 Well, later in life, I found out that it is called a Brannock device, and they now have one that you can purchase at home. In fact, Amazon sells several. For $67 and over, you can get the real thing or a simplified one for less than 12 bucks. You could even do your own home measurement by standing on a piece of paper. First, trace the outline of each foot and measure the width at the widest point using a ruler or tape measure.