Show The Evolution of the Skate The origin of the skate is wrapped in oblivion but all commentators on sport agree that its introduction was due to I actual necessity as a means of locomotion over a frozen surface rather than fOr the purpose of amusement As far as can be learned from the records of the past nearly r all the northern European races used a rude device for traveling over the ice and the next record is found in Holland when a Dutch sailor who was storm driven on the coast of Lapland in the Twelfth century cent-ury learning from the natives to skait withe boenes on hys feete introduced the strange practice to his countrymen It is worthy of notice that skait is the Hollanders Hol-landers word for glide From Holland the skate was introduced into England about 1170 the historian Fitzstephen saying that Young men do I go to the groate moor at Moorfields on the north wall of London and there do binds I boenes to there feete holding stakes in there handes with which they sometimes do strik the ice One pair of these bones is now preserved in the British Museum and another in the collection of Col Roach It would seem that the skate progressed very slowly for many years for in 1580 the historian Stowe says The apprentices do tye bones on to their heles and running on their toes do slide on the ice on their holes with great speed often suffering grevous falls and broken bones In 1654 the first mention of the iron skato appears and Pepys tells us that a man named King brought a pair from the island of Ifloes and that in 1662 the lake I in St James park was covered with citizens citi-zens enjoying the new diversion Bristol was the first town to see their use in England Eng-land From then on the skate remained for many years simply a wooden patten and a i metal blade It use became general and it was probably used in this country durI ing the first winter passed here by the 1 Pilgrim Fathers For many years the 1 skates used here were imported from Austria Aus-tria and Germany but as usual with Americans Amer-icans no sooner did the demand increase r than a domestic supply sprang up to meet it It is worthy of note in this connection that American skates and their improvements I improve-ments now dominate the skating world The first skates made in this country were the handiwork of a man named Sanford living at Eaglesville Conn The exact date is lost but it was in 1830 This skate had a long curved runner which turned up in front of the foot like apiece a-piece of spring wire and must be affectionately i affec-tionately remembered by many an old boy This runner was fastened to the I wooden standard by screws and a narrow strap heel and toe held it in position on I the foot The next improvement was what is known as the ciamp introduced in 1868 These gripped the sole and heel and dispensed with straps At first these were used on the heel and a strap on the toe but later the clamp was affixed to both The clamps were worked by a double i threaded screw and this idea was patented and sold to Worcester Mass firm The double threaded screw was superseded super-seded by the lever in 1869 a style that quickly spread the name and fame of American skates all over the civilized world Here to a great extent the invention I inven-tion of improvements ceased Many styles I have been introduced that have varied in some detail but for actual practical usa the 18G9 model with some modifications still holds the palm The long reach racer is the latest innovation I |