MECHANICAL AND USEFUL ARTS. 121 



Miking and Finishing- Boots and Shoes. This relates to that de- 

 scription of boots and shoes in which the soles and heels are fixed to 

 the upper-leathers or welts by screwed pins. The machinery con- 

 sists of self-acting movements by which the wire is screwed or forced 

 into the boot or shoe, and afterwards cut off by shears, for moving 

 the boot or shoe the distance required, and giving continuous rotary 

 motion to the cutters and glazing wheels. By means of a wheel 

 with teeth upon a portion of its periphery a revolving motion is 

 given at certain intervals to the wire for forming the screwed pins, 

 the threads of which are made by a screwplate or dies, the entrance 

 of the pins into the sole and welt or upper-leather going on at the 

 same time. During the stopping of the revolving motion of the 

 wire, the pins are cut off by shears or cutters put in motion by a cam 

 driven in any suitable manner, the boot or shoe being moved by 

 dividing wheels according to the required distance between the 

 screwed pins. After the sole has been screwed on, the boot or shoe 

 is removed to another part of the apparatus, the table of which is 

 moved so as to press the edge of the sole against a circular cutter put 

 in motion by wheels and pulleys in the usual manner, a guard being 

 employed to maintain the correct action of the cutter. After the 

 sole is cut, it is pressed against circular polished surfaces and a 

 brush, so as to give it the desired finish. The patentee uses an in- 

 termediate shaft, in which he places wheels, cams, or tappets, 

 which produce the required operations. 



Mr. C. Stannet has also patented certain improvements in appa- 

 ratus used in the manufacture of Boots and Shoes, or other coverings 

 for the feet. The patentee claims a resilient, or spring bed or table, 

 disengaged and fixed at intervals, accordingly as the piercing and 

 pegging or movement of the article under operation takes place. 

 Also a construction of carriage for the support of the article under 

 operation, mounted on castors or other contrivances to admit of 

 motion on the table in any direction required. Likewise an arrange- 

 ment of escapement for delivering the pegs one by one as required ; 

 and a certain construction of reciprocating knife. Also blocking or 

 forming the soles and other parts of boots and shoes by a bag filled 

 with shot or sand. Also a hammer arranged and actuated for the 

 hammering of leather ; and certain moulds mounted on suitable 

 tongs or levers, for partially moulding parts of boots and shoes ; 

 all as described with reference to the drawings. — Mechanics' 

 Muyazine. 



CIVIL ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS. 



Sir David Brewster, in his Address on opening the Winter Ses- 

 sion of the University of Edinburgh, of which he is Principal, made 

 the following admirable remarks on the necessity of mathematical 

 attainments to Civil Engineers : — "Great Britain has always been 

 distinguished among civilized nations for the magnitude and splendour 

 of her public works ; but it is a remarkable circumstance that 

 the engineers who executed them were neither mathematicians, 

 chemists, nor natural philosophers, but, generally speaking, persons 



