http://www.google.com/patents?id=mf8dAAAAEBAJ&pg=PP1&dq=RE3070#PPP2,M1

"Be it known that Newman Silverthorn ... has invented ... a tip applicable to boots and shoes, for the protection of the toe part of the same ...

In boots and shoes, particularly those designed for children's wear, and for the wear of farm-laborers or other persons whose occupation requires them often to walk over soil growing certain grasses whose blades are stiff and cutting, as those of most of the western prairies, it has been found necessary to protect the toe portion of the boot or shoe by means of a tip, made of leather, metal, india-rubber, or other substance ..." [emphasis added]




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marsha King" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 11:13 AM
Subject: Query re: steel-toed boots (child sized)


> Fellow HISTARCHers,
> 
> I have been asked to try to quickly (within the next 20 minutes) find a
> date when steel-toed boots began to be manufactured. So far my quick
> Google search has not come up with anything but modern boot sales.
> 
> Does anyone happen to know when steel-toed boots hit the market?
> 
> As a bit of background, apparently a high school class from the towns of
> Perry & Lecompton in NE Kansas found a child-sized steel-toed boot no a
> sand bar in the Kansas River.  They want to know (approximately) how old
> it is.  Unfortunately, the best person locally to answer this question
> is off-work with a medical issue.
> 
> Can anyone help, or do we need to admit to not knowing?
> 
> Marsha
> 
> 
> *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
> 
> Marsha K. King, Archeologist II
> Environmental Services Section, Bureau of Design
> Kansas Department of Transportation
> Eisenhower State Office Building, 700 SW Harrison St.
> Topeka, KS   66603-3745
> Phone - 785-296-8414   Fax - 785-296-8399
> [log in to unmask] 
>