THE EGMONT BOOT FACTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7707, 9 January 1905, Page 2

THE EGMONT BOOT FACTORY.

Interesting Display at the Exhibition. Trebly interesting is the working exhibit shown by the Egmont Boot Factory, for it not only shows the advances made in manufacturing generally, but proves that here in T a r ttnaki we have a firm whose business is conducted on the most ui>-to-date lines. It is this fact, as much as the interest attaching to any display of handicraft, which is responsible for the large crowds who daily gather to watch the various processes 0 f bootnittkmg. The machinery and processes lire exactly the same as employed in the factory, though necessarily o n a smaller scale. The onlooker is first attracted by the sides of leather at one end of the stand, whereat an employee is busilyengaged cutting out the uppers, which are then passed on to the skiving machine to be skived und fitted ready for machining. The uppers are then passed to the machinist, who puts them together, each pair af uppers pussing through live different machines. The next stage is the rough stuff department, where the soles and other parts are cut out by an eccentric press, the knives of which arc shaped to the required size und pattern according to the last on which the boot is to be made. Here again, the uppers and bottom stuff are passed on, this time to the benchmen, a number of whom are to be seen busily at work, making or "building" the boot. Now the half(inished j article touches a machine that deserves moro than passing notice. This is the Make sole sewing machine, which sews the soles to the uppers. This machine wns patented by a young man, who brought his idea to such a pitch that practically no improvements have been made in it since its introduction. The machine will sew equally well all kinds of footwear, the dantiest shoe to the heaviest hobnail boot In fact, the foreman in charge of the exhibit will show the curious some stitching done by tho Wake through threo thicknesses of sole leather, and two of thin steel plate. One interesting feature of the machine is that every stitch is registered. In some countries a royalty Is paid per thousand stitches, but ia Che colonics the royalty is bought outright. Another machine is the Keats fair stitch machine, which, ' though it does light work, is specially adapted for good solid work. The last stage is that where the boot is operated on by the finishing machines, consisting of heel and fore part paring machines, and rolls, pads, and bVttshes, for, creating a fine polish on the heels and soles. This then is a brief outline of the processes through which the boots puss. The twenty-two machines in the exhibit are of such complicated construction that it were better not to enter into any short description of them.

Passing, then, to the article .turned out nt the Egmont Boot Factory, the most striking is the stondnrd screwed slug boot, of chrome leather, and specially adapted for men's and youths' wear. In this boot the sole, instead of being rivetted, is screwed en to the upper, the process being done by an ingenious machine, known as the "Standar." The boot is then passed to the slugging machine, when the slugs are inserted. It is claimed Unit tho wear of the boot is thus increased one hundred per cent. Another feature about this boot is that it is seamless, thus doing away with many of the defects of the ordinary boot. Passing reluctantly from this interesting exhibit, the visitor will turn to the very attractive display of the finished manufacture, shown in a large glass case. Here will be seen every description of boot, from babies'l shoes and ladies' evening shoes and the heavy wutertights. Specially attractive are tho evening shoes Ito I'the [waviest ■w>iileiitig|h)»ls; cd, bended, and quilted shoes being prominent. The ornaments on these wore specially imported from Paris. In marked contrast to th&se is the heavy boot known as the Taranaki Deer-stalker, the distinctive feature of which is the extended welt, round both sole and heel.

The Egniont lloot Factory has been successful in six 'awards, these being: Diploma for collection of boot and shoe uppers;, colonial made; diploma for collection of gents' and boys' boots and shoes, colonial made; diploma for collection of ladies' and girls' boots and shoes, colonial made ; gold medal for collection of boots and shoes, colonial made, and first prize of JES, and special gold medal, for best working exhibit. The judge stated that the collection of boots and shoes was as good as any ever shown in a colonial exhibition. But far more satisfactory even Hum tho winning of prizes and diplomas to the manufacturer must be the knowledge that the public have now had brought convincingly home to them the fact that our locally manufactured boots are such as any district may well be proud of.