The Unknown Geniuses Behind 10 Of The Most Useful Inventions Ever

1925: Charlie Brannock creates the first accurate way to measure shoe size using toys

Whose idea: Charlie Brannock

The inspiration: The son of a shoemaker, Brannock grew up thinking about feet. As a young man, he became obsessed with figuring out the best way to measure one. The only way to figure out your size at the time was with a wooden block, a method that didn’t work very well.

While attending Syracuse University, he set out to solve the problem once and for all. Using a toy construction set, Brannock built a prototype of a device that accurately measured foot sizes.

What came of it: With sales in the millions, the Brannock device has become a staple for shoe stores all over the world. And even though the product is about 85 years old, it remains more or less true to the original model.

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