[2][5] In 2001, the product line was cut by more than 50% to focus the brand solely on running, and its concentration on performance technology was increased.

[10] The company's innovations included the 1938 introduction of orthopedic shoes for children, Pedicraft,[a] and rubber brakes for roller skates (then known as "quick stops"), patented in 1944.

[13] In 1956, after a series of operational changes, John notified his brother that he would not renew their partnership agreement, and Michael discussed expanding Carmen with his nephew, Frank's son Barton.

In 1957, following the dissolution of the partnership, the existence of Brooks Shoe Manufacturing Company was terminated, and Michael and Barton each acquired 50% of Carmen.

[13] In 1975, Brooks worked with elite runners, including Marty Liquori, a former Olympian, to design a running shoe.

[16] In 1980, as a result of production issues with Brooks's manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico, defective shoes began to arrive at sporting goods stores.

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and was purchased at auction by footwear manufacturer Wolverine World Wide in 1981.

[5][16] In 1982 Brooks introduced the Chariot, a medial post shoe that featured an angled wedge of harder-density foam in the midsole.

[9] In 1992, Brooks launched the Beast, a motion control shoe that integrated diagonal rollbar technology.

The "class to mass" strategy was unsuccessful, and Brooks was sold to Norwegian private equity company The Rokke Group for $21 million in 1993.

[18] Brooks introduced a full-line of technical running and fitness apparel for women and men in the spring of 1997.

Weber cut lower-priced footwear from the Brooks product line, added an on-site lab and staff engineers, and focused the company on technical-performance running shoes.

[18] In the mid-2000s, Brooks introduced High Performance Green Rubber, a material it developed for outsoles that used sand rather than petroleum.