The shoe is now ready for lasting. This is one of the most difficult
and important parts of the shoemaking process, for upon the success of
this operation depends in a great measure the beauty and comfort of the
shoe. The Consolidated Hand Method Welt Lasting Machine, which is used
for this purpose, takes its name from the almost human way in which it
performs this part of the work. It is wonderful to observe how evenly
and tightly it draws the leather around the last. At each pull of the
pincers a small tack driven automatically part way in holds the edge
of the upper exactly in place, so that in the finished shoe every part
of the upper has been stretched in all directions equally. The toe and
heel of the shoe are considered particularly difficult portions to last
properly. This important part of the work is now being very generally
performed on the U. S. M. Co. Lasting Machine--No. 5, a machine of
what is known as the “bed type.” It is provided with a series of
wipers for toe and heel, which draw the leather simultaneously from
all directions. There can be no wrinkles at the toe or heel of shoe on
which it is properly used and the quality of work produced by it has
been very generally recognized as a distinct advance in this important
part of shoemaking. After the leather has been brought smoothly around
the toe it is held there by a little tape fastened on each side of the
toe and which is held securely in place by the surplus leather crimpled
in at this point. The surplus leather crimpled in at the heel is
forced smoothly down against the insole and held there by tacks driven
by a very ingenious hand tool in which there is a constantly renewed
supply of tacks.
[Illustration: A MACHINE THAT FORMS AND DRIVES TACKS