Heel support device with reduced movement of support

A heel support device for use in a shoe making machine for lasting the toe and sides of a shoe upper tensioned over a last seated on a last support includes a heel support movable along a fixed guide of the machine. A drive moves the heel support along the guide in a first direction from an unloading position spaced from the last to a supporting position in contact with and supporting a heel portion of the upper tensioned about the last. After completion of a lasting operation, the drive moves the heel support along the guide in an opposite second direction to return the heel support to the unloading position. The completed last and lasted upper then are removed from the last support and a new last and upper are positioned theron for a subsequent lasting cycle. Upon the completion of one lasting cycle, the distance of movement of the heel support in the first direction required to reach the supporting position for the new last and upper of the subsequent lasting cycle is reduced by the provision of a device, operatively connected to the drive, to cause the drive to move the heel support in the first direction from the unloading position to a preselected loading position between the unloading position and the supporting position required for the subsequent lasting cycle.