Title
Black and white photograph of a woman wearing shoes with illuminated celluloid heels.
Reference
YA2005.71/6
Production date
06-03-1935 - 06-03-1935
Creator
- Allied Newspapers LtdBiographyBiography
Allied Newspapers Ltd was a newspaper publishing consortium formed in 1924 following the amalgamation of various newspaper titles, including those of Edward Hulton. The company was renamed Kemsley Newspapers in 1943 and was subsequently bought by Roy Thomson, Lord Thomson of Fleet, in 1959.
Scope and Content
The photograph shows a woman's feet on a board. The woman is wearing shoes with illuminated celluloid heels. The photograph was taken by Allied Newspapers Ltd, Manchester, 6 Mar 1935.
The image may have originally been affixed inside item YA2005.71/4, which has a blank space and glue marks matching those on the reverse of the photograph.
Physical description
Fair condition. Surface dirt. Slight damage to image edges. Discoloration from glue on reverse.
Level of description
ITEM
Repository name
Science and Industry Museum
Associated people and organisations
- Jordan, Joseph LouisBiographyBiography
Joseph Jordan lived in Gorton, Manchester, and in Reddish, Stockport. He owned a boot and shoe repair shop in Oldham, Lancashire, with his brother John until 1963.
In 1934, he developed a non-flammable celluloid shoe heel with his brother, which could be illuminated by an internal lightbulb. The brothers worked on a variety of styles, shapes and colours which were intended to match the outfits worn by dancers in chorus lines. It was the brothers' intention to create jobs for local unemployed workers through the manufacture of the heels.
Joseph Jordan went on to develop other ideas, such as electrical equipment to ensure safe landing of aircraft in darkness, fog and mist, and anti-dazzle glasses for car drivers. None of his inventions went into production.
Subject
Conditions governing access
Open access.
Conditions governing Reproduction
Image no longer in copyright. Image created by an unnamed photographer for Allied Newspapers. Copyright duration calculated from date of publication, 1935.