What size shoe should I order?

Thanks for reaching out to us. It is a little difficult to determine exactly what size you need from photos, unfortunately. The difference in size between these shoes is so slight that it's hard for me to eyeball just from a picture of a tape measure held next to it. That said, I can offer a few tips that may make it easier.

To start, having your shoe wear down over time is very common. These are only plastic, after all, and the constant friction of use over the decade or so that it's been installed will mean that the depth is going to be a little less than it used to be. This is usually a difference of 1/16" or so.

Another thing to note is that your shoe is more than worn down, it has a chunk of it broken off. These usually don't have as sharp a point as yours has. I would suggest checking on the other balance in the window to see if it's in better condition and measure that, instead. You may find yourself with a more accurate measurement.

Lastly, we do sell a shoe that's only 7/8" deep, which is our 15-029. However this isn't a stock part and we can only supply it attached to a balance as a custom order. I don't think this is what you have, though, mostly because your old shoe doesn't have the same "wings" as ours. To my knowledge, the 15-029 was never made with a non-winged version so I'm personally leaning towards the possibility that your shoe was 1" deep originally and just wore down over time.

Ultimately, the final call will have to be yours. When it comes to shoe size, it can be tricky to get that exact number because of age and wear, so at a certain point you just have to call an audible and hope you got it right. In a worst case scenario, if the balance you buy ends up having a shoe that's too deep, you can always shave it down with a utility knife. I've done it myself in a pinch and it works fine. Just note that any balance altered in that way can't be returned for a refund. See our return policy for more information.