340,310. Boot-making machines. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd., BAGSHAW, C. M., and SPARROW, A. T., Union Works, Belgrave Road, Leicester. Sept. 26, 1929, Nos. 29157/29, 5115/30 and 14513/30. [Class 17 (i).] Lasting.-Relates to machines comprising power operated heel seat lasting wipers and a gang of fastener-inserting devices associated therewith, and consists in the provision of auxiliary upper conforming means acting on the upper somewhat toeward of the heel seat. These auxiliary means are actuated by the operator, preferably by a treadle, initial movement of which causes them to engage the marginal portions of the upper at opposite sides of the last, further movement causing them to advance towards each other to lay the marginal portions over the last. The shoe support ] carries a pivot 7 for pairs of levers 9, 27, Fig. 1, provided with rolls at their lower ends engaging a cam block 23 connected by a rod 25 with a treadle. The levers 9 carry at their upper ends a pair of pads 11 mounted on vertical pivots so that they can adjust themselves to the sides of the last. These pivots are carried on arms themselves pivoted at 17 to the levers 9, adjusting screws 19 nearer the toe end of the last than the pivots allowing adjustment for lasts of differing widths. The levers 9 are actuated on depression of the treadle to centralize the last and clamp the upper by inclines 24 on the block 23, parallel portions 26 above the inclines 24 maintaining the pressure on further depression of the treadle. The levers 27 carry pivots 37 on which are mounted bifurcated brackets 35 urged downwardly about the pivots 37 by adjustable springs 41. Wipers 31 are carried by these brackets, the mounting including pivots 32 which allow the wipers 31 to yield against the push of the heel scat wipers as these advance. An incline 29 at each side of the block 23 causes the wipers 31, on depression of the treadle, to engage the upstanding margin of the upper at opposite sides of the last and lay it over the last bottom. The jack post 1 is pivoted at its lower end, in known manner, so that the work may be positioned when the post is inclined away from the machine. The mechanism shown is operated while the post is in this position, prior to the presentation of the work to the heel band and heel seat lasting devices. In a modification, the wipers 31 are substituted by grippers carried on levers 49, Fig. 3, actuated similarly to the levers 27. On each side of the last a jaw 57 and a sliding jaw 55 urged away from the jaw 57 by a spring 59 are carried on a bracket 53 pivoted at 51 to the lever. A block 65 on the jaw 55 is engaged by a lever 63 pivoted to the bracket and linked to one of a pair of levers 69 pivoted on the pin 7, the outer ends of the levers 69 being resiliently connected to a cross-head 75 formed on its under surface as a cam to co-operate with rolls at the ends of the levers 49 and linked to the treadle. Depression of the treadle allows the grippers to descend until stops 83 engage the levers 49, the jaws being then positioned adjacent the last. Continued depression of the treadle causes the jaws to close and draw the margin of the upper over the last. The rod 77 connecting the cross-head 75 with the treadle is toothed to engage a pawl carried by the post 1, and mechanism is provided between the machine cam shaft and this pawl to trip the pawl at a predetermined time in the machine's cycle, say as the heel seat wipers retire prior to their second overwiping advance. The margins of the upper are thus held in overlaid condition from the time the operator fully depresses the treadle, prior to the swinging of the jack post towards the machine, until near the end of the machine's cycle. Specifications 191,477, and 316,025, [both in Class 17 (i), Boots and shoes, Apparatus for making &c.], are referred to.