sewing the inner sole
of a boot or shoe to the upper or upper and welt. The inner sole should be
prepared so that it will have on its underside, around the fore part and shank and
near the edge, a shoulder, lip, or flap projecting somewhat below the bottom surface
of the in-sole to receive and hold the stitches. The inner sole may be channelled
on the bottom or lower side near the edges in such a manner that the flap of the
channel will project inwards toward the centre of the sole, and by the use of this
attachment, an inner sole so channelled may be readily sewed to the upper, or upper
and welt on many of the well known wax thread machines. I am also enabled by
the use of this attachment, to make a turned shoe which will have the loop ends
of the stitches on the sole.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side view of the front parts of a wax thread sewing machine with
improvements, according to this invention, attached, and shewing a cross section
of a shoe in position to be sewn
Figure 2 shews the post of the machine with the improved guide and rest
attached.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively plan and side views of the guide and rest
attachment detached,
Figure 5 is a section through one side of the fore part of a shoe, shewing the
manner of fastening the parts.
Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of work rest and guide detached,
having the part rearward of the needle cut away
B indicates the work-rest and guide, which consists of the horizontal part C and
the inclined upwardly projecting beak a rounded at the top and provided with
the notch a which is open rearwards from the point at which the needle passes.
The work rest and guide B may also be constructed in the modified form shewn
in Figure 6, in which the rearward part of the guide is cut away instead of being
notched as shewn in Figure 3. In some kinds of work it is preferable to have the
space in the rear of the needle unobstructed, although for ordinary work the
notched form shewn in Figure 3 is preferable
This guide is secured to the top of the post A by a screw which works in a
slot C' in the guide, so that the said guide may be adjusted with reference to the
needle.
By the use of a guide of this construction the post may be set further back than
heretofore from the line of the needle, and thus out of the way of the work while
it is being sewn.
The projecting beak a of the guide B serves not only as a guide, but also as a
rest to hold the work up, and enables the stitches to be laid with their loop ends

page_text: on the under side of the inner sole or in a groove or channel (as shown) formed
therein, thus producing a neater seam on the out or welt side where a neat line of
stitches, free from bunches is desirable. When a welt is sewed on, a welt guide a¹
is used. This guide is preferably secured in position with reference to the needle,
so as to hold and lay the welt in proper position to be secured to the shoe by the
same sewing operation which secures the upper to the sole
In sewing the upper or upper and welt to the inner sole of a boot or shoe on a
machine provided with this attachment, if the inner sole is channelled (as in
Figure 5) the operator places the channel over the beak a of the guide B and the
needle enters from the channel and proceeds outwardly, the channel serving as a
guide for the beak a of the rest. If the inner sole is to be sewed through a, flap
projecting from its lower or bottom side, the work is placed on the guide or rest B
so that the beak a will press against the underside of the inner sole at the
foundation of the projecting flap, that is at the point where the flap turns
downwardly.
In making a turned shoe as will be obvious, the needle will first enter the sole
and the loops of the stitches will be laid in the groove or channel in the sole, or
on the inside surface of the sole when the shoe is turned
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by iny
foreign correspondents and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim
First. A work rest and guide B, adapted to be attached to the post of a sewing
machine, consisting of the horizontal portion C, and the inclined upwardly-
projecting beak a provided with the open notch a³, substantially as set forth.
Second. In combination with a welt guide a¹, the work rest and guide B,
consisting of the horizontal portion C and the inclined upwardly projecting benk a
provided with the open notch a³, substantially as described.
Third. An attachment for wax thread sewing machines adapted to be secured
to the work supporting post, the said attachment consisting of the plate B, provided
with the inclined upwardly projecting beak a so constructed as to be wholly in
front of the needle, thus leaving the space rearward of the needle entirely unob-
structed, substantially as, and for the purposo, specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
WM RORT LAKE