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On the extreme right of the apartment are fixed the various machines in use for heeling purposes, together with a plant of finishing machinery, all of which are exceedingly rapid in action and save an immense amount of tedious hand labour. Proceeding by way of a wide staircase to the upper floors we pass through the various departments in succession. First of these are the large and well furnished offices and sale rooms, from whence we enter the clicking room, an immense apartment, about 100 feet by 60 feet, in which are placed the machines for lining, cutting, leather splitting, and other processes of preparation, and here also are stocked large quantities of the finer leathers such as enamelled seals and calf skins, moroccos, glace kids, calf kids, French and English roans, and all kinds of dressed leathers. The rivetting and putting-on room, of the same dimensions as the former, is fitted with the requisite appliances for this work ready for the stitching and sewing department, and contains quantities of iron lasts of all shapes and sizes. Adjoining is the room appropriated to the stitching, sewing, and standard screwing, where a full plant of powerful modern machinery is employed in fixing on the soles to the uppers. An interesting feature of the manufacture is found in another department where the goods are eyeletted by specially constructed and ingenious machines, which, however, are so simple in action that they can be easily manipulated by boys. There are other large machine rooms for fitting and closing of "uppers," and on the remaining floors are stock rooms for the thousands of pairs of every kind of boots and shoes for men, women and children in some hundreds of different designs and qualities of wear. Returning to the basement we next examine the processes of rough cutting, slugging and stamping out soles and heels which are performed by machinery, and there is also in action here a plant for rolling the leather in substitution for the ancient method of hammering the material by hand to the thickness required. In this portion of the premises are the stores for rough leathers containing a valuable stock of the best qualities of English and Continental sole butts, bends, sides, shoulders, etc., which are held in laige quantities to meet current requirements. The whole of the machinery is driven by steam-power, and in addition to the exceptional mechanical resources and labour-economising appliances to which reference has been made, a working staff of about three hundred is employed in the several departments of the manufactory. A note of commendation must be sounded, too, with regard to the sanitary arrangements of this model factory, all the latest and most up-to-date improvements being en evidence to ensure the most perfect hygienic conditions for the workers, and the lighting and ventilation are alike of an efficient character.
The Clicking Room.
The chief speciality of Messrs. Parker and Booth's make is their "Maid Marian" brand of boots and shoes for ladies and girls, covering a great variety of elegant and useful designs in the most fashionable styles, while in goods for ordinary wear their list contains a wide range of sound and reliable manufactures suitable for every class of trade. As factors in leather, grindery and mercery, the firm supply every requisite for the boot and shoe trade, which they both manufacture and import on an extensive scale.
The business is now in the possession and under the direct personal supervision of the partners, Mr. A. G. Parker and Mr. F. P. Norris, of whom the last named succeeded Mr. Booth, who retired from the firm some years ago.