A piece of equipment designed to determine the shoe size that one should purchase. The Brannock device is a miracle of modern technology, made of no more than three die-cast steel components and including a riveted-on label proclaiming its name. These beauties are found in shoe stores everywhere. It's been a while since I've seen one, but if memory serves correctly, they come from New Jersey.

In reality, the Brannock device is of no particular note, except for its cool name. Upon first seeing said device and noting its name, one might conclude that it is destined to inflict some sort of torture upon the user.