Object number
58/22
Description
Heel iron used to finish heels. This task could only be done with a plain faced iron such as this one.
This is a heel iron, a bootmaking tool used to finish heels. This task could only be done with a plain faced iron such as this one. It is made of metal with a wooden handle and leather strap.
Physical description
1 heel iron: metal, wood, leather
Archival history
‘Making Boots, Shoes & Clogs’, Marie Hartley & Joan Ingilby, 1997, pp.5–6 –‘A boot or shoe was made up of insole, uppers, welt, sole and heel, with toe puffs and heel stiffeners to fit in. the maker first drew round the customer’s feet on paper on the floor, and took measurements. The uppers were cut out from patterns, and sewn together on the sewing machine, called closing. The insole was prepared, and placed on a last chosen to conform with the customer’s foot. Heel stiffeners and toe puffs were inserted. The uppers were pulled over the last with the lasting pincers, called lasting. Then the upper components, welt and insole were stitched together with one seam using both ends of the thread. At the toe, six thicknesses of leather had to be sewn through – insole, lining, toe puff, extra layer for toe, welt and upper. The sole is then fitted on and stitched to the welt. Heels had to be nailed on in lifts. Taking out the last was the final job. It took twenty-eight hours to make a pair of shoes, and four pairs of boots made in a week was good work.’
Object name
Material
Associated subject
