Using Xrays to See Through Your Sole
This is a bizarre invention that was apparently a main-stay of shoe stores in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. It’s a Fluoroscope. You stick your foot in the hole and then you look in the center viewing port while the shoe salesman, and maybe your mommy if you’re in the under 12 set, can look in either of the other two.
What do they see?
Your bones inside your feet inside your shoes! Now you can tell if they really fit onto your freshly irradiated flipper. The only thing between your foot and the actual x-ray tube was 1 mm of Aluminum.
Read everything you ever wanted to know about the rise and fall of the Fluoroscope after the jump!
Shoe-Fitting Fluoroscope (ca. 1930-1940) at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (pops)
Technorati Tags: shoe, fitting, sizing, store, vintage, xray, machine
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Gear, Humor, Technology
3 opinions for Using Xrays to See Through Your Sole
Jane
Sep 5, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I used this as a child and my shoes always fit very well. Now, without it, I have a hard time finding shoes to fit. Add to that the fact that no one has shoes with narrow heels and it becomes even harder to find comfortable shoue.
Jeff
Dec 5, 2007 at 7:38 pm
I remember this from when I was a child. The shoe store had one of these machines. First you put your feet in without shoes justs socks so they could examine your feet. Then they would check the fit of the new shoes. I guess it was even more dangerous with out shoes on although there have been no after effects.
Jeff
Dec 8, 2007 at 8:26 am
I have one more comment or rather a question that no one has ever been able to answer. When I was a child childrens shoe stores would have a practice of asking Mom or Dad if they could keep the childs old shoes and if you would bring the child home in his or her sock feet. This was done with me and I know I have seen this through the years. There has to be a reason for this. I would love to hear from any one who may have worked in a childrens shoe store or who happens to know what I am talking about.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: