Untitled record

Application filed May 21,1883. (Xo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that Ϊ, August StDrmer, of Elberfeld, Prussia, in theEmpire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improve5 ments in Method of and Apparatus for Making Anatomical Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improved method of and apparatus for making lasts folio boots and shoes in such a manner that an exact anatomical reproduction of the foot is repre. sented by the last, and thereby an accurate fit of the shoes or boots obtained.

The invention consists, first, in a method of 15 making lasts, which consists, first, in placing the foot in a position as for walking; secondly, forming a plaster-of-paris mold around the same; thirdly, making a last of cast-iron by means of the mold.

It consists, secondly, of an apparatus for making the mold, which will be described hereinafter, and finally be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 25 represents a vertical. longitudinal section on line xx, Fig. 2, of my improved apparatus for making lasts. Fig. 2 is a plan with sole-plate removed. Figs. 3 and 4 are details. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section of the last30 forming apparatus on line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a top view of the rear part of the sole-plate. Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are leather portions that provide, respectively, for corns, bunions, &c., and the extra space required for the toes; and 35 Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively a side and a bottom view of the finished cast-iron last.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

For making my improved lasts an appa40 ratus is used by which an exact plaster-ofparis mold of the form and configuration of the foot is obtained. This apparatus consists of a horizontal supporting-stand, A, on which is supported a metallic sole-plate, B, which is 45 attached thereto at its front part by means of screws a, b c. This sole-plate B is made large enough that a sufficient space is formed around even the largest foot. By means of the foremost fastening-screw, c, the sole-plate can be' 50 attached either flat to the supporting-frame A, or a slight upward curve can be imparted thereto, as shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose the screw c is inserted through a perforation of the sole-plate into threaded screw-holes o' of the supporting-stand A. 5

At the rear part of the supporting-stand A are arranged two vertically-adjustable screwposts, E E', and an intermediate heel screwpost, F. These screw-posts are adjusted in nuts, e, e', and/, which are guided by side 60 grooves in tongues of longitudinal recesses of the stand A; the heel screw-post F by a pin, f, at its upper end through one of the heel pin-holes, 0 0' d², &c., of the sole-plate B. The upper ends of the screw-posts E E' of the 65 sole-supporting plate B are provided with circumferentially-grooved disks e², (shown in Fig. 4,) which support the sole-plate B without interfering with the adjustment of the screw-posts. 70

About midway between the ends of the soleplate B is arranged a horizontal plate, T, which is swiveled to the upper end of a vertical screw-post M, that is vertically adjusted in a longitudinally-sliding nut, m, of frame A. 75 This transverse plate T is beveled at its front edge and placed laterally at such an angle of inclination to the axis of the sole-plate that the latter receives a slightly-inclined position, corresponding to the natural inclination of the 80 under side of the foot. A knuckle-rail, S, is adjusted above and transversely across the sole-plate B, and supported in this position by two pins, .s s', shown in Fig. 5, which pass through perforations of the sole-plate B, ar- 85 ranged in longitudinal lines, as shown in Fig. 6. ‘ The rail S is provided with a longitudinal opening, through which a cord is passed. The sole-plate B is provided below the ball of the foot with two indicator-pins, m'm², which, to- 90 gether with the heel-pin/' and the knucklerail S, form the guides for the proper adjustment of the foot.

For making the mold the following operation is necessary: First, the supporting screw- 95 posts E, E', and F are first set so as to correspond exactly to the length of the foot. The proper height of the heel is then determined by vertically adjusting the screw-posts E, E', and F, so that the sole-plate assumes a corre- 100 sponding position. This may be facilitated by means of a scale cut into the heel screw2

290,652 post F. The transverse plate T is next adjusted by the screw-post M, so as to impart to the sole-plate the proper laterally-inclined position. The front end of the sole-plate is 5 next adjusted by the screw c to the rise of the toes. The indicator-pins m! m² are next inserted into the sole-plate B, and the knucklerail S adjusted so as to be in line with a vertical ., plane passing through the knuckles. The foot io is now covered by an elastic stocking, which j is drawn over the common stocking. This elastic stocking is covered at the points where the foot was heretofore exposed to pressure by layers of leather having beveled edges, as 15 shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the shapes and sizes of which are adapted to different irregularities of the foot, according as corns, bunions, &c., have to be provided for. The space required for the toes is obtained by the toe-sup20 port shown in Fig. 9, which is placed in position over the toes, while a second smaller support (shown in Fig. 10) is placed in position over the largest toe. A layer of plaster-ofparis is now spread over the sole-plate, that 25 corresponds in thickness to the height of the indicator-pins m', m², and and the rail S. The foot is next placed in position so as to touch lightly on the pins m', m², and/'. The cord that passes through the rail S is now 30 drawn up past the knuckles and secured to ,. the leg. The entire foot is now encased by a \ layer of plaster-of-paris. Before the same ..entirely hardens it is cut at opposite sides by means of the cord, while the mass on the sole35 plate is divided into two parts by the knucklerail. . The foot is next moved away from the sole-plate, whereby the mold can be removed from the foot, the heel-section being first removed, and then the front section, and, lastly, 40 the elastic stocking drawn off. The separatingrail S is next removed from between the two mold-sections, which are then united again on —plate, the indicator-pins m'm² and the f' serving for replacing them into .!:. ].-opor position. The mold-sections are then reunited into one mold by plaster-of-paris. The interior of the mold is next coated in the usual manner with oil or pulverized charcoal, and the interior space filled with,a mixture of 50 brick and plaster-of-paris. From the solid form thus obtained the instep is sawed off by a thin saw-blade, both forms serving as for the production of a cast-iron last. Into the sole of the cast-iron last holes are drilled, into 55 which wooden pegs are inserted, as shown in

Figs. 11 and 12, which serve to attach the insole.

The cast-iron last so obtained is an accu rate reproduction of the shape of the foot, with all peculiarities, and in the position that 60 is assumed in walking, so that boots and shoes made on the last fit without the least pressure, and in comfortable and anatomical manner to the foot.

The right to file a separate application for 65 the last itself is herewith reserved.