No. 23273.-8th August, 1907.-GILES EDGAR FORWARD, of 65 Howick Street, and WILLIAM JOSEPH BIRD, of 16 Mulgrave Street, both of Launceston, Tasmania, Builders and Contractors. Improved apparatus for teaching the use of the rifle.*

Claims.—(1.) For the purpose indicated, the general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts as described, and operating in the manner set forth. (2.) A support for a rifle that is arranged to grip the rifle-barrel, and having means by which the rifle may be aimed at various points in a horizontal plane or at various elevations, as explained. (3.) A support for a rifle that is arranged to grip the rifle-barrel, and having means by which the rifle may be aimed at various points in a horizontal plane or at various elevations, or rocked from side to side, as described. (4.) The combination with a standard that is capable of rotary movement, of a cradle-grip for a rifle adapted to rock upon the standard, a guiding-bar as 8 supporting the cradle and which passes through the standard, and means for regulating the speed of said guide through the standard, as described.

(Specification, 3s. 3d.; drawing, ls.)

No. 23304.-15th August, 1907.-MANUFACTURERS’ MACHINE COMPANY, of Montclair, New Jersey, United States of America, a corporation duly organized under the laws of said State of New Jersey (assignees of William Henry Hooper, of Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States of America, Inventor). Machine and method for facilitating the assemblage of shoe uppers and soles.*

Claims.—(1.) A method of assembling sole-leather and an upper portion of a shoe, which consists in marking or notching one of them, and then adjusting the other relatively thereto with reference to the said marking or notching. (2.) A method of the character described in claim 1, in which the notching of that member relatively to which the other is to be adjusted is effected at the toe and side thereof. (3.) A method of the character described in claim 1, in which a positioning element is placed in the notch, and the sole and upper portion of the shoe are then adjusted with reference to said positioning-element. (4.) A method of the character described in claim 1, as applied to laying outsoles on welted boots and shoes, which consists in marking the welt at its under side, or notching it in definite position relative to the location of the upper, and laying the sole to said marks or notches to define the position of the sole predeterminately with relation to the upper when the welt is trimmed away. (5.) A machine for carrying out the method as described in claim 1, comprising means for producing position-determining marks or notches on the extension edge or welt of a shoe, by which properly to assemble a sole thereon, and a gauge for defining the location of said marks or notches with reference to a given contour of the shoe, with or without means for changing the relative position of the gauge, and marking-means to vary the position of the marks or notches relatively to said contour. (6.) A machine of the character described in claim 5, having a gauge for determining the plane of the welt with respect to the marking-means during the marking operation.

(Specification, 12s.; drawing, 2s.)

No. 23345.-22nd August, 1907.-UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, of Paterson, New Jersey, United States of America, a corporation duly organized under the laws of the said State of New Jersey, carrying on business as Shoe-machinery Manufacturers, and having a place of business at 205 Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America (assignees of Andrew Eppler, of Allston, Suffolk, Massachusetts aforesaid, Inventor). Improvements in or relating to sole-levelling machines.*

Claims.—(1.) A sole-levelling roll having a diameter which varies along its length, and provided with a series of slots of the same width throughout their length, dividing the roll into a series of sole rubbing and pounding projections or ribs adapted to pound the sole in a substantially uniform manner throughout the length of the slots. (2.) A roll of the type described in claim 1, in which the projections or ribs terminate short of the longitudinal centre of the roll, thus leaving its central portion smooth. (3.) A sole-levelling roll consisting of two portions arranged end to end, each portion being provided with slots of the same width throughout their length, dividing the surface thereof into a series of rubbing and pounding surfaces, and the surfaces of the two portions of the roll overlapping each other at the centre of the roll. (4.) A sole-levelling machine having, in combination, a shoe-supporting jack, a sole-levelling device, reversible friction driving-mechanism comprising a friction disc and a pivoted frame carrying two driving-discs constantly rotating in opposite directions, connections between said friction disc and the jack for actuating the jack, and means having, if desired, provision for adjustment, acting automatically when permitted by the operator to position the frame to hold both of said driving-discs out of engagement with the driven disc. (5.) A sole-levelling machine having, in combination, a shoe-supporting jack, a sole-levelling device, reversible friction driving-mechanism comprising a friction disc and a movable frame carrying two driving discs rotating constantly in opposite directions, said driving-discs acting respectively to rotate the friction disc when in engagement therewith, connections between said friction disc and the jack for actuating the jack, means controlled by the operator for swinging the frame to carry either driving-disc into engagement with the friction disc, and means acting automatically to swing the frame and throw said driving-disc out of operation at predetermined points in the movement of the jack. (6.) A sole-levelling machine having, in combination, a shoe-supporting jack, a sole-levelling device, a reversible friction driving-mechanism, connections between the driving-mechanism and the jack for actuating the jack, and yielding means actuated by said connections for automatically throwing said driving-mechanism out of operation at predetermined points in the movement of the jack, as, for example, at both limits of the movement of the jack. (7.) A sole-levelling machine having, in combination, a shoe-supporting jack, a sole-levelling device, a reversible friction driving-mechanism comprising a friction disc and two driving-discs, means for rotating said driving-discs in opposite directions, mechanism connecting the friction disc and the jack for actuating the jack, and means, including a yielding connection, actuated by said connecting mechanism for automatically moving either driving-disc out of engagement with said friction disc. (8.) A sole-levelling machine having, in combination, a shoe-supporting jack, a sole-levelling roll constructed to exert a pounding and rubbing action on the sole of a shoe supported on the jack, a frame supporting the levelling-roll mounted to move with the roll towards and from the jack, means for yieldingly pressing the frame towards the jack, and means for counterbalancing the weight of the frame. (9.) A shoe-supporting jack for sole-levelling machines, having, in combination, a heel-support, a toe-support angularly adjustable about an axis located in proximity to the work-supporting surface of the toe-support, with or without means for securing the toe-support in adjusted position. (10.) A shoe-supporting jack for sole-levelling machines, having, in combination, a heel-support, a toe-support, a pivoted lever upon which the toe-support is mounted, an adjusting-rod engaging the lever arranged to move the lever to adjust the toe-support vertically, a bevel gear mounted on the adjusting-rod, and having a screw-threaded engagement therewith, means for holding the gear against longitudinal movement with the adjusting-rod, a hand-operated shaft arranged at an angle to the adjusting-rod, and a bevel gear secured to said shaft and meshing with the bevel gear on the adjusting-rod, substantially as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. (11.) A sole-levelling machine having reversible driving and brake mechanisms, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings.

(Specification, £1 2s. 6d.; drawing, 6s.)

No. 23346.-22nd August, 1907.-UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, of Paterson, New Jersey, United States of America, a corporation duly organized under the laws of said State of New Jersey, carrying on business as Shoe-machinery Manufacturers, and having a place of business at 205 Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America (assignees of Andrew Eppler, of Allston, Suffolk, Massachusetts aforesaid, Inventor). Improvements in or relating to machines for preparing welts.*

Claims.—(1.) A machine for preparing welts, having, in combination, means for supporting and guiding a welt-strip, a grooving-knife arranged to cut a groove in the surface of the welt near one edge, comprising a knife-blade curved in the arc of a circle, and having a cross-sectional shape suitable for forming a groove, and means for securing a knife in the machine so as to be capable of a rotary adjustment to compensate for the wearing-away of the knife-blade in re-grinding. (2.) For use in a machine of the type described in claim 1, a knife comprising a notched disc with a grooving-blade extending around its periphery, and with a stud projecting laterally from the centre of it through which it may be