The Boot and Shoe Manufacturers' Assistant and Guide. / Containing a Brief History of the Trade. History of India-rubber and Gutta-percha, and Their Application to the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes. Full Instructions in the Art, With Diagrams and Scales, Etc., Etc. Vulcanization and Sulphurization, English and American Patents. With an Elaborate Treatise on Tanning.

by Unknown

In carrying out this improvement, the inventor procures short metallic points, in the form of headed rivets, in length very slightly exceeding the thickness of the sole, having a head of any convenient size. The diameter of the head is not material, but it should not be less than an ordinary rivet-head; and the size of the projecting portion should be, for light shoes, about 1
20 of an inch in diameter, which may be increased according to the size of the shoe,—care being taken not to render the shoe burdensome. Before the sole is applied to the shoe, these rivets or points are inserted through perforations in the sole, so that the heads shall rest upon the inner surface, and the points project through and beyond the outer surface, but so slightly that they can scarcely be felt in passing the hand over the surface. The sole thus prepared, is then applied in the usual manner, to the shoe. Another mode of providing the sole with such points, differs from the foregoing, in this respect only;—instead of using a number of headed rivets, the patentee takes a metallic plate, with projecting points, which may be cast for the purpose, so that when the points are inserted in the sole, the projecting points on the outer surface will be similar to those prepared with rivets as above described; while, on the inner surface, instead of presenting several heads, there will be one plate, which may be treated as one connecting head for all the rivets.

The third part of the invention relates to a method of making that kind of shoes known as clogs, and consists in making them of India-rubber, or the compounds thereof, and of what the inventor denominates India-rubber sponge, moulded of the desired form, with the upper part of the sole, which comes in contact with the sole of the shoe or boot, formed with a ring all around, and protuberances, so as to give the desired elevation with little weight.

The operator mixes sugar or resin with the India-rubber, prepared in the usual manner for vulcanizing, in the proportion of one-quarter of a pound of sugar or resin to each pound of India-rubber; and after the compound has been worked and treated in the usual manner, he forms the clog thereof, in a mould, and subjects it to the curing or vulcanizing process, by which it is rendered spongy and light. The mould is so formed as to make the sole thin, with a rim all round and protuberances within, for the boot or shoe to rest on, to give the foot the required elevation from the ground. The sole thus prepared, can be provided with a toe-piece and heel-strap, as described under the second part of the invention, or it may be provided with any other means of securing it to the foot.

The last part of the invention relates to a mode or modes of making India-rubber shoes or coverings for the feet pervious to perspiration, and yet impervious, under ordinary circumstances, to water or damp. This object may be effected by taking a quantity of India-rubber sponge and rolling it into thin sheets, which sheets may be made into boots, shoes, or coverings for the feet, and as they will be found to be covered with a great number of very fine holes, they will allow the perspiration to pass through, but will effectually keep out the wet.

It is preferred, however, to perforate the India-rubber by mechanical means, as a greater amount of regularity may be thereby attained, and the perforating process will be more under command. When the sheet rubber is made up into boots or coverings for the feet, it will be necessary either to leave those parts of the boot nearest to the sole, and most exposed to the wet, unperforated and impervious, or to cover those parts with an impervious material, leaving only the upper part pervious to perspiration. Under this head of the invention the claim is for making boots, shoes, and other coverings for the feet, pervious to the perspiration of the wearer, by making such articles of sheet rubber, previously perforated with minute holes.

To Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office of Patents, in Chancery Lane, London, England. For improvements in the preparation of materials for the production of a composition or compositions applicable to the manufacture of buttons, knife and razor handles, inkstands, door-knobs, and other articles, where hardness, strength and durability are required. (Sealed 4th of March, 1851.)[^[4]]

[4]. This is one of the most important patents ever taken out, being of great practical utility.

This invention relates to the preparation and treatment of caoutchouc and gutta-percha, either alone or in combination, for the purpose of producing a new manufacture or composition, applicable to various uses where hardness, strength and durability are required. The composition designed to be produced, will possess some of the characteristics of horn, ivory, jet, and may, according to the color imparted to it, be employed in place thereof; or it may be used as a substitute for costly woods, and be applied to furniture in the form of veneer.

In treating caoutchouc (India-rubber) for this purpose, it is combined with sulphur,—the best proportion being about equal parts, by weight, of each ingredient. By combining sulphur in this proportion, with the caoutchouc, and subjecting the compound to the curing operation, (hereafter to be described) a hard substance will be produced, but a still better result will be obtained by the introduction of magnesia or lime, or of carbonate, or sulphate of magnesia, or carbonate or sulphate of lime, or calcined French chalk, or other magnesian earth, into the composition, in which case, the following proportions will be found highly advantageous, viz.; one pound of caoutchouc, half a pound of sulphur, and half a pound of magnesia, or lime, or carbonate or sulphate of magnesia, or carbonate or sulphate of lime, or calcined French chalk, or other magnesian earth. The proportions specified in both of these compounds, may be considerably varied without materially changing the result; but in no case is it desirable to use a much less quantity of sulphur than four ounces to every pound of caoutchouc. With either of these compounds just described, gum lac, or gum shellac, may be combined to great advantage,—say, in the proportion of from four to eight ounces of gum lac to every pound of caoutchouc. Rosin, oxides or salts of lead or zinc, of all colors, and other similar substances, both mineral and vegetable, may be added in small quantities, to either of the compounds, for the purpose of imparting a polish, or a color thereto, and for making the mixture work more easily; but no precise rule for these additions can be given; nor, indeed, is it necessary, as the taste and judgment of the operator will be his guide in this particular.

The compounds produced according to the above plans, are next treated in the manner to be presently described; but, as this process is equally applicable to the treatment of other compositions included in this invention, the patentee first explains of what these compositions consist. When using gutta-percha in lieu of India-rubber, the inventor takes certain proportions of gutta-percha, sulphur and magnesia, or lime, or a carbonate, or a sulphate of magnesia or lime, or calcined French chalk, or other magnesian earth, and mixes them in a convenient manner.