The "X-RAY Shoefitter" or "fluoroscope",
first introduced in 1929 as a
shoestore sales gimmick,
allowed the parent, child, and salesman to
simultaneously view an X-RAY image of
the childs feet in a new pair of shoes.
With over 10,000 in use throughout the U.S.
the Shoefitter enjoyed widespread
popularity during the 1930s, '40s, and '50s.

Despite the knowledge within the medical world
of the dangers of radiation exposure,
X-Ray Shoefitters were notoriously
poorly regulated.
Not until 1949, after more than 20 years of
unregulated use, was any question given
to the potential dangers of
radiation exposure from the Shoefitter.
1949 tests found this particular machine
produced a frightening 348 roentgens
per minute of exposure.
For comparison, that's the equivilent
exposure, per minute, received by
a person standing within 1500 meters
(less than a mile) of ground-zero
at Hiroshima!
The use of X-Ray Shoefitters was finally banned
by the U.S. government in the late 1950s.

I have a second Adrian Shoefitter
in stock that is for sale.

It has some damage to the veneer,
but is in very restorable condition.
Click on photo above for
photos of that machine.