Abstract: An apparatus for treating the marginal edge portion of a shoe sole, including a longitudinally reciprocable carriage supporting a template having an opening or cavity of generally the same profile as and smaller than, a sole to be treated, whereby the sole is supported on the template covering the opening. A suction is created within the covered opening to draw the central portion of the sole down into the opening while the marginal edge portion of the sole is supported on the top of the pattern member. The carriage is driven longitudinally beneath a transverse pressure roller at an elevation to cause a transverse knife to engage only the supported marginal edge portion of the sole to split the same, while passing over the depressed central portion of the sole. After the sole has been split, the vacuum is removed to facilitate discharge of the cut sole.