Historical information

Shoe stretchers like this have been used for centuries, particularly for leather shoes that required breaking in. The wooden design and metal screw mechanism suggest it is an early to mid-20th-century model.

Physical description

This is a vintage wooden shoe stretcher with a metal screw mechanism. The item consists of:

A wooden foot-shaped piece that is split into two halves, allowing for expansion.
Several small holes in the wood, possibly for ventilation or for attaching additional stretching pegs.
A metal rod with a threaded screw mechanism, which can be adjusted by turning a T-shaped handle at the top to widen the wooden sections and stretch a shoe.
The overall design suggests it was used for maintaining the shape of shoes or expanding tight-fitting leather footwear.