May 2.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1427

upper with certainty and at a greater rate of speed and in a more reliable and satisfactory manner than shoe-upper lacing-machines that have heretofore been devised. With this object in view the various features of the present invention contemplate the provision in a shoe-upper lacing-machine of an improved needle for passing a loop of lacing-cord through the eyelet-holes of an upper without liability of the eyelets or the upper catching on the needle; the provision of a thread-finger arranged to pull cord from the supply to be used in forming the loops which are inserted through the eyelet-holes of the upper, whereby excessive rendering of the cord through the eyes or slots of the needle or needles is prevented; the provision of improved means for adjusting the needles of a multiple-needle machine to adapt the machine for operation upon uppers having the eyelets differently spaced; the provision of improved means for varying the amount of slack formed in the lacing to permit different styles of upper to be flattened out and positioned properly on the last; the provision of improved work-guards for preventing the upper being injured by the lacing-instrumentalities during the operation of the machine; the provision of an improved construction and arrangement of the clamps or grippers for holding the ends of the lacing-cord, and improved mechanism for operating said grippers or clamps; the provision of an improved means for severing the lacing from the supply of lacing-cord; the provision of an improved knot-tying mechanism; the provision of a device in connection with the knot-tying mechanism for tightening the knot; the provision of a work adjuster or holder for positioning the work properly during the lacing operation, and the provision in connection with said work adjuster and holder of a stop mechanism for throwing the machine into and out of operation, so constructed and arranged that the work is properly adjusted before the lacing-instrumentalities are put in operation.

[NOTE.—The above extract from the specification is inserted in place of the claims.]

(Specification, £1 19s.; drawings, 16s.)

No. 21357.—26th June, 1906.—JOSEPH SUTCLIFFE, of 44 Berry Street, Burnley, Lancaster, England, Traveller. Improvements in or relating to forced draught apparatus for fire-engines, steam-boats, locomotives, or the like.*

Claims.—(1.) In fire-engines, locomotives, and the like, the application of blast apparatus as described, in which the air-supply is maintained from a separate and independent source of power, such as from a petrol motor or other prime mover, or hand-power, and substantially as and for the purpose specified. (2.) Independent blast apparatus for fire-engines, locomotives, and the like, characterized by the arrangement in combination of a petrol motor or other separate prime mover, a pipe or pipes for conveying air forced by the said pump or pumps into a storage-chamber, the said storage-chamber for storing air so forced or compressed, and a pressure-gauge, branch and delivery pipes, and separate blast-pipe for inducing draught in the boiler-funnel, and cocks and valves for controlling the delivery of the independent blast, all substantially as and for the purpose described. (3.) In fire-engines, locomotives, &c., the combination in the said independent blast apparatus of a pipe 22 for conveying the exhaust gases from the petrol motor and conducting them to the funnel of the fire-engine or the like, substantially as described and illustrated. (4.) In combination with a petrol motor for working the pumps or other air-compressor of the said blast apparatus, the use of a restarting appliance and means for relieving compression, substantially as described and illustrated. (5.) The combination, in independent blast apparatus for fire-engines, locomotives, &c., of a tubular ring in proximity to the fire-bars of a fire-engine or the like, and provided with a number of jets for delivering blasts of air to the fuel under combustion, substantially as described. (6.) The means employed for delivering a blast of mixed oxygen gas and air to the fire-grate of the boiler furnace of a fire-engine or the like, for promoting quick combustion, substantially as described.

(Specification, 7s. 6d.; drawing, 2s.)

No. 21364.—28th June, 1906.—UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, of Paterson, in the State of New Jersey, United States of America, a corporation duly organized under the laws of said State of New Jersey, and having a place of business at 205 Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America (assignees of Orrell Ashton, of Lawrence, Essex, Massachusetts aforesaid, Machinist). Improvements in or relating to machines for and methods of assembling parts of boots and shoes.*

Extract from Specification.—The present invention will be described with reference to assembling a counter, lined upper,

and innersole. It is particularly important in assembling such parts of a boot or shoe preliminary to pulling-over and lasting that the counter be brought into close relation to the end edge of the innersole before it is secured to the innersole. Ordinarily the rear of a counter remains throughout the manufacture of a shoe in substantially the relation to the rear end edge of the innersole which is given it in assembling. Should the counter in assembling be improperly positioned with relation to the end edge of the innersole, as frequently occurs in assembling such parts by hand, it will ordinarily not be brought into proper relation thereto in lasting. Consequently, a shoe which has been improperly assembled in this way is found when completed to be defective, both the appearance and durability of its heel portion being impaired. An important feature of the invention disclosed comprises mechanism whereby the counter is brought into close relation to the end edge of the innersole before being secured to the innersole. This mechanism may conveniently include means for pressing a counter against the end of the last upon which it is arranged, and for holding the counter in close contact with the end of the last adjacent to the last bottom. It will be seen that with the innersole positioned correctly upon the bottom of the last, the counter will then be in close relation to the end edge of the innersole. Mechanism is preferably provided for securing the counter to the innersole, as shown, said mechanism being arranged to insert a fastening automatically in these parts while they are held in proper relation. In some kinds of shoes, particularly in the better grades known as welt shoes, it is desirable to secure the parts of the shoe at the rear end of the counter portion by driving a fastening through the upper counter, and lining into the rear end of the last. In order that the parts of the shoe may be so secured when desired by the machine of this invention, another important feature of the invention comprises mechanism for securing the parts of the shoe-upper to the rear end of the last. Preferably, means is provided for moving the innersole longitudinally of the last upon which it is sustained, said means being so constructed that if the innersole is positioned initially too far forwardly it will be moved rearwardly. In the operation of the machine rearward movement of the innersole is limited by the counter held against the end of the last. In some classes of work, however, the innersole is preferably tacked in position on the sole of the last, before the work is presented to the machine.

[NOTE.—The above extract from the specification is inserted in place of the claims.]

(Specification, £1 10s.; drawing, 6s.)

No. 21365.—28th June, 1906.—UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, of Paterson, in the State of New Jersey, United States of America, a corporation duly organized under the laws of said State of New Jersey, and having a place of business at 205 Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America (assignees of Orrell Ashton, of Lawrence, Essex, Massachusetts aforesaid, Machinist). Improvements in or relating to pounding-up machines.*

Extract from Specification.—One feature of the invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of a tool by which the blocking of the shoe is performed. The tool is preferably provided with an acting face shaped to correspond approximately with the contour of the side of the toe portion of an inverted shoe from its edge downwardly. It is found in practice, however, that lasts differ enough in shape so that a tool cannot be so formed that it will act uniformly on different lasts, and I have therefore mounted the blocking-tool movably upon its stem or supporting shank, and provided means for holding it normally in a central position and returning it to that position when it has been displaced therefrom. A tool thus constructed and arranged adapts itself readily to the contours of different lasts. For the purpose of further improving the means for blocking the shoe the blocking-tool is preferably mounted on its stem or supporting shank so as to allow it to yield bodily backwards with relation to its shank when it engages the work. The spring which permits this yielding movement may advantageously be a light spring, and the mechanism for actuating the blocking-tool will preferably include a heavier spring. This construction causes the tool to strike the shoe lightly, and then, if necessary, to turn with relation to its shank for conforming to the contour of the surface of the shoe, and thereafter to act with the greater force of the heavier spring for shaping the side of the shoe. In blocking-means thus constructed and arranged the blocking-tool will adapt itself to the contour and position of the work, so that the blow is not concentrated on a small portion of the work, as might occur with a tool which was unyieldingly connected to its shank. This blocking-means can therefore be used upon shoes which would be liable to be injured by a more rigidly