510,177. Lasting-machines. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd., and KEALL, F. B. (United Shoe Machinery Corporation [in part]). Jan. 31, 1938, Nos. 2935 and 11627. Addition to 473,129. [Class 17 (i)] The heel-seat lasting-machine described in the parent Specification is modified by rendering the hand-operated starting push-rod unnecessary in the normal working of the machine, mechanism being provided by means of which the treadle, which is depressed to cause the jack to be swung rearwardly and raised by its fluid-operated devices, may be given a further movement to start the power operation of the lasting devices. Fluid-operated devices are used, not only for moving the jack, but for engaging the clutch to start the machine. Means may be provided to prevent the machine being started before the movement of the jack to operative position is complete, or increased resistance may be provided to the movement of the treadle, to inform the operator of the point, in the depression of the treadle, where further movement will engage the clutch. The treadle 92, Fig. 1, described in the parent Specification as being depressed to start the fluid-operated mechanism for swinging and raising the jack, is connected to that mechanism by resilient means including a spring 100, Fig. 6, interposed between a slide 80, actuating the hydraulic valve, and a member 96 positively connected to the treadle. The member 96 carries an adjustable abutment 236 co-operating with a second slide 220 carrying an arm 218. Fig. 4, actuating a valve 209, Fig. 5, sliding in a cylinder provided in the casing 36 of the fluid-pressure mechanism described in the parent Specification. When the valve is lifted, oil at high pressure passes from a chamber 54 to beneath a piston 176 adapted to raise a link 186 connected to a bell crank-lever 188, 194, Fig. 1, carrying a roll arranged to swing the end of a lever 156, which can also be swung by the head 162 of a starting push-rod, both lever and rod being described in the parent Specification. To prevent the machine being started before the jacking is complete, the lever 256, Fig. 4, described in the parent Specification as swung clockwise when the jacking is complete, carries a link 266 'slotted to co-operate with a pin on a latch 246 which delays the rising of the bar 220, and therefore the starting of the machine, until the shoe is jacked. The valve 200 is returned to normal position when the machine has started by a stop 280, Fig. 5, actuated by rack and segment gear on the rise of the link 186. In a modification, after the jacking is complete, starting is effected by tipping the treadle plate 298, Fig. 13, laterally about a pivot 300, a lug 306 on the treadle, being then adjacent to a bracket 296 connected to the starting linkage. In another modification, the jacking treadle 493, Fig. 15, is provided with a block 495 having a bevel at its forward lower corner co-operating with a block 496 having a complementary bevel and mounted on a drag-link 485. This link has a step normally engaging a plate 483 or a lever 479 pivoted to a bell crank-lever 421 and linked to a lever 471 co-operating with a roll 473 actuating a lever 465 operating a plunger 449 on a valve supplying oil under pressure to a cylinder 443. The piston-rod 439 of this cylinder is pivoted to a link 437 guided by a link 429, the pivot of these two links carrying one end of a link 427 slotted to engage a pin at the end of the upright arm of the bell crank-lever 421. The other arm of this lever is linked to the lever described in the parent Specification as raising and swinging the jack, a latch 411 and stop 417 being substituted for the mechanism described in the parent Specification, for ensuring that the swinging of the jack is substantially complete before the jack can rise. The lever 471 carries a stop 511 actuating the admission valve of a second hydraulic cylinder actuating the clutch of the machine. When the machine has started, a cam secured to the wiper advancing mechanism lifts an arm 537 co-operating with a pin 539 to lift the drag link 485 and release the plate 483 to allow the plunger 449 to rise. Both hydraulic admission valves are urged to normal position by springs, which are successively overcome by pressure on the treadle. When jacking is complete, the operator may release the pressure on the work by relieving his pressure on the treadle should he desire to reposition the work-piece before starting the machine. The point in the depression of the treadle at which this starting is about to be effected is indicated to the operator by the resistance to compression of the second spring. Specification 473,197 also is referred to.