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INNOVATORS
GALLERY
 Charles
F. Brannock (1903-1992)
Born: Syracuse, New York
Inventor/Manufacturer
-
Born into the shoe business (his father, Otis C. Brannock, co-founded
the Park-Brannock Shoe Co. (1906-1981) in Syracuse, New York),
Brannock spent several years, while attending Syracuse University,
trying to figure out the best way to measure a foot.
- Brannock
built the prototype of his new foot-measuring device using an
Erector set, and gave it a trial run at his father's store. His
invention quickly replaced the only other tool of its kind - a
primitive block of measured wood - because it dramatically improved
the accuracy of a foot measurement.
- In
1928, Brannock obtained a patent for his device even though he'd
already created a company to manufacture and sell it.
- During
World War II, Brannock was hired by the Army to ensure that boots
and shoes comfortably fit enlisted men.
- Through
the years, Brannock developed different models of his device,
including women's, men's, junior, growing girls', athletic, ski-boot,
and military.
- Over
a million Brannock Devices have been manufactured-varying little
over the years-and it remains the shoe industry standard.
Object:
Compiled
from the following sources:
-http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/brannock.html
-Watia, Amy K. BRANNOCK DEVICE COMPANY RECORDS, 1999, Archives Center,
National Museum of American History. http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/d8672.htm
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