Portable Boot Jack

A folding mahogany Boot Jack made for travel.

This common design of folding Boot Jack was made by a number of companies either side of 1900. It has the leverage of a full height Boot Jack but will fold to flatten for storage. This example takes the design one step further, reducing the height to make it even more practical for travel.

Ten inches below the handles, there is a break in the uprights between the crossbars. This allows the top handle section to be lifted off and so the height to reduce. To make a strong joint, when the two parts are joined together, the top section has two steel rods just over four inches in length that fit into the bottom section. They are fitted on square gilt brass plates with a screw to each corner and rounded to the tips to make them easier to insert. The bottom section has similar brass plates to protect the holes they insert into from wear. When the two sections are joined, a swing hook to either side is used to fix the two parts together.

To use the Boot Jack, the shaped board with its cutout to take your boot, is pushed out from the upright frame to rest at an angle with its end on the ground. Holding the two handles whilst inserting one foot into the cutout and resting the other on the end of the board give you the leverage to pull your boot off. When not in use, the cutout board is fixed to the main frame by a sprung ball bearing fitting and two blocks to the inside of the frame which only allow it open in one direction. Overtime, probably due to shrinkage of the wood, the ball bearing fitting does not work as well as intended.

This is a well made Boot Jack with some nice attention to detail to help elevate it. Chamfered edges to the corners of the frame lift it a little. The joints are pegged for strength. There are simple ring turnings to the handles. The reason this Boot Jack really stands out though is the fact that it is an item that is relatively compact by design but that design has been taken a step further to increase its suitability for travel. Circa 1900.

Folded Size is given.