-la Electrical & Co., of Chicago, make a very ingenious electrical sole-sorter, shown in Fig. 3. This machine determines the exact thickness of cut soles, tans, and bottom stock by electrical and mechanical devices, and distributes them automatically. This machine measures the thickness of the tap at the center, and not at the side, and, auto matically determining the thickness, drops them into the proper box. The difference in quality, such as fine and hard, and coarse and soft, must always be left to the judgment of the sorter, but to determine by the eye the exact difference in the thickness of the different grades is not possible. To fully realize this, one must know how fine the difference is. Twelve pairs of taps to stand just 6 in. high and be uniform in thickness, must each be just it of an in. thick. If each were of an in. thick they would stand then in. high. Thus it will be seen that of an in. constitutes a grade—that is, of an in. difference in the height of the dozen when tied up. This machine is so finely adjusted and so accurate that it can be set to grade down to of an in.. and can be depended on to do it every time. In selling taps much has been made of weight—that certain taps will weigh more to the dozen than those of another cut by a die of the same size, and the dozen standing the same height. This may be true, but it is of no account in fixing values, if we take into consideration the fact that leather tanned by the sweating process will weigh 10 per cent more to the side than that tanned by the lining process. Thus, it is not weight, but substance or thickness, that is the real standard of value—i. e., that in taps of the same quality, fine or coarse, it is not weight that tells. but thickness. The same parties make a small bottom-stock sorting-machine, worked by hand, which automatically and mechanically determines the exact thickness of bottom stock at the sorting-table. It is claimed to save a good part of what is usually wasted under the splitter.
The Hemingway Smooth-Rolling, Glassing, Pebbling, and Slaking Machine will glass. buff, wax, calf, or sheep, without nipping or plaiting. There are 'four glasses or slickers, and when one leaves the bed there is one going on. For cutting over splits or staking morocco there is a foot-treadle, so that the operator can gauge the pressure to any thickness. There is an emery attachment to keep the slickers sharpened. The machine can be used for pebbling with one or two rolls. There is no back-stroke to catch the shanks. Iiy changing the tools, taking about 20 min., it can be made to glass, pebble. cut over splits, run off grease, stake or brush.
The Duplex Hide and Side Worker is made for whole hides, sides, very heavy kip, and calf-skins, in widths of 9 ft. and 7 ft. 0 in. ; it is built proportionately strong, to meet the extra
strain in working hides and side-leather. The machine will flesh and unhair at one and the same time, or either separately, doing the work without packing or damaging the hide or skin in any way. The cylinder can be arranged to cut the flesh in a clean manner, or to work it as in a breaker, thereby leaving the hide or side either soft and pliable, if for upper leather, or hard and firm if needed for belting, sole, or harness leather. This machine, it is said, will flesh and unhair wit It one operator up to 430 sides in one day of 10 hours.
7'he Sawyer fachine, shown in Fig. 4, mechanically measures leather or other superficial surfaces with great accuracy, and in any condition whatever, whether wrinkled or smooth. Its leading- principle is a reduction by mechanical means of linear to square measure. The machine is a rotary one and requires very little power, and may be operated either at a fast or slow rate of speed. The article to be measured is laid on the inclined table, and its end fed in between a roller and a series of wheels, and, if it be wrinkled, is perfectly smoiithed out as it passes heoe•ath. so that the wheels may measure the exact surface that passes beneath them, transmitting their measuring movements to the dial, which, as the article continues to pass through the wheels, will gradnully indicate its measurement. The machine is etiuparatively simple, and is con structed entirely of metal with interchangeable parts, and employs no springs—the movements be ing positive, and the motion of the measuring•wheels transmitted directly to the indicator.
The Brerionpaii (see Fig. ri) shapes the sole, after it is attached to the tipper, to the de sired lines and curves the Ir•ade may require. The machine is a twin machine, one side being usually used for rights and the other for lefts. The opera tion is effected by placing the boot or shoe upon one of the lasts at I ached to the machine. The operator then plumes his foot upon the treadle. and the last and stow are carried automatically beneath n mold, the machine stopping when the shoe is under• a heavy pressure nil the toggles have reached their highest point. In the mean time the other last and shoe which were under pressure will have come out from beneath its mold and stopped in front of the operator ; this motion is continuous to the inward movement of the other last and shoe, and both movements are effected by the simple depression of the treadle. The operator then removes the shoe that has come from beneath the mold, and replaces it by another, again pressing the treadle to repeat, the movements, and so on, thus giving all the shoes that are operated on uniform shape and style,