INGENUITY AND LUXURY 



cheapest to the highest grade, and it is a machine that 

 shows wonderful mechanical ingenuity. 



"The perfecting of the lasting-machine has been 

 followed recently by the introduction of a machine 

 which performs in a most satisfactory way the difficult 

 process known as l pulling over/ which consists of 

 accurately centering the shoe-upper on the last and 

 securing it temporarily in position for the work of 

 lasting. The new machine, which is known as the 

 4 hand-method pulling-over machine/ is provided with 

 pincers, which close automatically, gripping the shoe- 

 upper at sides and toe. It is fitted with adjustments 

 by which the operator is enabled to quickly center 

 the shoe-upper on the last, and, on the pressing of a 

 foot-lever, the machine automatically draws the upper 

 closely to the last and secures it in position by tacks, 

 which are also driven by the machine. The introduc- 

 tion of this machine marked a radical change in the 

 one important shoemaking process that had up to this 

 time successfully withstood all attempts at mechanical 

 improvement. At about the time that lasting was 

 first introduced there came the finishing-machines, 

 which were used for finishing heel and fore-part. 

 These machines were fitted with a tool, which was 

 heated by gas and which practically duplicated the 

 labor of the hand-workman in rubbing the edges with 

 a hot tool for the purpose of finishing them. From 

 these early machines have been evolved the edge- 

 cutting machines which are in use at the present time. 



"The latest machine to attract the attention of the 

 trade is one which, in the opinion of those well qualified 



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