The dose of radioactivity in foot measuring machines must have been minute. Dentists now want to x ray our teeth annually. Years ago we also had radioactive luminous watches and clocks. My mother had TB in1938 and was treated with x rays and my parents visited Hiro Shima two years after the atomic bomb. I was present when animals were x rayed daily when working (without any monitoring) for seven years for a vet. I'm not saying it's good for us but small doses of radioactivity are apparently harmless.
I remember the X-ray machine. It was exciting to see your bones. Later in life when I thought back to it I didn't think it could have been a real X-ray machine but sounds like it was.
I remember it but not the clanking. Amazing seeing you foot bones, I wore class shoes in the 50's and I am sure they were around then so that was a lot of xrays and I wonder if any of the shop,assistants had problems. I still wear Clark's shoes and some are Lace ups but not seen those sandles
I took my little granddaughter to clarks at the weekend. They used an ipad to measure which was very quick and easy but not half as much fun as the old machines
They used to use X-rays in the 50s, and my DM absolutely refused to let us use them. I always wanted to see what my foot looked like, but never got her to change her mind. Good for her, is all I can say now!
I was talking to my daughter about the conversation the other day regarding Clark's children's sandals and she reminded me about the measuring machines they used, certainly in the 70s if not before.
It was the highlight of any shopping trip - shoe off, socked foot into the hole and then pieces of metal clanking to meet it from all sides. It was the very height of sophisticated technology and we all (me included) loved it. She sent me this photo she found online and it brought back such happy memories of those days