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of the fixed cutter fo far, that the thicknefs of the ftrip of 

 plate can be admitted between them ; the end of the ftrip is 

 pufhed back, fo that a fmall portion of the end of it over- 

 hangs the edge of the fixed cutter ; therefore the edge of 

 the fixed cutter, when it defcends, meets this overhanging 

 piece, and preffing it down upon the edge of the fixed cutter, 

 cuts it off, and the piece fo feparated forms a nail. When 

 the moving cutter re-afcends, the iron is pufiied forwards 

 again to overhang the fixed eutter, and another nail is thus 

 cut off. The nails are narrow at one end to form the 

 point, but at the other end are about as broad as the tliick- 

 nefs of the plate, fo as to be of a fquare figure ; but at the 

 point they are, in one direftion, as broad as at the head ; this 

 is the direction of the thicknefs of the plate, fo that in 

 reality the nail is the figure of a fmall wedge initead of a 

 pyramid, the point being in fadt a fliarp edge. To efFeft 

 this, the cut which the machine makes acrofs the end of 

 the ftrip of iron is not perpendicular to the length of the 

 ftrip, but rather inclined thereto ; and at every fucceflive 

 nail which is cut, the inclination of the cut is reverfed, fo 

 that the head of one nail is cut from the fame fide as the 

 point of the next, and fo on alternately of the whole 

 length of the flip of iron. The thickneis of the nail is 

 regulated by the quantity which the end of the flip is al- 

 lowed to projeft over the edge of the fixed cutter, and the 

 angle of inclination by two itops, againft which the edge 

 of the flip is always brought to bear, when the workman 

 places it ready for the cut. To ftop the end of the iron, a 

 part projects from the lever beneath the edge of the mov- 

 ing cutter, and is curved to the arc of a circle defcribed 

 from the axis : this itop is as far removed behind the edge 

 of the cutter as the thicknefs of the nail intended to be 

 cut off by the defcent of the moving cutter. In working 

 the machine, the workman keeps the wheel conftantly re- 

 volving by the motion of the treadle ; and holding the flip 

 with its edge in contact with the two ftops, fo as to give 

 it the proper inclination, he pufties it forwards, with a gra- 

 dual prefture, againft the moving cutter : then the inltaiit 

 the cutter is fufficiently railed to admit the flip, it will ad- 

 vance forwards, until the end of the flip touches the ftop 

 which is beneath the cutter : on the defcent of the cutter, 

 the nail is cut off", and the workman immediately turns the 

 flip with the other fide upward?, which has the effeft of 

 reverfing the inclination of the cut ; and pufliing it for- 

 wards another nail is cut as the former, and thus the ope- 

 ration continues with the utmoft rapidity. 



There are feveral fuits of machines in this manufaftory, 

 fo that a great number of ftioes are proceeding at the fame 

 time through the different ftages of their fabrication ; and 

 the rapidity of the execution is fuch, that a given number 

 of workmen will here make a far greater number of Ihoes 

 than by the common method, and they are more durable, 

 particularly for the ftrong ftioes which are defirable for 

 foldiers. Several of the machines were conllruded by 

 Mr. Maudflay, with his ufual accuracy of execution. 



Shoe-makers' Machine.— This is a fimple contrivance, to 

 enable thofe artifans to perform their work in a ftanding 

 pofture ; by which means they will avoid the difeafes inci- 

 dent to thofe who follow fedentary employments. 



In the common method of working, the ftioe-maker is 

 obliged to fit and ftoop in the moft awkward pofture ima- 

 gmable, fometimes in order to hold the ftioe and laft between 

 his Itomach and his thigh, whilft he fews the fole to the 

 upper leather ; at other times he muft hold the laft between 

 his knees ; and to few the leathers together whilft he holds 

 them upon his knees, he muft lean very much forwards 

 In all thefe operations he fits as it were doubled up, fo as to 



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impede the aftion of his lungs, and ultimately produce many i 

 difeafes. The machine is a kind of vice, to hold the (hoe 

 in any pofition whilft it is fewed. 



The Society of Arts have fliewn a laudable defire to re- 

 commend thefe n'.achines to the trade ; and to induce their 

 general adoption, they have given feveral rewards to thofe 

 who have produced machines. The firft of thefe was Mr, 

 Holden, then Mr. Parker, and next Mr. Stafs, whofe ma- 

 chine, being more improved than the preceding, demands 

 fome defcription. A fmall bench, or table, is firmly fup- 

 ported on four legs, at about four feet from the ground ; a 

 circular cufhion is affixed upon the bench, having a hollow 

 or bafon in the centre of it, with a hole from the bottom 

 of the hollow, quite through the cufliion, and alfo through 

 the centre of the bench. This hole receives a ftrap, which 

 is doubled, and the two ends fewed together. The lalt is 

 put into the double of the ftrap, and it is drawn down by a 

 treadle, fo as to hold the laft firmly in the hollov/ of the 

 cuftiion, which is ftuff^ed foft withinfide ; and as the hole 

 through the cuftiion is too fmall for the ftioe to pafs down, 

 the lalt can be fet in any direftion which is molt convenient 

 for the fewing ; but by relieving the treadle, it can be re- 

 moved in an inftant, turned round, and fixed again to few 

 another part. A feat can be applied in front of the ma- 

 chine, for the workman to reft himfelf occafionally : this 

 feat is fupported by only two legs, and a piece of wood, 

 which projects horizontally from beneath the feat, and 

 enters into a mortife, made in a part of the frame. Upon 

 this the workman fits altride, as if upon a faddle ; and as 

 his work is held before him at a proper height, he fits in an 

 upright pofture, which is not attended with the fame pre- 

 judicial eftefts as ftooping to work upon the knee. The 

 machine is provided with a fmall tray, or box, behind the 

 cufhion, to contain all the fmall articles which the work 

 requires ; alio a drawer beneath it for tools, &c. ; a whet- 

 ftone fixed up at a convenient height ; and an anvil, which 

 fits into the hollow of the cuftiion, fo as to lie firmly, to 

 hammer the leather upon inftead of a lapftone. 



Shoe-makers are to make their ftioes of fufficient leather, 

 or forfeit 3^. 4^. (i Jac. I. c. 22.) and journeymen ftioe- 

 raakers embezzling leather fliall make fatisfaftion for damage, 

 or be ordered by juftices to be whipped, "Sec. Perfons 

 buying or receiving fuch leather, are to make reafoiiable 

 recompence, to be levied by diftrefs, &c. and fearch is to be 

 made after the iam.e : alfo leaving their work undertaken, 

 or neglefting it, to be fent to the houfe of corredtion for a 

 month. 9 Geo. I. cap. 27. 13 Geo. II. c. 8. See 

 Leather. 



Shoe, in the Manege. A horfe-ftioc is a piece of flat 

 iron, with two branches or wings, which being commonly 

 forged according to the form of the hoof for which it is 

 defigned, is made round at the toe, and open at the heel. 



A fhoe for all feet, is one that is cut at the toe into two 

 equal parts, which is joined by a rivetted nail, upon which 

 they are moveable in fuch a manner, that the ftioe is enlarged 

 or contracted lefs or more at pleafure, in order to make it 

 fit all forts and fizes of feet 



To ftioe a horfe after the form of a lunette, a patin, &c. 

 fee Lunette, Patin, &c. See alfo Shoeing of Her/it, 

 &c. 



Berenger obferves, that the ancients did not fiioe their 

 horfes, that is to fay, they did not nail upon their hoofs 

 any pieces of iron, or of other metal, in the form of the 

 modern horfe-flioes: but when they intended to defend 

 them from any thing that might annoy them in travelling, 

 they fattened upon their feet, by means of ftraps and liga- 

 tures, a fort of fandal, ftocking, or what we call boots. 



Thefe , 



