Category:
Shoes
Shoes
Shoe Gongs
Anthony Faranda of Yonkers, NY worried that children didn't like wearing rubber-soled shoes because they made no noise when walking on a pavement. So, he invented a shoe gong. Or, as he called it, a "footwear actuated noise maker." He patented it in 1957.It was a disc and clapper that could be worn over shoes. He explained: "The arrangement is such that upon normal walking steps or running strides the clapper is activated to make noise and thereby promote the interest of children in wearing shoes with soles that do not make an audible sound in engaging firm or rigid surfaces."
Maybe kids would have liked these, but not, I imagine, their parents.
He assigned the patent to the NY advertising agency McCann-Erickson. It's unclear what plans they might have had for these things.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Feb 16, 2020 -
Comments (2)
Category: Inventions, Shoes, 1950s
Gaming Shoes
Newly released by Puma: "Active Gaming Footwear" — so that your shoes don't hold you back while you're playing computer games.Some of the touted benefits:
Medial wrap-up grip in SEEK mode
Lateral wrap-up support in ATTACK mode
Heel wrap-up stability in CRUISE and DEFENSE mode
Lateral wrap-up support in ATTACK mode
Heel wrap-up stability in CRUISE and DEFENSE mode
I have no idea what any of that means (though I'm not a gamer... maybe it would make perfect sense if I was).
Posted By: Alex - Sat Dec 21, 2019 -
Comments (4)
Category: Shoes
Slimming Insoles
Created by Dr. Robert Metz, Slimming Insoles were advertised as “the first and only massage insole in the world which reduces weight and regulates the digestion system.”Here’s a link to the 1997 FTC complaint against Metz and his company. It noted that, “In truth and in fact, scientific studies do not demonstrate that Slimming Insoles cause significant weight loss without changes in diet or exercise."
And yet, Slimming Insoles are still being sold. I'm not sure if Dr. Metz himself is selling them. But you can buy some at Amazon, and they make specific claims about causing weight loss: "These slimming magnets emit magnetic waves which weaken fat cells in your body... Lose weight by walking with magnetic insoles."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Mar 3, 1996
Posted By: Alex - Wed Dec 04, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Shoes, 1990s, Dieting and Weight Loss
An improved container for shoe polish
Carl Herold of Pittsburgh didn't think it made sense to sell shoe polish in tin containers, because the containers were so expensive that they added substantially to the cost of the shoe polish. So, back in 1872, he came up with a solution, which he patented: pack shoe polish in animal guts.The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and convenient mode or means for packing the ordinary shoe-blacking of commerce, which is now almost universally put up in shallow tin boxes, which, being expensive, comparatively, greatly enhances the price of the blacking thus packed... My improvement consists in putting shoe-blacking upon the market packed in the guts of animals, which will add but a trifle to the cost of the blacking.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a package of blacking put up in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof...
The blacking is packed in suitable lengths of animal guts A, which are then firmly tied up at both ends, presenting the appearance of a sausage. Each package should be wrapped in paper to prevent the grease or oil upon the outer surface of the package from soiling the hands in handling it. The blacking thus packed will retain its moisture, and consequently remain in a proper plastic state for a great length of time. In this condition it may be sold by the pound, each purchaser or user providing himself with a small saucer or other shallow vessel into which to empty portions of the package from time to time for use.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a package of blacking put up in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof...
The blacking is packed in suitable lengths of animal guts A, which are then firmly tied up at both ends, presenting the appearance of a sausage. Each package should be wrapped in paper to prevent the grease or oil upon the outer surface of the package from soiling the hands in handling it. The blacking thus packed will retain its moisture, and consequently remain in a proper plastic state for a great length of time. In this condition it may be sold by the pound, each purchaser or user providing himself with a small saucer or other shallow vessel into which to empty portions of the package from time to time for use.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Dec 01, 2019 -
Comments (0)
Category: Inventions, Shoes, Nineteenth Century
Big Boot Dance
The performer is. Harry Relph, aka Little Tich. The performance was filmed at the 1900 Paris Exposition.More info: wikipedia
Posted By: Alex - Sun Aug 04, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: ShowBiz, Theater and Stage, Vaudeville, Shoes, 1900s
Peanut Sneakers
A little over a month ago we posted about croissant sneakers. Food-themed sneakers are apparently the big new thing, because Planters Peanuts has now debuted peanut sneakers, retailing for $170.
And not to be outdone, Ruffles Chips has introduced limited-edition Ruffles sneakers.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jun 29, 2019 -
Comments (0)
Category: Food, Shoes
Croissant Sneakers
Odd collaboration: Sneaker brand Koio has partnered with pastry chef Dominique Ansel to produce croissant-themed sneakers. According to Fast Company:This may be the first-ever sneaker collaboration with a baker. And it is certainly the only sneaker inspired by a croissant on the market... The sneaker’s upper is made of calf leather that has the texture of eggshells, flour-white suede, patent leather the color of yellow butter, and detailing on the toe and heel that looks like sugar. To top everything off, the laces come adorned with a rose-gold croissant accent.
They can be yours for only $348. Oh, and each pair also comes with a package of Dominique Ansel pancake mix.
Posted By: Alex - Tue May 14, 2019 -
Comments (0)
Category: Fashion, Shoes, Food
Juror spots stolen shoes
Either this was an ingenious way to get out of jury duty, or a truly random coincidence.What I find particularly odd is that the shoes were obviously pretty crappy, with paint spots and frayed laces. So somewhat weird that someone would steal them in the first place, and then choose to wear them while serving as a witness at a trial... and then, by sheer chance, the owner of the shoes happens to be in the jury.
Fort Lauderdale News - Jan 18, 1986
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 07, 2019 -
Comments (0)
Category: Crime, Shoes, 1980s
Follies of the Madmen #399
Of course the sole of one's foot resembles a snooty toff with monocle--after your LSD trip!
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Dec 07, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Business, Advertising, Drugs, Shoes, 1940s, Feet
Shoe-Swapping Fad
The hot high-school fad of 1947, according to Life magazine:Every morning before school, girls meet on school steps and swap one shoe and sock with a friend. Then they walk around with shoes that do not match.
Couldn't have been comfortable walking around all day with mismatched shoes. Fashion over comfort, I guess.
Life - Nov 17, 1947
Posted By: Alex - Tue Dec 04, 2018 -
Comments (2)
Category: Fads, Shoes, 1940s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |