623,657. Making shoes. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO., Ltd., and PRATT, J. W. March 25, 1947, No. 8071. [Class 17 (ii)] [Also in Group VIII] A machine for operating on shoe uppers to slit the lasting margin of a curved end portion of a shoe upper, before the margin is urged inwardly across the edge of a shoe-bottom member to last with the shoe bottom member, comprises means for effecting relative stepwise movements between an upperslitting device of the machine and the lasting margin of the end portion of the shoe upper in a direction lengthwise of the edge of the margin and means for imparting movements to the upper-slitting device relative to the successive stepwise movements, so that slits are formed which lie obliquely both to the portion of the edge of the margin adjacent the slit and to the general plan of the margin. The machine provides a number of cuts in the marginal portion of an upper of thick gauge leather, for example the toe portion of an agricultural boot, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in order that a wiper type lasting machine of the kind described in Specification 470,749 may be satisfactorily employed. Tabs 5 are formed in the marginal portion of the upper having the outer surface cut shorter than the flesh surface cut 3, the surface cuts being about 20 degrees from the normal from the edge, and at about 25 degrees to the surfaces of the upper. The tabs 5 overlap when wiped over the insole. The upper is held between a feed wheel 105, Fig. 8, and a rotatable table 103 and the marginal portion of the upper is held in a slot in a shear block 109, whilst a knife blade 107 operates on the marginal portion. The table 103, Fig. 6, is carried on a shaft 117 which is keyed to a sleeve 119, which is supported in a lug 121 on the machine frame and carries at its lower end a gear 122 which is geared to a shaft 131 carrying the feed wheel 105. A collar 124 on the shaft 117 is pivotally connected to an arm 126 which is supported at its other end on a pin 127 on the machine frame. The arm 126 is urged downwardly by a spring 129 so that a roll 128 on the arm bears on a segmental member 132 pivoted at 134 to the machine frame. An arm 136 on the member 132 is connected by a link 138 to a treadle (not shown). Depression of the treadle raises the table 103 gripping the upper between the feed wheel 105 and the table. The feed wheel 105 and the table are rotated by a ratchet wheel 140, Fig. 9, carried on the shaft 131 having a spring-urged pawl 142 engaging therewith carried on an arm 144 loosely carried on the shaft 131. The pawl 142 carries an adjusting cap 152 to vary the feed. The arm 144 is reciprocated by a link 133 actuated by a cam 160, Fig. 7, carried on a shaft 148 driven through a clutch similar to that disclosed in Specification 7200/07, [Class 43]. The clutch is controlled by a lever 169, Fig. 6, pivotally connected to a lever 166 pivoted to the machine frame. The lever 166 is pivotally connected to a link 182 which is in slotted engagement at its other end with the arm 136. Upon depression of the treadle (not shown) further than that causing the upper to be gripped between the feed wheel and the table, the lever 126 is pivoted about its pivotal connection with the shoulder 124 and the link 182 is actuated to engage the clutch. Revolution of the cam 160 actuates a roll carried by a two-armed lever 156, Fig. 7, thereby reciprocating a lever 157 which is connected by a ball-and-socket joint 155, Fig. 4, to a two-armed lever 145 pivoted at 147 to the machine frame and carrying the knife 107. The knife 107 co-operates with an edge 108 of the shear block 109 secured to the machine frame. The slot in the shear block has two ridges 141, Fig. 8, which resists movement of the upper in the cutting direction of the knife. The upper is guided during the slitting operation by two adjustable guides 111 secured to the machine frame and 143 on the shear block.