Converse Jack Purcell

About

The Converse Jack Purcell traces back to 1935, when John Edward "Jack" Purcell — the leading badminton player in Canada who became world champion in 1933 and remained unbeaten until his retirement in 1945 — designed a low-cut canvas court shoe for B.F. Goodrich's PF Flyers brand. The shoe featured a steel shank in the heel for court support and flat soles specifically designed to protect grass and clay court surfaces without marking them. Its most recognisable design element is the curved "smile" toe bumper that runs along the front of the shoe. Jack Purcell sneakers "were required wear on all grass and clay tennis courts in the United States for most of the twentieth century," according to Wikipedia. In 1972, Converse purchased PF Flyers and acquired the Jack Purcell trademark, absorbing the shoe into its line. Nike acquired Converse in 2003 and has continued manufacturing it. The shoe retailed for about $20 in 1965. The classic design remains essentially unchanged in appearance from its original 1950s and 1960s form, making it one of the longest-running unmodified shoe designs in history.