320 GEORGE HOUGHTON 



forcing it into the leather and cutting it off automatically. 

 This was the prototype of the rapid standard screw machine, 

 which is a comparatively recent invention and is very widely 

 used as a sole fastener at the present time on the heavier 

 class of boots and shoes. Very soon thereafter the attention 

 of the trade was attracted to the invention of a New York 

 mechanic for sewing of soles. This device was particularly 

 intended for the making of turn shoes and afterwards became 

 famous as the Goodyear turn shoe machine. It was many 

 years before this machine became a commercial success, and 

 mention of its progress is made later. 



Closely following the Goodyear invention came the intro- 

 duction of the first machine used in connection with heeling 

 — a machine which compressed the heel and pricked holes for 

 the nails — and this was soon followed by a machine which 

 automatically drove the nails, the heel having previously 

 been put in place and held by guides on the machine. Other 

 improvements in heeling machines followed with considerable 

 rapidity, and a machine came into use shortly afterwards 

 which not only nailed the heel but was also provided with a 

 hand trimmer, which the operator swung round the heel 

 immediately after nailing. From these have been evolved 

 the heeling machines in use at the present time. 



Notable improvements had during this time been made 

 in the Goodyear system, and a machine was made for the 

 sewing of welts, which was the foundation of the Goodyear 

 machine now so universally used. This machine sewed from 

 the channel of the insole through upper and welt, uniting all 

 three, and was a machine of the chain stitch type which left 

 the loop on the outside of the welt. This machine was closely 

 followed by the introduction of one which stitched the out- 

 sole, uniting it to the welt by a stitch made from the channel 

 in the outsole, through outsole and welt. This machine after- 

 wards became famous as the Goodyear rapid outsole lock 

 stitch machine. The great demand that existed for shoes of 

 this type made it necessary that accessory machines should 

 be invented, and those which prepared the insole, skived the 

 welt, trimmed the insole, rounded and channeled the outsole, 

 as well as a machine which automatically rolled or leveled 



