Method and apparatus for use in lasting shoes

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a machine for applying cement to the periphery of an insole that is located on a last bottom and for wiping the entire margin of an upper mounted on the last against the insole to thereby adhesively secure the entire upper margin to the insole.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of lasting comprising: supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart of the shoe assembly lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane that is dependent on the size and style of the shoe assembly; providing a heel section that is located forwardly of the shoe assembly, said heel section incorporating heel wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; initially maintaining the heel wiping means in a retracted position; initially maintaining the heel section in a forward position wherein the heel wiping means is remote from and out of registry with the heel portion of the insole; moving the heel section from its forward position through a compound movement having a first component of movement that has a rearward direction and a second component of movement that has a heightwise direction to a wiping position wherein the heel wiping means is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly with the heel wiping means in registry with the heel portion of the insole while the heel wiping means is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and thereafter moving the heel wiping means in a heel wiping stroke from its retracted position into an advanced position in a substantially planar path parallel to said particular plane to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       2. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising: causing toe wiping means to move through a toe wiping stroke in which it wipes the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       3. The method as defined in claim 2 further comprising: stretching the upper about the last, prior to any of said wiping strokes in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart of the last to stretch the upper about the forepart and toe of the last. 
     
     
       4. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising: adjusting the planar position of the heel wiping means in the heel section, prior to moving the heel section in said compound movement, to cause the heel wiping means to lie in the plane substantially parallel to said particular plane. 
     
     
       5. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane that is dependent on the size and style of the shoe assembly; a heel section located forwardly of the support arrangement, said heel section incorporating heel wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the heel wiping means in the heel section for substantially planar movement in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane between a retracted position and an advanced position; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position; means mounting the heel section for compound movement having a first component of movement that has a rearward direction and a second component of movement that has a heightwise direction; means for initially maintaining the heel section in a forward position wherein the heel wiping means is remote from and out of registry with the heel portion of the insole; means for moving the heel section from its forward position through said compound movement to a wiping position wherein the heel wiping means is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly with the heel wiping means in registry with the heel portion of the insole while the heel wiping means is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the heel wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising: toe wiping means located rearwardly of the support arrangement in registry with the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means mounting the toe wiping means for movement between a retracted position out of engagement with the insole and an advanced position beneath the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means for initially maintaining the toe wiping means in its retracted position; and means for moving the toe wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a toe wiping stroke to wipe the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 further comprising: means, operative prior to any of said wiping strokes, for stretching the upper tightly about the last in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart and toe of the last to stretch the upper about the forepart and toe of the last. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising: powered means moving the heel section through said compound movement; sensing means mounted on the heel section so constructed as to be intersected by the shoe assembly during said compound movement; and control means responsive to the intersection of the sensing means with the shoe assembly to cause the powered means to stop the compound movement with the heel wiping means in said wiping position. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising: means for adjusting the planar position of the heel wiping means in the heel section so as to cause the heel wiping means to lie in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as defined in claim 5: wherein said heel section comprises a heel head mounted for heightwise movement and a slide plate movably mounted in the heel head for forward and rearward movement; wherein the heel wiping means is mounted to the slide plate for movement through said heel wiping stroke; and further comprising: means for moving the heel head together with the slide plate and heel wiping means heightwise, and means for moving the slide plate together with the heel wiping means rearwardly with respect to the heel head, to thereby provide said compound movement. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 further comprising: means mounting the heel wiping means to the slide plate for swinging movement about an axis that is transverse to said direction of forward and rearward movement; and means for adjusting the position of the heel wiping means about said axis to thereby cause the heel wiping means to lie in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane. 
     
     
       12. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a heel head located forwardly of the support arrangement; means mounting the heel head for heightwise movement; a slide plate movably mounted in the heel head for forward and rearward movement; heel wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the heel wiping means to the slide plate for substantially planar movement in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane between a retracted position and an advanced position; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position; a rearwardly directed length sensing member mounted to the slide plate and located above the heel wiping means; an upwardly directed height sensing member mounted to the slide plate and located rearwardly of the length sensing member; means for initially maintaining the heel head in a lowered position and the slide plate in a forward position so that the heel wiping means is in a remote position, out of registry with the heel portion of the insole, that is forward of and lower than the heel portion of the insole; first powered means for moving the slide plate, in unison with the heel wiping means, rearwardly from its forward position with the height sensing member moving beneath the heel portion of the shoe assembly; first control means responsive to the intersection of the length sensing member with the heel portion of the shoe assembly to cause the first powered means to terminate the rearward movement of the slide plate and the heel wiping means; second powered means for applying an upwardly directed force to the heel head in unison with the slide plate and the heel wiping means; means for actuating said second powered means subsequent to the termination of the rearward movement of the slide plate and the heel wiping means to move upwardly from said lowered position; second control means actuable to response to the intersection of the height sensing member with the bottom of the shoe assembly to cause the second powered means to terminate the application of the upwardly directed force to thereby stop the upward movement of the heel head and the heel wiping means; said length sensing member and said height sensing member being so constructed and arranged that at the termination of said upward movement the heel wiping means is in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the heel wiping means from its retracted position to its advanced position through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 further comprising: means mounting the heel wiping means to the slide plate for swinging movement about an axis that is transverse to said direction of forward and rearward movement; and means for adjusting the position of the heel wiping means about said axis to thereby cause the heel wiping means to lie in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 further comprising: toe wiping means located rearwardly of the support arrangement in registry with the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means mounting the toe wiping means for movement between a retracted position out of engagement with the insole and an advanced position beneath the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means for initially maintaining the toe wiping means in its retracted position; and means for moving the toe wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a toe wiping stroke to wipe the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 further comprising: means, operative prior to any of said wiping strokes, for stretching the upper tightly about the last in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart and toe of the last to stretch the upper about the forepart and toe of the last. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the height sensing member is constituted as a heightwise extending pin; and further comprising: a heel rest mounted to the slide plate for movement therewith; means mounting the height sensing pin for heightwise movement in the heel rest; spring means for yieldably urging the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest to a position wherein the top of the height sensing pin is above the top of the heel rest; and wherein the application of said upwardly directed force to the heel head causes the height sensing pin upon its engagement with the insole to move downwardly with respect to the heel rest against the force of the spring means with the heel rest bearing against the heel portion of the insole; and wherein the second control means is so constructed as to be actuated in response to said downward movement of the height sensing pin with respect to the heel rest; whereby the heel rest is enabled to support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the heel wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest and the height sensing pin for heightwise movement with respect to the slide plate; means for initially maintaining the heel rest and the height sensing pin in an upper position with respect to the slide plate in which position the height sensing pin is caused to move into engagement with the insole and the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its heel wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest and height sensing pin from the insole thereby causing the spring means to again urge the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest; and means responsive to the urging of the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, slide plate and heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and forward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 further comprising: a heel clamping pad mounted to the slide plate above the heel wiping means; means for initially maintaining the pad in an open position so located as not to engage the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the upward movement of the heel head; and means, operative after the upward movement of the heel head has stopped and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the pad to close on and bear against the heel portion of the shoe assembly. 
     
     
       20. A lasting apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said length sensing member constitutes a rearwardly directed pin; further comprising: means mounting the length sensing pin to the slide plate for forward and rearward movement with respect to the slide plate; yieldable means urging the length sensing pin rearwardly with respect to the slide plate; and a control member, that is actuable in response to forward movement of the length sensing pin against the force of the yieldable means in response to engagement of the length sensing pin with the heel portion of the shoe assembly, for actuating said first control means. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 further comprising: an upwardly directed heel rest located rearwardly of the heel wiping means in its retracted position and mounted to the slide plate for movement therewith, said heel rest being so constructed and arranged as to bear against the heel portion of the insole upon termination of said upwardly directed force and thereby support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest for heightwise movement with respect to the slide plate; means for initially maintaining the heel rest in an upper position with respect to the slide plate in which position the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest from the insole; and means operative concomitantly with the lowering of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, slide plate and wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and forward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the means mounting the heel wiping means to the slide plate is so constructed as to provide for limited universal movement of the heel wiping means with respect to the slide plate so as to enable heel wiping means during the heel wiping stroke to conform precisely to the plane of the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the means mounting the heel wiping means to the slide plate comprises: means mounting the heel wiping means for movement about two axes that are at right angles to each other and that extend in directions that are substantially parallel to the plane of the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the means mounting the heel wiping means to the slide plate comprises means enabling the heel wiping means to be swung transversely about an upright axis that is transverse to the plane of the heel wiping means to thereby adjust the zone of movement of the heel wiping means during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       27. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a heel head located forwardly of the support arrangement; means mounting the heel head for heightwise movement; a slide plate movably mounted in the heel head for forward and rearward movement; heel wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the heel wiping means to the slide plate for substantially planar movement in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane between a retracted position and an advanced position; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position; means for initially maintaining the heel head in a lowered position and the slide plate in a forward position so that the heel wiping means is in a remote position out of registry with the heel portion of the insole that is forward of and lower than the heel portion of the insole; first powered means for moving the slide plate, in unison with the heel wiping means, rearwardly from its forward position; first control means to cause the first powered means to terminate the rearward movement of the slide plate and heel wiping means; second powered means for applying an upwardly directed force to the heel head in unison with the slide plate and heel wiping means; means for actuating said second powered means subsequent to the termination of the rearward movement of the slide plate and heel wiping means to cause the heel head and heel wiping means to move upwardly from said lowered position; second control means to cause the second powered means to terminate the application of the upwardly directed force to thereby stop the upward movement of the heel head and heel wiping means; said first and second control means being so constructed and arranged that at the termination of said upward movement the heel wiping means is in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the heel wiping means from its retracted position to its advanced position through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus as defined in claim 27 further comprising: means mounting the heel wiping means to the slide plate for swinging movement about an axis that is transverse to said direction of forward and rearward movement; and means for adjusting the position of the heel wiping means about said axis to thereby cause the heel wiping means to lie in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus as defined in claim 27 further comprising: toe wiping means located rearwardly of the support arrangement in registry with the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means mounting the toe wiping means for movement between a retracted position out of engagement with the insole and an advanced position beneath the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means for initially maintaining the toe wiping means in its retracted position; and means for moving the toe wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a toe wiping stroke to wipe the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus as defined in claim 29 further comprising: means, operative prior to any of said wiping strokes, for stretching the upper tightly about the last in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart and toe of the last to stretch the upper about the forepart and toe of the last. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus as defined in claim 27 further comprising: an upwardly directed heel rest located rearwardly of the heel wiping means in its retracted position and mounted to the slide plate for movement therewith, said heel rest being so constructed and arranged as to bear against the heel portion of the insole upon termination of said upwardly directed force and thereby support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus as defined in claim 31 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest for heightwise movement with respect to the slide plate; means for initially maintaining the heel rest in an upper position with respect to the slide plate in which position the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest from the insole; and means operative concomitantly with the lowering of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, slide plate and heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus as defined in claim 32 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and upward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein the means mounting the heel wiping means to the slide plate is so constructed as to provide for limited universal movement of the heel wiping means with respect to the slide plate so as to enable the heel wiping means during the heel wiping stroke to conform precisely to the plane of the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein the means mounting the heel wiping means to the slide plate comprises means mounting the heel wiping means for movement about two axes that are at right angles to each other and that extend in directions that are substantially parallel to the plane of the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein the means mounting the heel wiping means to the slide plate comprises means enabling the heel wiping means to be swung transversely about an upright axis that is right angles to the plane of the heel wiping means to thereby adjust the zone of movement of the heel wiping means during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       37. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a heel head located forwardly of the support arrangement; means mounting the heel head for heightwise movement; a slide arrangement movably mounted in the heel head for forward and rearward movement; a back-up plate located above the slide arrangement; means mounting the back-up plate to the slide arrangement so as to provide for limited universal movement of the back-up plate with respect to the slide arrangement and so as to partake of the forward and rearward movement of the slide arrangement; heel wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up plate for substantially planar movement in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane between a retracted position and an advanced position; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position; a rearwardly directed length sensing member mounted to the back-up plate and located above the heel wiping means; an upwardly directed height sensing member mounted to the slide arrangement and located rearwardly of the length sensing member; means for initially maintaining the heel head in a lowered position and the slide arrangement together with the back-up plate in a forward position so that the heel wiping means is in a remote position, out of registry with the heel portion of the insole, that is forward of and lower than the heel portion of the insole; first powered means for moving the slide arrangement in unison with the back-up plate and the heel wiping means, rearwardly from its forward position with the height sensing member moving beneath the heel portion of the shoe assembly; first control means responsive to the intersection of the length sensing member with the heel portion of the shoe assembly to cause the first powered means to terminate the rearward movement of the slide arrangement, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means; second powered means for applying an upwardly directed force to the heel head in unison with the slide arrangement, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means; means for actuating said second powered means subsequent to the termination of said rearward movement to cause the heel head in unison with the slide arrangement, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means, to move upwardly from said lowered position; second control means actuable in response to the intersection of the height sensing member with the bottom of the shoe assembly to cause the second powered means to terminate the application of the upwardly directed force to thereby stop the upward movement of the heel head, the slide arrangement, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means, said length sensing member and height sensing member being so constructed and arranged that at the termination of said upward movement the heel wiping means is in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the heel wiping means from its retracted position to its advanced position through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole, said means mounting the back-up plate to the slide arrangement enabling the heel wiping means during the heel wiping stroke to conform precisely to the plane of the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom. 
     
     
       38. The apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the slide arrangement comprises: means enabling the back-up plate to have movement with respect to the slide arrangement about two axes that are at right angles to each other and that extend in directions that are substantially parallel to the plane of the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       39. The apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the slide arrangement comprises: a brace pivotally mounted to the slide arrangement for swinging movement about an axis that is transverse to the direction of movement of the heel wiping means in its heel wiping stroke; a strap located forwardly of the brace above the slide arrangement; means pivotally mounting the back of the back-up plate to the brace and the front of the back-up plate to the strap for swinging movement about an axis that extends longitudinally of the direction of movement of the heel wiping means in its heel wiping stroke; and spring means interposed between the slide arrangement and the back-up plate and strap for floatingly mounting the back-up plate to the slide arrangement. 
     
     
       40. The apparatus as defined in claim 37 further comprising: toe wiping means located rearwardly of the support arrangement in registry with the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means mounting the toe wiping means for movement between a retracted position out of engagement with the insole and an advanced position beneath the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means for initially maintaining the toe wiping means in its retracted position; and means for moving the toe wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a toe wiping stroke to wipe the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       41. The apparatus as defined in claim 40 further comprising: means, operative prior to any of said wiping strokes, for stretching the upper tightly about the last in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart and toe of the last to stretch the upper about the forepart and toe of the last. 
     
     
       42. The apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein the height sensing member is constituted as a heightwise extending pin; and further comprising: a heel rest mounted to the slide arrangement for movement therewith; means mounting the height sensing pin for heightwise movement in the heel rest; spring means for yieldably urging the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest to a position wherein the top of the height sensing pin is above the top of the heel rest; and wherein the application of said upwardly directed force to the heel head causes the height sensing pin upon its engagement with the insole to move downwardly with respect to the heel rest against the force of the spring means with the heel rest bearing against the heel portion of the insole; and wherein the second control means is so constructed as to be actuated in response to said downward movement of the height sensing pin with respect to the heel rest; whereby the heel rest is enabled to support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       43. The apparatus as defined in claim 42 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the heel wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest and the height sensing pin for heightwise movement in the slide arrangement; means for initially maintaining the heel rest and the height sensing pin in a upper position with respect to the slide arrangement in which position the height sensing pin is caused to move into engagement with the insole and the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its heel wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest and height sensing pin from the insole thereby causing the spring means to again urge the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest; and means responsive to the urging of the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide arrangement and the heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       44. The apparatus as defined in claim 43 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide arrangement to partake of the rearward and upward movement of the slide arrangement; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       45. The apparatus as defined in claim 37 further comprising: a heel clamping pad mounted to the back-up plate above the heel wiping means; means for initially maintaining the pad in an open position so located as not to engage the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the upward movement of the heel head; and means, operative after the upward movement of the heel head has stopped and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the pad to close on and bear against the heel portion of the shoe assembly. 
     
     
       46. A lasting apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein said length sensing member constitutes a rearwardly directed pin; further comprising: means mounting the length sensing pin to the back-up plate for forward and rearward movement with respect to the back-up plate; yieldable urging the length sensing pin rearwardly with respect to the back-up plate; and a control member, that is actuable in response to forward movement of the length sensing pin against the force of the yieldable means in response to engagement of the length sensing pin with the heel portion of the shoe assembly, for actuating said first control means. 
     
     
       47. The apparatus as defined in claim 37 further comprising: an upwardly directed heel rest located rearwardly of the heel wiping means in its retracted position and mounted to the slide arrangement for movement therewith, said heel rest being so constructed and arranged as to bear against the heel portion of the insole upon termination of said upwardly directed force and thereby support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       48. The apparatus as defined in claim 47 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest for heightwise movement with respect to the slide arrangement; means for initially maintaining the heel rest in an upper position with respect to the slide arrangement in which position the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest from the insole; and means operative concomitantly with the lowering of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide arrangement, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       49. The apparatus as defined in claim 48 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide arrangement to partake of the rearward and upward movement of the slide arrangement; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       50. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a predetermined plane; a heel head located forwardly of the support arrangement; means mounting the heel head for heightwise movement; a slide arrangement movably mounted in the heel head for forward and rearward movement; a back-up plate located above the slide arrangement; means mounting the back-up plate to the slide arrangement so as to provide for limited universal movement of the back-up plate with respect to the slide arrangement and so as to partake of the forward and rearward movement of the slide arrangement; heel wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up plate for substantially planar movement in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane between a retracted position and an advanced position; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position; means for initially maintaining the heel head in a lowered position and the slide arrangement together with the back-up plate in a forward position so that the heel wiping means is in a remote position, out of registry with the heel portion of the insole, that is forward of and lower than the heel portion of the insole; first powered means for moving the slide arrangement, in unison with the back-up plate and the heel wiping means, rearwardly from its forward position; first control means to cause the first powered means to terminate the rearward movement of the slide arrangement, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means; second powered means for applying an upwardly directed force to the heel head in unison with the slide arrangement, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means; means for actuating said second powered means subsequent to the termination of said rearward movement to cause the heel head, in unison with the slide arrangement, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means, to move upwardly from said lowered position; second control means to cause the second powered means to terminate the application of the upwardly directed force to thereby stop the upward movement of the heel head, the slide arrangement, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means, said first and second control means being so constructed and arranged that at the termination of said upward movement the heel wiping means is in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the heel wiping means from its retracted position to its advanced position through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole, said means mounting the back-up plate to the slide arrangement enabling the heel wiping means during the heel wiping stroke to conform precisely to the plane of the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom. 
     
     
       51. The apparatus as defined in claim 50 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the slide arrangement comprises: means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up plate for movement about two axes that are at right angles to each other and that extend in directions that are substantially parallel to the plane of the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       52. The apparatus as defined in claim 50 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the slide arrangement comprises: a brace pivotally mounted to the slide arrangement for swinging movement about an axis that is transverse to the direction of movement of the heel wiping means in its heel wiping stroke; a strap located forwardly of the brace above the support arrangement; means pivotally mounting the back of the back-up plate to the brace and the front of the back-up plate to the strap for swinging movement about an axis that extends longitudinally of the direction of movement of the heel wiping means in its heel wiping stroke; and spring means interposed between the slide arrangement and the back-up plate and strap for floatingly mounting the back-up plate to the slide arrangement. 
     
     
       53. The apparatus as defined in claim 50 further comprising: toe wiping means located rearwardly of the support arrangement in registry with the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means mounting the toe wiping means for movement between a retracted position out of engagement with the insole and an advanced position beneath the toe and forepart position of the insole; means for initially maintaining the toe wiping means in its retracted position; and means for moving the toe wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a toe wiping stroke to wipe the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       54. The apparatus as defined in claim 54 further comprising: means, operative prior to any of said wiping strokes, for stretching the upper tightly about the last in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart and toe of the last to stretch the upper about the forepart and toe of the last. 
     
     
       55. The apparatus as defined in claim 50 further comprising: an upwardly directed heel located rearwardly of the heel wiping means in its retracted position and mounted to the slide arrangement for movement therewith, said heel rest being so constructed and arranged as to bear against the heel portion of the insole upon termination of said upwardly directed force and thereby support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       56. The apparatus as defined in claim 55 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the heel wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest for heightwise movement with respect to the slide arrangement; means for initially maintaining the heel rest in an upper position with respect to the slide arrangement in which position the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest from the insole; and means operative concomitantly with the lowering of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide arrangement and the heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       57. The apparatus as defined in claim 56 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide arrangement to partake of the rearward and upward movement of the slide arrangement; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       58. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a heel head located forwardly of the support arrangement; means mounting the heel head for heightwise movement; a slide plate moveably mounted in the heel head for forward and rearward movement; a back-up arrangement pivoted to the slide plate for swinging movement about an axis that is transverse to said direction of forward and rearward movement and for movement in unison with the slide plate; adjusting means for adjusting the position of the back-up arrangement about said axis; substantially planar heel wiping means; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up arrangement for planar movement between a retracted position and an advanced position, said adjusting means serving to locate the heel wiping means in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position; a rearwardly directed length sensing member mounted to the back-up arrangement and located above the heel wiping means; an upwardly directed height sensing member mounted to the back-up arrangement and located rearwardly of the length sensing member; means for initially maintaining the heel head in a lowered position and the slide plate in a forward position so that the heel wiping means is in a remote position, out of registry with the heel portion of the insole, that is forward of and lower than the heel portion of the insole; first powered means for moving the slide plate, in unison with the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means, rearwardly from its forward position with the height sensing member moving beneath the heel portion of the shoe assembly; first control means responsive to the intersection of the length sensing member with the heel portion of the shoe assembly to cause the first powered means to terminate the rearward movement of the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means; second powered means for applying an upwardly directed force to the heel head in unison with the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means; means for actuating said second powered means subsequent to the termination of the rearward movement of the side plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means to cause the heel head in unison with the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means to move upwardly from said lowered position; second control means actuable in response to the intersection of the height sensing member with the bottom of the shoe assembly to cause the second powered means to terminate the application of the upwardly directed force to thereby stop the upward movement of the heel head, the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means, said length sensing member and height sensing member being so constructed and arranged that at the termination of said upward movement the heel wiping means is in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the heel wiping means from its retracted position to its advanced position through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       59. The apparatus as defined in claim 58 further comprising: a pivotal connection of the rear of the back-up arrangement to the rear of the slide plate; and wherein said adjusting means comprises: a cut-out in the back-up arrangement located forwardly of said pivotal connection; a cap so mounted in the cut-out as to enable the back-up arrangement to swing about said pivotal connection in response to heightwise movement of the cap; and means for effecting heightwise movement of the cap. 
     
     
       60. The apparatus as defined in claim 58 further comprising: toe wiping means located rearwardly of the support arrangement in registry with the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means mounting the toe wiping means for movement between a retracted position out of engagement with the insole and an advanced position beneath the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means for initially maintaining the toe wiping means in its retracted position; and means for moving the toe wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a toe wiping stroke to wipe the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       61. The apparatus as defined in claim 60 further comprising: means, operative prior to any of said wiping strokes, for stretching the upper tightly about the last in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart and toe of the last to stretch the upper about the forepart and toe of the last. 
     
     
       62. The apparatus as defined in claim 58 wherein the height sensing member is constituted as a heightwise extending pin; and further comprising: a heel rest mounted to the back-up arrangement for movement therewith; means mounting the height sensing pin for heightwise movement in the heel rest; spring means for yieldably urging the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest to a position wherein the top of the height sensing pin is above the top of the heel rest; wherein the application of said upwardly directed force to the heel head causes the height sensing pin upon its engagement with the insole to move downwardly with respect to the heel rest against the force of the spring means with the heel rest bearing against the heel portion of the insole; and wherein the second control means is so constructed as to be actuated in response to said downward movement of the height sensing pin with respect to the heel rest; whereby the heel rest is enabled to support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       63. The apparatus as defined in claim 62 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the heel wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest and the height sensing pin for heightwise movement with respect to the back-up arrangement; means for initially maintaining the heel rest and the height sensing pin in an upper position with respect to the back-up arrangement in which position the height sensing pin is caused to move into engagement with the insole and the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its heel wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest and height sensing pin from the insole thereby causing the spring means to again urge the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest; and means responsive to the urging of the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide plate and the heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       64. The apparatus as defined in claim 63 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and upward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper portion with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       65. The apparatus as defined in claim 58 further comprising: a heel clamping pad mounted to the back-up arrangement above the heel wiping means; means for initially maintaining the pad in an open position so located as not to engage the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the upward movement of the heel head; and means, operative after the upward movement of the heel head has stopped and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the pad to close on and bear against the heel portion of the shoe assembly. 
     
     
       66. A lasting apparatus as defined in claim 58 wherein said length sensing member constitutes a rearwardly directed pin; further comprising: means mounting the length sensing pin to the back-up arrangement for forward and rearward movement with respect to the back-up arrangement; yieldable means urging the length sensing pin rearwardly with respect to the back-up arrangement; and a control member, that is actuable in response to forward movement of the length sensing pin against the force of the yieldable means in response to engagement of the length sensing pin with the heel portion of the shoe assembly, for actuating said first control means. 
     
     
       67. The apparatus as defined in claim 58 further comprising: an upwardly directed heel rest located rearwardly of the heel wiping means in its retracted position and mounted to the back-up arrangement for movement therewith, said heel rest being so constructed and arranged as to bear against the heel portion of the insole upon termination of said upwardly directed force and thereby support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       68. The apparatus as defined in claim 67 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the heel wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest for heightwise movement with respect to the back-up arrangement; means for initially maintaining the heel rest in an upper position with respect to the back-up arrangement in which position the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest from the insole; and means operative concomitantly with the lowering of the heel rest to cause the secured control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       69. The apparatus as defined in claim 68 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and upward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       70. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a heel head located forwardly of the support arrangement; means mounting the heel head for heightwise movement; a slide plate movably mounted in the heel head for forward and rearward movement; a back-up arrangement pivoted to the slide plate for swinging movement about an axis that is transverse to said direction of forward and rearward movement and for movement in unison with the slide plate; adjusting means for adjusting the position of the back-up arrangement about said axis; substantially planar heel wiping means; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up arrangement for planar movement between a retracted position and an advanced position, said adjusting means serving to locate the heel wiping means in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position; means for initially maintaining the heel head in a lowered position and the slide plate in a remote position, out of registry with the heel portion of the insole, that is forward of and lower than the heel portion of the insole; first powered means for moving the slide plate, in unison with the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means, rearwardly from its forward position; first control means to cause the first powered means to terminate the rearward movement of the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means; second powered means for applying an upwardly directed force to the heel head in unison with the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means; means for actuating said second powered means subsequent to the termination of the rearward movement of the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means to cause the heel head in unison with the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means to move upwardly from said lowered position; second control means to cause the second powered means to terminate the application of the upwardly directed force to thereby stop the upward movement of the heel head, the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means; said first and second control means being so constructed and arranged that at the termination of said upward movement the heel wiping means is in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the heel wiping means from its retracted position to its advanced position through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       71. The apparatus as defined in claim 70 further comprising: a pivotal connection of the rear of the back-up arrangement to the rear of the slide plate; and wherein said adjusting means comprises: a cut-out in the back-up arrangement located forwardly of said pivotal connection; a cap so mounted in the cut-out as to enable the back-up arrangement to swing about said pivotal connection in response to heightwise movement of the cap; and means for effecting heightwise movement of the cap. 
     
     
       72. The apparatus as defined in claim 70 further comprising: toe wiping means located rearwardly of the support arrangement in registry with the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means mounting the toe wiping means for movement between a retracted position out of engagement with the insole and an advanced position beneath the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means for initially maintaining the toe wiping means in its retracted position; and means for moving the toe wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a toe wiping stroke to wipe the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       73. The apparatus as defined in claim 72 further comprising: means, operative prior to any of said wiping strokes, for stretching the upper tightly about the last in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart and toe of the last to stretch the upper about the forepart and toe of the last. 
     
     
       74. The apparatus as defined in claim 70 further comprising: an upwardly directed heel rest located rearwardly of the heel wiping means in its retracted position and mounted to the slide plate for movement therewith, said heel rest being so constructed and arranged as to bear against the heel portion of the insole upon termination of said upwardly direct force and thereby support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       75. The apparatus as defined in claim 74 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest for heightwise movement with respect to the slide plate; means for initially maintaining the heel rest in an upper position with respect to the slide plate in which position the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest from the insole; and means operative concomitantly with the lowering of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       76. The apparatus as defined in claim 75 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and upward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       77. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a heel head located forwardly of the support arrangement; means mounting the heel head for heightwise movement; a slide plate movably mounted in the heel head for forward and rearward movement; a back-up arrangement adapted to move in unison with the slide plate; heel wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up arrangement for substantially planar movement in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane in a heel wiping stroke between a retracted forward position and an advanced rearward position; means mounting the back-up arrangement to the side plate for swinging movement about an upright axis that is rearward of the heel wiping means in its retracted position; adjusting means for adjusting the position of the back-up arrangement together with the heel wiping means about said axis to thereby so position the heel wiping means that its zone of movement during the heel wiping stroke will be symmetrical with respect to the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position; a rearwardly directed length sensing member mounted to the back-up arrangement and located above the heel wiping means; an upwardly directed height sensing member mounted to the back-up arrangement and located rearwardly of the length sensing member; means for initially maintaining the heel head in a lowered position and the slide plate in a forward position so that the heel wiping means is in a remote position, out of registry with the heel portion of the insole, that is forward of and lower than the heel portion of the insole; first powered means for moving the slide plate, in unison with the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means, rearwardly from its forward position with the height sensing member moving beneath the heel portion of the shoe assembly; first control means responsive to the intersection of the length sensing member with the heel portion of the shoe assembly to cause the first powered means to terminate the rearward movement of the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means; second powered means for applying an upwardly directed force to the heel head in unison with the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means; means for actuating the second powered means subsequent to the termination of the rearward movement of the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means to cause the heel head, the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means to move upwardly from said lowered position; second control means actuable in response to the intersection of the height sensing member with the bottom of the shoe assembly to cause the second powered means to terminate the application of the upwardly directed force to thereby stop the upward movement of the heel head, the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means; said length sensing member and height sensing member being so constructed and arranged that at the termination of said upward movement the heel wiping means is in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the heel wiping means through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       78. The apparatus as defined in claim 77 wherein the means mounting the back-up arrangement to the slide plate comprises: a plurality of curved slots in the slide plate having a common center of curvature that coincides with said upright axis; a guide member that is movable received in each slot; and means connecting each guide member to the back-up arrangement. 
     
     
       79. The apparatus as defined in claim 77 wherein said adjusting means comprises: a rod located on each side of the back-up arrangement: means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the back-up arrangement; drive means actuable to concomitantly move one of the rods forwardly and the other of the rods rearwardly; and stop means to limit the extent the rods may be moved in response to the actuation of the drive means. 
     
     
       80. The apparatus as defined in claim 79 wherein said stop means comprises: a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; and means connecting the plunger to the back-up arrangement. 
     
     
       81. The apparatus as defined in claim 77 wherein said adjusting means comprises: a reversible motor located on each side of the back-up arrangement, each motor incorporating a rod that is movable in response to actuation of the motor; means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the back-up arrangement; control means for the motors actuatable to cause the motors to concomitantly move one rod forwardly and the other rod rearwardly; a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; and means connecting the plunger to the back-up arrangement. 
     
     
       82. The apparatus as defined in claim 77 further comprising: toe wiping means located rearwardly of the support arrangement in registry with the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means mounting the toe wiping means for movement between a retracted position out of engagement with the insole and an advanced position beneath the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means for initially maintaining the toe wiping means in its retracted position; and means for moving the toe wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a toe wiping stroke to wipe the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       83. The apparatus as defined in claim 82 further comprising: means, operative prior to any of said wiping strokes, for stretching the upper tightly about the last in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart and toe of the last to stretch the upper about the fore part and toe of the last. 
     
     
       84. The apparatus as defined in claim 77 wherein the height sensing member is constituted as a heightwise extending pin; and further comprising: a heel rest mounted to the back-up arrangement for movement therewith; means mounting the height sensing pin for heightwise movement in the heel rest; spring means for yieldably urging the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest to a position wherein the top of the height sensing pin is above the top of the heel rest; wherein the application of said upwardly directed force to the heel head causes the height sensing pin upon its engagement with the insole to move downwardly with respect to the heel rest against the force of the spring means with the heel rest bearing against the heel portion of the insole; and wherein the second control means is so constructed as to be actuated in response to said downward movement of the height sensing pin with respect to the heel rest; whereby the heel rest is enabled to support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       85. The apparatus as defined in claim 84 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the heel wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest and the height sensing pin for heightwise movement with respect to the slide plate; means for initially maintaining the heel rest and the height sensing pin in an upper position with respect to the back-up arrangement in which position the height sensing pin is caused to move into engagement with the insole and the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its heel wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest and height sensing pin from the insole thereby causing the spring means to again urge the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest; and means responsive to the urging of the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       86. The apparatus as defined in claim 85 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and forward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       87. The apparatus as defined in claim 77 further comprising: a heel clamping pad mounted to the back-up arrangement above the heel wiping means; means for initially maintaining the pad in an open position so located as not to engage the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the upward movement of the heel head; and means, operative after the upward movement of the heel head has stopped and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the pad to close on and bear against the heel portion of the shoe assembly. 
     
     
       88. A lasting apparatus as defined in claim 77 wherein said length sensing member constitutes a rearwardly directed pin; further comprising: means mounting the length sensing pin to the back-up arrangement for forward and rearward movement with respect to the back-up arrangement; yieldable means urging the length sensing pin rearwardly with respect to the back-up arrangement; and a control member, that is actuable in response to forward movement of the length sensing pin against the force of the yieldable means in response to engagement of the length sensing pin with the heel portion of the shoe assembly, for actuating said first control means. 
     
     
       89. The apparatus as defined in claim 77 further comprising: an upwardly directed heel rest located rearwardly of the heel wiping means in its retracted position and mounted to the back-up arrangement for movement therewith, said heel rest being so constructed and arranged as to bear against the heel portion of the insole upon termination of said upwardly directed force and thereby support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       90. The apparatus as defined in claim 89 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest for heightwise movement with respect to the back-up arrangement; means for initally maintaining the heel rest in an upper position with respect to the back-up arrangement in which position the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest from the insole; and means operative concomitantly with the lowering of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       91. The apparatus as defined in claim 90 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and forward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       92. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a heel head located forwardly of the support arrangement; means mounting the heel head for heightwise movement; a slide plate movably mounted in the heel head for forward and rearward movement; a back-up arrangement adapted to move in unison with the slide plate; heel wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up arrangement for substantially planar movement in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane in a heel wiping stroke between a retracted forward position and an advanced rearward position; means mounting the back-up arrangement to the slide plate for swinging movement about an upright axis that is rearward of the heel wiping means in its retracted position; adjusting means for adjusting the position of the back-up arrangement together with the heel wiping means about said axis to thereby with the heel wiping means that its zone of movement during the heel wiping stroke will be symmetrical with respect to the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position; means for initially maintaining the heed head in a lowered position and the slide plate in a forward position so that the heel wiping means is in a remote position, out of registry with the heel portion of the insole, that is forward of and lower than the heel portion of the insole; first powered means for moving the slide plate, in unison with the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means, rearwardly from its forward position; first control means to cause the first powered means to terminate the rearward movement of the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means; second powered means for applying an upwardly directed force to the heel head in unison with the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means; means for actuating said second powered means subsequent to the termination of the rearward movement of the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means to cause the heel head, the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means to move upwardly from said lowered position; second control means to cause the second powered means to terminate the application of the upwardly directed force to thereby stop the upward movement of the heel head, the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means; said first and second control means being so constructed and arranged that at the termination of said upward movement the heel wiping means is in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the wiping means through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       93. The apparatus as defined in claim 92 wherein the means mounting the back-up arrangement to the slide plate comprises: a plurality of curved slots in the slide plate having a common center of curvature that conicides with said upright axis; a guide member that is movably received in each slot; and means connecting each guide member to the back-up arrangement. 
     
     
       94. The apparatus as defined in claim 92 wherein said adjusting means comprises: a rod located on each side of the back-up arrangement; means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the back-up arrangement; drive means actuable to concomitantly move one of the rods forwardly and the other of the rods rearwardly; and stop means to limit the extent the rods may be moved in response to the actuation of the drive means. 
     
     
       95. The apparatus as defined in claim 94 wherein said stop means comprises: a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; and means connecting the plunger to the back-up arrangement. 
     
     
       96. The apparatus as defined in claim 92 wherein said adjusting means comprises: a reversible motor located on each side of the back-up arrangement, each motor incorporating a rod that is movable in response to actuation of the motor; means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the back-up arrangement; control means for the motors actuable to cause the motors to concomitantly move one rod forwardly and the other rod rearwardly; a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; and means connecting the plunger to the back-up arrangement. 
     
     
       97. The apparatus as defined in claim 92 further comprising: toe wiping means located rearwardly of the support arrangement in registry with the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means mounting the toe wiping means for movement between a retracted position out of engagement with the insole and an advanced position beneath the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means for initially maintaining the toe wiping means in its retracted position; and means for moving the toe wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a toe wiping stroke to wipe the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       98. The apparatus as defined in claim 97 further comprising: means, operative prior to any of said wiping strokes, for stretching the upper tightly about the last in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart and toe of the last to stretch the upper about the forepart and toe of the last. 
     
     
       99. The apparatus as defined in claim 92 further comprising: an upwardly directed heel rest located rearwardly of the heel wiping means in its retracted position and mounted to the slide plate for movement therewith, said heel rest being so constructed and arranged as to bear against the heel portion of the insole upon termination of said upwardly directed force and thereby support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       100. The apparatus as defined in claim 99 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest for heightwise movement with respect to the slide plate; means for initially maintaining the heel rest in an upper position with respect to the slide plate in which position the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest from the insole; and means operative concomitantly with the lowering of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide plate, the back-up arrangement and the heel wiping means so that the heel wiping portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       101. The apparatus as defined in claim 100 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and forward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       102. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a heel head located forwardly of the support arrangement; means mounting the heel head for heightwise movement; a slide plate movably mounted in the heel head for forward and rearward movement; an adjustment plate pivoted to the slide plate for swinging movement about a first axis that is transverse to said direction of forward and rearward movement and for movement in unison with the slide plate; first adjusting means for adjusting the position of the adjustment plate about said first axis; a back-up plate located above the adjustment plate; means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate so as to provide for limited universal movement of the back-up plate with respect to the adjustment plate and so as to partake of the forward and rearward movement of the slide plate and adjustment plate; heel wiping means; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up plate for planar movement in a heel wiping stroke between a retracted forward position and an advanced rearward position, said first adjusting means serving to locate the heel wiping means in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the adjustment plate to the slide plate for swinging movement about a second upright axis that is rearward of the heel wiping means in its retracted position; second adjusting means for adjusting the position of the adjustment plate together with the back-up plate and the heel wiping means about said second axis to thereby so position the heel wiping means that its zone of movement during the heel wiping stroke will be symmetrical with respect to the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position; a rearwardly directed length sensing member mounted ot the back-up plate and located above the heel wiping means; an upwardly directed height sensing member mounted to the adjustment plate and located rearwardly of the length sensing member; means for initially maintaining the heel head in a lowered position and the slide plate in a forward position so that the heel wiping means is in a remote position, out of registry with the heel portion of the insole, that is forward of and lower than the heel portion of the insole; first powered means for moving the slide plate, in unison with the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means, rearwardly from its forward position with the height sensing member moving beneath the heel portion of the shoe assembly; first control means responsive to the intersection of the length sensing member with the heel portion of the shoe assembly to cause the first powered means to terminate the rearward movement of the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means; second powered means for applying an upwardly directed force to the heel head in unison with the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means; means for actuating the second powered means subsequent to the termination of the rearward movement of the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means to cause the heel head, the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means to move upwardly from said lowered position; second control means actuable in response to the intersection of the height sensing member with the bottom of the shoe assembly to cause the second powered means to terminate the application of the upwardly directed force to thereby stop the upward movement of the heel head, the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means; said length sensing member and height sensing member being so constructed and arranged that at the termination of said upward movement the heel wiping means is in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the heel wiping means through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole, said means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate enabling the heel wiping means to conform precisely to the plane of the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom. 
     
     
       103. The apparatus as defined in claim 102 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate comprises: means enabling the back-up plate to have movement with respect to the adjustment plate about two axes that are at right angles to each other and that extend in directions that are substantially parallel to the plane of the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       104. The apparatus as defined in claim 102 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate comprises: a brace pivotally mounted to the adjustment plate for swinging movement about the axis that is transverse to the direction of movement of the heel wiping means in its heel wiping stroke; a strap located forwardly of the brace above the adjustment plate; means pivotally mounting the back of the back-up plate to the brace and the front of the back-up plate to the strap for swinging movement about an axis that extends longitudinally of the direction of movement of the heel wiping means in its heel wiping stroke; and spring means interposed between the adjustment plate and the back-up plate and strap for floatingly mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate. 
     
     
       105. The apparatus as defined in claim 102 further comprising: a pivotal connection of the rear of the adjustment plate to the rear of the slide plate; and wherein said adjusting means comprises: a cut-out in the adjustment plate located forwardly of said pivoted connection; a cap so mounted in the cut-out as to enable the adjustment plate to swing about said pivotal connection in response to heightwise movement of the cap; and means for effecting heightwise movement of the cap. 
     
     
       106. The apparatus as defined in claim 102 wherein the means mounting the adjustment plate to the slide plate comprises: a plurality of curved slots in the slide plate having a common center of curvature that coincides with said second axis; a guide member that is movably received in each slot; and means connecting each guide member to the adjustment plate. 
     
     
       107. The apparatus as defined in claim 102 wherein said second adjusting means comprises: a rod located on each side of the adjustment plate; means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the adjustment plate; drive means actuable to concomitantly move one of the rods forwardly and the other of the rods rearwardly; and stop means to limit the extent the rods may be moved in response to the actuation of the drive means. 
     
     
       108. The apparatus as defined in claim 107 wherein said stop means comprises: a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; and means connecting the plunger to the adjustment plate. 
     
     
       109. The apparatus as defined in claim 102 wherein said second adjusting means comprises: a reversible motor located on each side of the adjustment plate; each motor incorporating a rod that is movable in response to actuation of the motor; means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the adjustment plate; control means for the motors actuable to cause the motors to concomitantly move one rod forwardly and the other rod rearwardly; a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; and means connecting the plunger to the adjustment plate. 
     
     
       110. The apparatus as defined in claim 102 further comprising: toe wiping means located rearwardly of the support arrangement in registry with the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means mounting the toe wiping means for movement between a retracted position out of engagement with the insole and an advanced position beneath the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means for initially maintaining the toe wiping means in its retracted position; and means for moving the toe wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a toe wiping stroke to wipe the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       111. The apparatus as defined in claim 110 further comprising: means, operative prior to any of said wiping strokes, for stretching the upper tightly about the last in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart and toe of the last to stretch the upper about the forepart and toe of the last. 
     
     
       112. The apparatus as defined in claim 102 wherein the height sensing member is constituted as a heightwise extending pin; and further comprising: a heel rest mounted to the adjustment plate for movement therewith; means mounting the height sensing pin for heightwise movement in the heel rest; spring means for yieldably urging the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest to a position wherein the top of the height sensing pin is above the top of the heel rest; wherein the application of said upwardly directed force to the heel head causes the height sensing pin upon its engagement with the insole to move downwardly with respect to the heel rest against the force of the spring means with the heel rest bearing against the heel portion of the insole; and wherein the second control means is so constructed as to be actuated in response to said downward movement of the height sensing pin with respect to the heel rest; whereby the heel rest is enabled to support the heel portion of the show assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       113. The apparatus as defined in claim 112 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the heel wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest and the height sensing pin for heightwise movement with respect to the adjustment plate; means for initially maintaining the heel rest and the height sensing pin in an upper position with respect to the adjustment plate in which position the height sensing pin is caused to move into engagement with the insole and the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its heel wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest and height sensing pin from the insole thereby causing the spring means to again urge the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest; and means responsive to the urging of the height sensing pin upwardly of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       114. The apparatus as defined in claim 113 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and forward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       115. The apparatus as defined in claim 102 further comprising: a heel clamping pad mounted to the back-up plate above the heel wiping means; means for initially maintaining the pad in an open position so located as not to engage the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the upward movement of the heel head; and means, operative after the upward movement of the heel head has stopped and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the pad to close on and bear against the heel portion of the shoe assembly. 
     
     
       116. A lasting apparatus as defined in claim 102 wherein said length sensing member constitutes a rearwardly directed pin; further comprising: means mounting the length sensing pin to the back-up plate for forward and rearward movement with respect to the back-up plate; yieldable means urging the length sensing pin rearwardly with respect to the back-up plate; and a control member, that is actuable in response to forward movement of the length sensing pin against the force of the yieldable means in response to engagement of the length sensing pin with the heel portion of the shoe assembly, for actuating said first control means. 
     
     
       117. The apparatus as defined in claim 102 further comprising: an upwardly directed heel rest located rearwardly of the heel wiping means in its retracted position and mounted to the adjustment plate for movement therewith, said heel rest being so constructed and arranged as to bear against the heel portion of the insole upon termination of said upwardly directed force and thereby support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       118. The apparatus as defined in claim 117 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest for heightwise movement with respect to the adjustment plate; means for initially maintaining the heel rest in an upper position with respect to the adjustment plate in which position the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest from the insole; and means operative concomitantly with the lowering of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       119. The apparatus as defined in claim 118 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and forward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with rspect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       120. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with at least the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a heel head located forwardly of the support arrangement; means mounting the heel head for heightwise movement; a slide plate movably mounted in the heel head for forward and rearward movement; an adjustment plate pivoted to the slide plate for swinging movement about a first axis that is transverse to said direction of forward and rearward movement and for movement in unison with the slide plate; first adjusting means for adjusting the position of the adjustment plate about said first axis; a back-up plate located above the adjustment plate; means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate so as to provide for limited universal movement of the back-up plate with respect to the adjustment plate and so as to partake of the forward and rearward movement of the slide plate and adjustment plate; heel wiping means; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up plate for planar movement in a heel wiping stroke between a retracted forward position and an advanced rearward position, said first adjusting means serving to locate the heel wiping means in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the adjustment plate to the slide plate for swinging movement about a second upright axis that is rearward of the heel wiping means in its retracted position; second adjusting means for adjusting the position of the adjustment plate together with the back-up plate and the heel wiping means about said second axis to thereby so position the heel wiping means that its zone of movement during the heel wiping stroke will be symmetrical with respect to the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position; means for initially maintaining the heel head in a lowered position and the slide plate in a forward position so that the heel wiping means is in a remote position, out of registry with the heel portion of the insole, that is forward of and lower than the heel portion of the insole; first powered means for moving the slide plate, in unison with the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means, rearwardly from its forward position; first control means to cause the first powered means to terminate the rearward movement of the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means; second powered means for applying an upwardly directed force to the heel head in unison with the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means; means for actuating the second powered means subsequent to the termination of the rearward movement of the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means to cause the heel head, the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means to move upwardly from said lowered position; second control means to cause the second powered means to terminate the application of the upwardly directed force to thereby stop the upward movement of the heel head, the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means; said first and second control means being so constructed and arranged that at the termination of said upward movement the heel wiping means is in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the heel wiping means through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole, said means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate enabling the heel wiping means to conform precisely to the plane of the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom. 
     
     
       121. The apparatus as defined in claim 120 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate comprises: means enabling the back-up plate to have movement with respect to the adjustment plate about two axes that are at right angles to each other and that extend in directions that are substantially parallel to the plane of the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       122. The apparatus as defined in claim 120 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate comprises: a brace pivotally mounted to the adjustment plate for swinging movement about an axis that is transverse to the direction of movement of the heel wiping means in its heel wiping stroke; a strap located forwardly of the brace above the adjustment plate; means pivotally mounting the back of the back-up plate to the brace and the front of the back-up plate to the strap for swinging movement about an axis that extends longitudinally of the direction of movement of the heel wiping means in its heel wiping stroke; and spring means interposed between the adjustment plate and the back-up plate and strap for floatingly mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate. 
     
     
       123. The apparatus as defined in claim 120 further comprising: a pivotal connection of the rear of the adjustment plate to the rear of the slide plate; and wherein said adjusting means comprises: a cut-out in the adjustment plate located forwardly of said pivotal connection; a cap so mounted in the cut-out as to enable the adjustment plate to swing about said pivotal connection in response to heightwise movement of the cap; and means for effecting heightwise movement of the cap. 
     
     
       124. The apparatus as defined in claim 120 wherein the means mounting the adjustment plate to the slide plate comprises: a plurality of curved slots in the slide plate having a common center of curvature that coincides with said second axis; a guide member that is movably received in each slot; and means connecting each guide member to the adjustment plate. 
     
     
       125. The apparatus as defined in claim 120 wherein said second adjusting means comprises: a rod located on each side of the adjustment plate; means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the adjustment plate; drive means actuable to concomitantly move one of the rods forwardly and the other of the rods rearwardly; and stop means to limit the extent of the rods may be moved in response to the actuation of the drive means. 
     
     
       126. The apparatus as defined in claim 125 wherein said stop means comprises: a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; and means connecting the plunger to the adjustment plate. 
     
     
       127. The apparatus as defined in claim 120 wherein said second adjusting means comprises: a reversible motor located on each side of the adjustment plate, each motor incorporating a rod that is movable in response to actuation of the motor; means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the adjustment plate; control means for the motors actuable to cause the motors to concomitantly move one rod forwardly and the other rod rearwardly; a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; and means connecting the plunger to the adjustment plate. 
     
     
       128. The apparatus as defined in claim 120 further comprising: toe wiping means located rearwardly of the support arrangement in registry with the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means mounting the toe wiping means for movement between a retracted position out of engagement with the insole and an advanced position beneath the toe and forepart portion of the insole; means for initially maintaining the toe wiping means in its retracted position; and means for moving the toe wiping means from its retracted to its advanced position through a toe wiping stroke to wipe the toe and forepart portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
       129. The apparatus as defined in claim 128 further comprising: means, operative prior to any of said wiping strokes, for stretching the upper tightly about the last in such a manner that the upper is pulled in a heel to toe direction to stretch the upper about the heel of the last and is also pulled downwardly about the forepart and toe of the last to stretch the upper about the forepart and toe of the last. 
     
     
       130. The apparatus as defined in claim 120 further comprising: an upwardly directed heel rest located rearwardly of the heel wiping means in its retracted position and mounted to the adjustment plate for movement therewith, said heel rest being so constructed and arranged as to bear against the heel portion of the insole upon termination of said upwardly directed force and thereby support the heel portion of the shoe assembly during the heel wiping stroke. 
     
     
       131. The apparatus as defined in claim 130 further comprising: a heel hold-down located above the shoe assembly; means, operative after the arrival of the heel wiping means in said wiping position and prior to the heel wiping stroke, to cause the heel hold-down to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means mounting the heel rest for heightwise movement with respect to the slide plate; means for initially maintaining the heel rest in an upper position with respect to the slide plate in which position the heel rest is caused to bear against the insole; means, operative after the heel wiping means has commenced its wiping stroke and has moved under the insole, to lower the heel rest from the insole; and means operative concomitantly with the lowering of the heel rest to cause the second control means to resume the application of the upwardly directed force to the heel head, the slide plate, the adjustment plate, the back-up plate and the heel wiping means so that the heel portion of the shoe assembly is held between the heel hold-down and the heel wiping means. 
     
     
       132. The apparatus as defined in claim 131 further comprising: brace means connected to the slide plate to partake of the rearward and forward movement of the slide plate; means mounting the heel hold-down for heightwise movement with respect to the brace means; means for initially maintaining the heel hold-down in an upper position with respect to the brace means; and wherein the heel hold-down is caused to bear against the top of the heel portion of the shoe assembly by the provision of means for lowering the heel hold-down with respect to the brace means. 
     
     
       133. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon, with a selected portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the corresponding portion of the insole in such a manner that said portion of the insole substantially lies in a particular plane; a primary arrangement; a back-up plate located above the primary arrangement; means mounting the back-up plate to the primary arrangement so as to provide for limited universal movement of the back-up plate with respect to the primary arrangement; .Iadd.spring means interposed between the primary arrangement and the back-up plate yieldably urging the back-up plate to a neutral position from which it may be moved in opposite directions away from said neutral position against the force of said spring means; .Iaddend.wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the wiping means to the back-up plate for substantially planar movement in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane between a retracted position and an advanced position; means for initially maintaining the wiping means in its retracted position in a wiping position that is adjacent to said portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with said portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the wiping means from its retracted position to its advanced position through a wiping stroke to wipe said upper margin portion against said insole portion, said means mounting the back-up plate to the primary arrangement enabling the wiping means during the wiping stroke to conform precisely to the plane of said portion of the insole. 
     
     
       134. The apparatus as defined in claim 133 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the primary arrangement comprises: means mounting the back-up plate to the primary arrangement for movement about two axes that are at right angles to each other and that extend in directions that are substantially parallel to the plane of the wiping means. 
     
     
       135. The apparatus as defined in claim 133 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the primary arrangement comprises: a brace pivotally mounted to the primary arrangement for swinging movement about .[.an.]. .Iadd.a first .Iaddend.axis that is transverse to the direction of movement of the wiping means in its wiping stroke; a strap located forwardly of the brace .Iadd.having a first part that is .Iaddend.above the primary arrangement .Iadd.and a second part that is below the primary arrangement.Iaddend. ; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.means pivotally mounting the back of the back-up plate to the brace and the front of the back-up plate to the strap for swinging movement about .[.an.]. .Iadd.a second .Iaddend.axis that extends longitudinally of the direction of movement of the wiping means in its wiping stroke; .Iadd.and wherein said .Iaddend.spring means .Iadd.comprises: a pair of springs .Iaddend.interposed between the primary arrangement and the back-up plate .Iadd.on opposite sides of said second axis; and a pair of springs interposed between said first .Iaddend.and .Iadd.second .Iaddend.strap .Iadd.parts and the primary arrangement; said pairs of springs .Iaddend..[.for.]. floatingly mounting the back-up plate to the primary arrangement. 
     
     
       136. A lasting .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon, with a selected portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the corresponding portion of the insole in such a manner that said portion of the insole substantially lies in a particular plane; a primary plate; a back-up arrangement pivoted to the primary plate for swinging movement about a prone axis .[.; adjusting means for adjusting.]. .Iadd.by means of a pivotal connection of the rear of the back-up arrangement to the rear of the primary plate; a cut-out in the back-up arrangement located forwardly of said pivotal connection; a cap so mounted in the cut-out as to enable the back-up arrangement to swing about said pivotal connection in response to heightwise movement of the cap; means for effecting heightwise movement of the cap to thereby adjust .Iaddend.the position of the back-up arrangement about said axis; substantially planar wiping means; means mounting the wiping means to the back-up arrangement for planar movement in a direction transverse to said axis between a retracted position and an advanced position, said .[.adjusting means.]. .Iadd.adjustment of the position of the back-up arrangement .Iaddend.serving to locate the wiping means in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means for initially maintaining the wiping means in its retracted position in a wiping position that is adjacent to said portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with said portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the wiping means from its retracted position to its advanced position through a wiping stroke to wipe said portion of the upper margin against the insole. .[. 
     
     
       137.  The apparatus as defined in claim 136 further comprises: a pivotal connection of the rear of the back-up arrangement to the rear of the primary plate; and wherein said adjusting means comprises: a cut-out in the back-up arrangement located forwardly of said pivotal connection; a cap so mounted in the cut-out as to enable the back-up arrangement to swing about said pivotal connection in response to heightwise movement of the cap; and means for effecting heightwise movement of the cap..]. 
     
     
       138. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a primary plate; a back-up arrangement; heel wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up arrangement for substantially movement in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane in a heel wiping stroke between a retracted forward position and an advanced rearward position; .Iadd.a plurality of curved slots in the primary plate having a common center of curvature that coincides with an upright axis that is rearward of the heel wiping means in its retracted position; a guide meber that is movably received in each slot; means connecting each guide member to the back-up arrangement to thereby provide a .Iaddend..[.means.]. mounting .Iadd.of .Iaddend.the back-up arrangement to the primary plate for swinging movement about .[.an upright.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.axis; .[.that is rearward of the heel wiping means in its retracted position.]. adjusting means for adjusting the position of the back-up arrangement together with the heel wiping means about said axis to thereby so position the heel wiping means that its zone of movement during the heel wiping stroke will be symmetrical with respect to the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the wiping means through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole. .[.139. The apparatus as defined in claim 138 wherein the means mounting the back-up arrangement to the primary plate comprises: a plurality of curved slots in the primary plate having a common center of curvature that coincides with said upright axis; a guide member that is movably received in each slot; and means connecting each guide member to the back-up arrangement..]. 
     
     
             .Iadd.A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a primary plate; a back-up arrangement; heel wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up arrangement for substantially planar movement in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane in a heel wiping stroke between a retracted forward position and an advanced rearward position; means mounting the back-up arrangement to the primary plate for swinging movement about an upright axis that is rearward of the heel wiping means in its retracted position; .Iaddend..[.The apparatus as defined in claim 138 wherein said adjusting means comprises:.]. a rod located on each side of the back-up arrangement; means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the back-up arrangement; drive means actuable to concomitantly move one of the rods forwardly and the other of the rods rearwardly; .[.and.]. stop means to limit the extent the rods may be moved in response to the actuation of the drive means .Iadd.to thereby provide an adjustment of the position of the back-up arrangement together with the heel wiping means about said axis to thereby so position the heel wiping means that its zone of movement during the heel wiping stroke will be symmetrical with respect to the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the wiping means through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. 141. The apparatus as defined in claim 140 wherein said stop means comprises: a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; and means connecting the plunger to 
     
     
        the back-up arrangement. 142. .Iadd. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly bottom substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a primary plate; a back-up arrangement; heel wiping means adapted to lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up arrangement for substantially planar movement in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane in a heel wiping stroke between a retracted forward position and an advanced rearward position; means mounting the back-up arrangement to the primary plate for swinging movement about an upright axis that is rearward of the heel wiping means in its retracted position.Iaddend.; .[.The apparatus as defined in claim 138 wherein said adjusting means comprises:.]. a reversible motor located on each side of the back-up arrangement; each motor incorporating a rod that is movable in response to the actuation of the motor; means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the back-up arrangement; control means for the motors actuable to cause the motors to concomitantly move one rod forwardly and the other rod rearwardly; a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; .[.and.]. means connecting the .[.plunger.]. .Iadd.plungers .Iaddend.to the back-up arrangement .Iadd.to thereby provide an adjustment of the position of the back-up arrangement together with the heel wiping means about said axis to thereby so position the heel wiping means that its zone movement during the heel wiping stroke will be symmetrical with respect to the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the wiping means through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. 143. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly, that comprises a last having an insole located on its bottom and an upper mounted thereon with the heel portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the insole, in such a manner that the forepart portion of the shoe assembly substantially lies in a predetermined location and the heel portion of the shoe assembly bottom extends forwardly of said forepart portion and substantially lies in a particular plane; a primary plate; an adjustment plate pivoted to the primary plate for swinging movement about a first prone axis; first adjusting means for adjusting the position of the adjustment plate about said first axis; a back-up plate located above the adjustment plate; means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate so as to provide for limited universal movement of the back-up plate with respect to the adjustment plate; heel wiping means; means mounting the heel wiping means to the back-up plate for planar movement in a heel wiping stroke between a retracted forward position and an advanced rearward position, said first adjusting means serving to locate the heel wiping means in a plane that is substantially parallel to said particular plane; means mounting the adjustment plate to the primary plate for swinging movement about a second upright axis that is rearward of the heel wiping means in its retracted position; second adjusting means for adjusting the position of the adjustment plate together with the back-up plate about said second axis to thereby so position the heel wiping means that its zone of movement during the heel wiping stroke will be symmetrical with respect to the heel portion of the shoe assembly; means for initially maintaining the heel wiping means in its retracted position in a wiping position that is adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe assembly, that is in registry with the heel portion of the insole and that is maintained in a plane substantially parallel to said particular plane; and means for thereafter moving the heel wiping means through a heel wiping stroke to wipe the heel portion of the upper margin against the insole, said means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate enabling the heel wiping means to conform precisely to the plane of the heel portion of the shoe assembly 
     
     
        bottom. 144. The apparatus as defined in claim 143 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate comprises: means enabling the back-up plate to have movement with respect to the adjustment plate about two axes that are at right angles to each other and that extend in directions that are substantially parallel to the plane of the 
     
     
        heel wiping means. 145. The apparatus as defined in claim 143 wherein the means mounting the back-up plate to the adjustment plate comprises: a brace pivotally mounted to the adjustment plate for swinging movement about an axis that is transverse to the direction of movement of the heel wiping means in its heel wiping stroke; a strap located forwardly of the brace above the adjustment plate; means pivotally mounting the back of the back-up plate to the brace and the front of the back-up plate to the strap for swinging movement about an axis that extends longitudinally of the direction of movement of the heel wiping means in its heel wiping stroke; and spring means interposed between the adjustment plate and the back-up plate and strap for floatingly mounting the back-up plate to the 
     
     
        adjustment plate. 146. The apparatus as defined in claim 143 further comprising: a pivotal connection of the rear of the adjustment plate to the rear of the primary plate; and wherein said first adjusting means comprises: a cut-out in the adjustment plate located forwardly of said pivotal connection; a cap so mounted in the cut-out as to enable the adjustment plate to swing about said pivotal connection in response to heightwise movement of the cap; and means for effecting heightwise 
     
     
        movement of the cap. 147. The apparatus as defined in claim 143 wherein the means mounting the adjustment plate to the primary plate comprises: a plurality of curved slots in the primary plate having a common center of curvature that coincides with said second axis; a guide member that is movably received in each slot; and means connecting each guide member to 
     
     
        the adjustment plate. 148. The apparatus as defined in claim 143 wherein said second adjusting means comprises: a rod located on each side of the adjustment plate; means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the adjustment plate; drive means actuable to concomitantly move one of the rods forwardly and the other of the rods rearwardly; and stop means to limit the extent the rods may be moved in response to the 
     
     
        actuation of the drive means. 149. The apparatus as defined in claim 148 wherein said stop means comprises: a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; and means 
     
     
        connecting the plunger to the adjustment plate. 150. The apparatus as defined in claim 143 wherein said second adjusting means comprises: a reversible motor located on each side of the adjustment plate, each motor incorporating a rod that is movable in response to actuation of the motor; means pivotally connecting the rear of each rod to a side of the adjustment plate; control means for the motors actuable to cause the motors to concomitantly move one rod forwardly and the other rod rearwardly; a pair of spaced stop elements; a plunger mounted for movement between the stop elements; and means connecting the plunger to the 
     
     
        adjustment plate. 151. A shank lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly that comprises an upper mounted on a last and an insole located on the last bottom with a shank portion of the shoe assembly including a shank portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the corresponding shank portion of the insole; a mount located outwardly of said shank portion of the shoe assembly; a shank wiper mounted to the mount for oscillation about an axis that extends toward said shank portion of the shoe assembly and for movement in a shank wiping stroke between an outer position outward of said shank portion of the shoe assembly and .[.on.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.inner position beneath said shank portion of the insole; spring means so constructed as to yieldably urge the shank wiper about said axis to a median position and to enable the shank wiper to oscillate against the force of the spring means to either side of said median position; .Iadd.a bracket; an upper flange on the mount located above the bracket; a lower flange on the mount located below the bracket; an upright pin secured to the bracket and extending through the flanges; a stop member secured to the pin above the upper flange; a spring on the pin below the lower flange and bearing against the lower flange to yieldably urge the mount upwardly until the upper flange bears against the stop member to thus mount the mount to the bracket for yieldable upward movement to a predetermined position whereby the shank wiper is urged to a level that is above the shank portion of the insole and moves downwardly when forced against said portion of the upper during the shank wiping stroke to stretch said portion of the upper downwardly of the last prior to wiping it against said portion of the insole; .Iaddend.means for initially maintaining the shank wiper in its outer position; and means for imparting a shank wiping stroke to the shank wiper so that the shank wiper will intersect said portion of the upper and wipe it against said portion of the insole with the spring means enabling the shank wiper to oscillate about said axis and conform to the plane of said insole portion. .[.152. The apparatus as defined in claim 151 wherein said means mounting the shank wiper to the mount comprises: a wiper support mounted to the mount for oscillation about said axis; and means for movably mounting the wiper to the wiper support for said movement in a shank wiping stroke..]. 
     
     
        .[.      The apparatus as defined in claim 152 wherein said spring means comprises: a pair of springs interposed between the mount and the wiper support on each side of said axis..]. .[.154. The apparatus as defined in claim 151 further comprising: a bracket; and means mounting the mount to the bracket for yieldable upward movement to a predetermined position, whereby the shank wiper is urged to a level that is above the bottom of the shank portion of the insole and moves downwardly when forced against said portion of the upper during the shank wiping stroke to stretch said portion of the upper downwardly of the last prior to wiping it against said portion of the insole..]. .[.155. The apparatus as defined in claim 154 wherein the mount has an upper flange located above the bracket and a lower flange located below the bracket and the means mounting the mount to the bracket comprises: an upright pin secured to the bracket and extending through the flanges; a stop member secured to the pin above the upper flange; and a spring on the pin below the lower flange and bearing against the lower flange to yieldably urge the mount upwardly until the upper 
     
     
        flange bears against the stop member..]. 156. A lasting apparatus comprising: a support arrangement for supporting bottom-down a shoe assembly that comprises an upper mounted on a last and an insole located on the last bottom with a selected portion of the upper margin extending downwardly of the corresponding portion of the insole; a mount located outwardly of said shoe assembly portions; a wiper mounted to the mount for movement in a wiping stroke between an outer position outward of said shoe assembly portions and an inner position beneath said portion of the insole; means for initially maintaining the wiper in its outer position; a bracket; .Iadd.an upper flange on the mount located above the bracket; a lower flange on the mount located below the bracket; an upright pin secured to the bracket and extending through the flanges; a stop member secured to the pin above the upper flange; a spring on the pin below the lower flange and bearing against the lower flange to yieldably urge the mount upwardly until the flange bears against the stop member to thereby .Iaddend..[.means mounting.]. .Iadd.mount .Iaddend.the mount to the bracket for yieldable upward movement to a predetermined position, whereby the wiper is urged to a level that is above the bottom of said portion of the insole and moves downwardly when forced against said portion of the upper during the wiping stroke to stretch said portion of the upper downwardly of the last prior to wiping it against said portion of the insole; and means for imparting a wiping stroke to the wiper. .[.157. The apparatus as defined in claim 156 wherein the mount has an upper flange located above the bracket and a lower flange located below the bracket and the means mounting the mount to the bracket comprises: an upright pin secured to the bracket and extending through the flanges; a stop member secured to the pin above the upper flange; and a spring on the pin below the lower flange and bearing against the lower flange to yieldably urge the mount upwardly until the upper flange bears against the stop member..].