THE FORM AND MANUFACTURE OF SHOES. 57 



Even when making a shoe for the most convex sole, it is 

 possible to leave an outer bearing surface, narrow but 

 level, which will sustain weight without squeezing the 

 foot. 



At the heels, the foot-surface of all shoes should be 

 flat — not seated— so that a firm bearing may be obtained 

 on the wall and the extremity of the bar. No foot is 

 convex at the heels, therefore there is no excuse for 

 losing any bearing surface by seating the heels of a shoe 

 to avoid uneven pressure. Fig. 36 rather exaggerates 

 the "unseated" portion of shoe. 



Fig. 36.— Foot-surface level at Heels. 



The Ground-Surface.— As I have said, this may 

 vary indefinitely. Sometimes it is a plain, flat surface, 

 broken only by the holes made for nails or by the 

 " fullering'' vrhich affords not onlj'' space for the nails, 

 but some grip on the ground. When a shoe is " fullered," 

 the groove made should be deep, so as to let the nail- 

 head well down, and wide, so as to afford room for giving 

 the nail a proper direction. If the fullering be con- 

 tinued round the toe of a shoe by a good workman, neat- 

 ness is given, but when a clip is drawn, the iron is so 

 reduced that some wear is sacrificed. If only an inch at 

 the toe be unfullered, the solid iron affords more wear 

 just where it is wanted. 



