Abstract: The supports (9; 35) by which adhesive-applying nozzles (6) are supported in a shoe machine, e.g. a cement lasting machine, for tracking movement along opposite portions of a shoe bottom (5), are provided with mountings (34) by each of which either such a nozzle (6) or a sensing head (20) can be supported. In the latter case, as the sensing heads (20) are moved in the X-direction under the control of a stepping motor (18), the heads sense the edge of the insole (which may be provided with a black line (23, 24) and by feedback signals are caused to follow it, thereby determining the Y-axis movement corresponding to the X-axis movement necessary to guide the nozzle in the subsequent adhesive-applying operation. The Y-axis movement is stored at memory locations for which the X-direction movement values constitute the address.