This is a vintage industrial educational booklet titled "How Modern Shoes Are Made" circa 1936. Measures 8 1/2 X 11 inches in size (22 X 28cm) and is 67 pages in length.
It was published by the United Shoe Machinery Corporation (USMC), which was based in Boston, Massachusetts.
📔 What the Booklet Is
- Publisher: United Shoe Machinery Corporation (USMC). This company was the dominant manufacturer of shoe-making machinery in the United States during the 20th century.
- Purpose: It serves as a technical, step-by-step guide explaining the mechanics, history, and assembly processes of different types of footwear manufacturing.
- Historical Context: Based on the font styles and illustrations, it likely dates from the 1930s. The front cover also shows a handwritten owner's mark from someone living in Columbus, Ohio.
🔍 Page Breakdown
- Covers & Title Pages (Images 2, 6, 9): Show the textured cream covers, an illustration of a mid-century shoe factory floor, and the USMC corporate logo.
- Table of Contents & History (Images 3 & 4): Outlines various historical footwear milestones (like Roman sandals and early sewing machines invented by Elias Howe and Lyman Blake) and lists chapters dedicated to different shoe construction methods.
- Technical Diagram (Image 1): Detailed cross-sections showing the structural differences between a "Two-Sole Stitchdown" shoe and a "Three-Sole Stitchdown" shoe.
- Step-by-Step Construction Guides (Images 5, 7, 8, 10): Highly detailed, 10-step photographic breakdowns illustrating exactly how different styles of shoes are patterned, lasted, and sole-attached:
- Image 5: Steps for a Nailed Work Shoe.
- Image 7: Steps for a McKay Sewed Shoe.
- Image 8: Steps for a Goodyear Welt Shoe.
- Image 10: Steps for a Turn Shoe.