Back in the ’30s through ’50s, before people had a really firm grasp on the dangers of constant x-ray exposure, shoe stores often used a fluoroscope to determine the fit of a shoe by displaying a “fluorescent image of the bones of the feet and the outline of the shoes.” The devices were also known as “Pedoscopes” in Great Britain.

A nice write-up of the devices and their history details some of the dangers:

Despite these relatively high exposures, there were no reported injuries to shoe store customers. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the operators of these machines. Many shoe salespersons put their hands into the x-ray beam to squeeze the shoe during the fitting. As a result, one saleswoman who had operated a shoe fitting fluoroscope 10 to 20 times each day over a ten year period developed dermatitis of the hands. One of the more serious injuries linked to the operation of these machines involved a shoe model who received such a serious radiation burn that her leg had to be amputated.

Thank goodness for the modern online shoe store policy of free return shipping.

Shoe-Fitting Fluoroscope [Orau.org via Kottke]