new balance history 1906 William J. Riley founds New Balance (Arch Co.) in Boston, MA. Inspired by the balance created in the three claws of a chicken’s foot, Riley applies his observations to the design and development of orthopedic arch supports and footwear. He is committed to helping people with problem feet through improved shoe fit, finding early customers in “policemen and other folks who are on their feet all day.” 1950s /60s Business expands and by the early 1950s, New Balance is making specialized running shoes for local runners, including the MIT track team. In 1956, Paul and Eleanor Kidd purchase the company, manufacturing in their basement until 1962. The first New Balance production track shoe, 1961’s “Trackster,” is groundbreaking, unique in its width sizing and ripple tread. 1972 James (Jim) S. Davis purchases the company on Boston Marathon day. Through the 1970s, New Balance shoes emerge as the leader in running shoe technology. Tom Fleming wins the NY Marathon wearing 320s in 1975. The next year, 320s are the top pick by Runner’s World magazine. Over the next twenty years, New Balance grows to become a world leader in athletic performance footwear and apparel. 1998 New Balance acquires Dunham Bootmakers, and with it, outdoor footwear expertise dating back to 1885 when the Vermont-based Dunham brothers began selling their handcrafted boots to pioneers and outdoorsmen. More than a century of dedication and quality, durability and comfort earned Dunham a lasting reputation that has served as the foundation for the brand’s current line of premium outdoor performance, casual and work footwear for the active outdoor enthusiast. The story of New Balance begins at the dawn of the 20th century in Boston, Massachusetts, when William J. Riley, a 33-year-old English immigrant, committed himself to helping people with problem feet by making arch supports and prescription footwear to improve shoe fit.