264,461. British United Shoe Machinery Co., Ltd., (Assignees of Winkley, E. E.). Jan. 18, 1926, [Convention date]. Sole-levelling, methods of.-For producing a close thin edge to the sole at the shank, particularly in ladies' shoes, sole-levelling is performed in two stages, the fore-part being levelled by a roll of large diameter, and the entire shank portion simultaneously levelled by powerful pressure concentrated especially on the sole margin. The out-sole is skived at the outer margin of the shank portion to contribute to the close edge desired. Preferably, the forepart is maintained straight longitudinally, or transversely, or both, while the sole is being laid. The shoe is lasted and prepared for the application of the outsole by the method described in Specification 223,597. The outsole is then slit at its edge, Fig. 2, to form a stitch channel, and skived on the flesh side along the line a, b. The sole is then cemented and laid by an apparatus of the kind described in Specification 22800/05, but with the shank portion of the pad so formed as to apply heavy pressure to the margin of the shank. The last is then removed and the sole secured by through stitching by a machine of the type described in Specification 210,605, [Class 112, Sewing &c.]. The channel is then cemented and the channel-flap laid. The fore-part of the sole is then levelled in a machine of the kind described in Specification 236,270, [Class 17 (i), Boots and shoes, Apparatus for making &c.], fitted with a roll of larger diameter than the length of the fore-part. If desired, a line of demarcation between shank and ball may be produced by this fore-part levelling. Preferably, a saddle of the kind described in Specification 103,849, [Class 17 (i), Boots and shoes, Apparatus for making &c.], subjects, the shank to pressure during this levelling. If the shoe materials require a greater pressure at the margin, a concave roll is used, or a cylindrical roll is tipped by the usual mechanism. Preferably, more traverses are given at the ball portion of the sole than at the toe portion, to compensate for the greater width of the ball portion. The shank portion is then levelled in an ordinary direct-pressure machine provided with a pivoted pad 75, Fig. 9, shaped to exert the greatest pressure on the margin. Preferably the last is tipped so that the pressure has a forward component. To render and maintain the forepart flat the sole-laying or shank-levelling pad may have a flat metal plate 94, Fig. 12, beneath its usual leather cover at the appropriate area. In the case of a shoe having its forepart twisted about its longitudinal axis, this plate is substituted by segments 96, Fig. 14, connected by a flexible sheet 98.