"EQUITY" FOOTWEAR.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3128, 5 July 1917, Page 8

"EQUITY" FOOTWEAR.

The Equity Boot Company, of "Wellington, is not so well known as it might or should be. Not oven in Wellington. People, buy tho goods stamped "Equity," and finding them good ask for them again, but as often as not aro under tho impression that they aro an munnfacturc. That is on account'of their finished appearance. But "Equity" boots and shoes for ladies and children and "Wtirrior" boots for men aro made in AVellington by tho Ecfliity Boot Company, which has a large modern factory in Oak Palm Avenue, off Ingestre Street West. One would never know of tho existence of the place but for the -whirr of machinery that on a still day may bo heard from the adjacent main streets, but there it is—a veritable hive of industry, turning out goods that are a credit to the country.. "There's nothing liko leather" might be tho company's motto, for the Equity people believe in giving the full value in leather, oven -where it might be just as advantageous to tho wearer to have other material employed. Tho Equity Boot Company is a. local coucern, which has been established for

about thirteen years iu all, only eix of which have been spent in their presout quarters, and, thanks to the admittedly

good class of footwear turned out, its progress has been steady and suro. At present the company employs some sixty, live hands, who manage to turn out every week about 1400 pains of boots and shoes, which is a creditable output for a comparatively small factory. They aro able to make such a showing because tho company's plant is as up-to-date as it is possible to have it. The company has a free hand in getting plant—that is to say, that it is what is known to the trade as a "non-royalty" company. This needs a littlo explanation. Boot-making machinery is very intricate and highlyprotected, and both English and American firms holding the patents of certain machines that are essential to the trade decline to sell them to manufacturers out. right, but allow them machines on. which they have to pay a royalty, which, of eourse. pays much better than selling a machine outright. Tho Equity Company has royalty machines amongst its very complete plant, but is not (as is sometimes the case) bound down hand and foot to the royalty machine makers. This fact gives them freedom of action, and allows them to take advantage of any now machine that may be ar. improvement in some way or other on. those at present in existence. There is no better lighted factory in the whole of Wellington. Thanks to an easterly aspect' that consists almost solely of huge windows, tho upstairs machine-room is almost a model in its way. The (Trent windows all round take in sections of the green hills up Brooklyn way, and the beautiful light that streams in from all points of tho compass is' an attribute to good work. s The factory -is arranged according to tho ordered progression of tho making of a pair of boots. From the clicking department, where tho patterns for uppers are cut in piles, the boots go on to the machines (Jones and Singer's), where they are stitched together. They then go on to the eyelotting machine, which punches a hole and places an cyolet in one action; to the machine whioh perforates a pattern on toe-pieces; on to the men who stretoh the uppers over the wooden lasts, and then pass the last on to a machine which tacks it firmly on to the. insole on the wooden black that forms tho model of the foot; and so on to the heavier machines that sew on tho solo proper, and the finishers, until they' coino to a lift, which drops tho completed article below to the stampers and packers. ; The Equity Company, which' owns its own promises, make a speoialty of women and children's boots and shoes, and the fact that all the biggest and best hoHseSvin the Dominion atock thoir lines is proof that the quality and finish is there. The firm turns out a "Warrior" of ii boot for farmers, a fine stout boot for everyday labourers, and a handsome glace kid "Dry-ped" soled shooter boot for city men. When the public feels the chill of wintor stealing through their soles, they should, if of ono sex, think of tho word "Equity." Men, without much thought, must tread on "Warriors."—(Published by Arrangement.)