The Shoe-fitting fluoroscope or simply foot X-Ray machine was invented 1919 by Jacob Lowe. They sold 10,000 units in the US alone. These machines were used from late 1920s through 1950s. Some used until 1970s. Around 1950 concerns about radiation exposure started popping up. By the 70s, most states had banned fluoroscopes.

The approximate radiation exposure is 13 roentgen per 20 sec viewing. Hands and feet are fairly resilient to radiation, but shielding was not great, so a lot of radiation leaked out toward head and torso. Sales people were particularly susceptible as they used the machine regularly, so the doses added up quickly. There were multiple cases of cancer in salespeople attributed to the machines. By the 1990s, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) reccomended the weekly dose of 1 roentgen per week to the feet. The machine does 13 per 20 seconds.

The customer stands on the platform and inserts their feet into the hole on the front, then looks through the scope on the top of the machine.

There are 3 viewing scopes. The centered one is for the customer. The angled ones are for the sales person, who could stand on either side, or perhaps a curious family member observing.

Looking down the scope is the view plate. The X-Ray would show up here.

A view of the back side of the cabinet. An electric box is visible at the top and the X-Ray tube is contained in the bottom box also containing a hole on the other side for the feet.