X-ray Shoe Fit Check 1920s

[azqrlaf]

In use these machines were quite dangerous as they were rarely checked for excessive output. While probably not hazardous to the customers who used them when they occasionally purchased shoes, the continued excessive daily exposure to the shoe salesmen often caused them to eventually develop Leukemia.

[AryanKnight]

Recall as a lad of age 6-12 going for new shoes, where some stores were equipped with 'modern Xray'-machines, wherein you'd try-on a pair of new shoes then eagerly go over to the 'ShoeRay-viewer', place your tootsies in the aperture, press a button to watch you toes wiggle inside the shows, then Salesman would come over with Mother to see if the shoes were properly fitting with room for growth. -Seemed like a wonderful idea at the time, --but to this day, my feet still glow in the dark!

[Milisabelle]

@AryanKnight I remember this very well - after a few years of us playing with the machine everytime we would get shoes, the salesman started to get nervous and said that we could only look when we were trying on the shoes, only for a few seconds. Then the machine disappeared, no explanation...so much for living in the clean, healthy North....

[pgh45rpms]

And people today can't figure out why dentist make their patients wear lead vests while taking tooth x-rays.

[gnativerson]

a similar device still existed in a WV shoestore in the 1950's

[ricochet188]

My mom was telling me about these things, she said they were fun to play around with... ha ha.

[ricochet188]

>:()