object highlight
Crispin Sewing Machine
The 1863 Crispin Sewing Machine was an Innovation in Sole Stitching
Invented in 1863 and crucial in the growth of the factory production of shoes
The 1863 Crispin Sewing Machine was an innovation in sole stitching. Developed and patented by William Stephens Clark and John Keats in 1863. The Crispin sole stitching machine was created to attach the uppers, the part of the shoe that encases the foot, to the soles. At this time, William Stephens Clark wanted to increase the volume of shoes being made by moving away from home production and expanding factory production. Machines that mechanised parts of the process speeding up production were crucial. The Crispin Sewing Machine was innovative for its time in using a hook instead of a needle to stop the waxed thread from clogging the machine.
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Collection
CICA Blades 1990s football boots
Clarks established CICA as a high-spec sports shoe line. A defining milestone in CICA’s history was the introduction of CICA Blades, football boots launched in the mid-1990s
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News
Take a Walk in Our Shoes: June exhibition and workshops
A new exhibition at Shoemakers Museum features works on identity, place and the stories we create by four local artists this Pride month.
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News
Espresso your soul
Connect history to shoe shopping today. Free coffee offer at Shoemakers Museum. This late May Bank Holiday, free drinks are available for anyone who has bought a new pair of shoes.
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News
Museum tours and Archive tours
Shoemakers Museum ticket holders can get a fascinating insight into the collections with guided tours of the new museum and exclusive behind the scenes archive tours now available to book. Let our collections team be your guide into the stories behind the exhibitions.
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