Shoe-fitting fluoroscope

A historical device used in shoe stores to view the fit of shoes using X-rays

A shoe-fitting fluoroscope on display at the National Museum of Health and Medicine

File:Adrian Fluoroscope operating controls.jpg

Operating controls of a shoe-fitting fluoroscope

The shoe-fitting fluoroscope was a device used in shoe stores during the early to mid-20th century to assist in the fitting of shoes. It utilized X-ray technology to allow customers and salespeople to view the bones of the feet inside the shoes, ostensibly to ensure a proper fit. These devices were popular in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries, but fell out of favor due to health concerns related to radiation exposure.

History

The shoe-fitting fluoroscope was invented in the 1920s and became widely used in shoe stores by the 1930s. The device typically consisted of a vertical wooden cabinet with an opening at the bottom where the customer would place their feet. Inside the cabinet, an X-ray tube would emit radiation, and the resulting image would be displayed on a fluorescent screen at the top of the cabinet. Customers, often children, would look through a viewing port to see the bones of their feet inside the shoes.

Design and Operation

The typical shoe-fitting fluoroscope was about four feet high and had three viewing ports: one for the customer, one for the salesperson, and one for a third party, often a parent. The device was simple to operate, with a foot pedal or switch to activate the X-ray tube. The X-ray exposure was usually brief, but repeated use could lead to significant radiation exposure.

Health Concerns

By the 1950s, concerns about the safety of shoe-fitting fluoroscopes began to emerge. Studies indicated that the devices emitted significant levels of radiation, which could pose health risks to both customers and store employees. Prolonged or repeated exposure to X-rays is known to increase the risk of cancer and other health issues. As a result, regulatory bodies began to restrict the use of these devices, and they were largely phased out by the 1970s.

Regulation and Decline

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and various state health departments issued guidelines and regulations that effectively ended the use of shoe-fitting fluoroscopes. Similar actions were taken in other countries, leading to the decline of these devices in shoe stores worldwide.

Legacy

Today, shoe-fitting fluoroscopes are considered a historical curiosity and a cautionary tale about the unregulated use of technology. Some units are preserved in museums as examples of early 20th-century retail technology and the evolving understanding of radiation safety.

Also see

• X-ray
• Radiation safety
• History of radiology
• Consumer safety