| English club skates (2) |
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Fig.1:
English club skates, around 1880 From the middle of the 19th century in countries with a primary iron and steel industry like Germany, England and the USA there were many designers that experimented with wholly metal ice skates. They should be stronger, last longer and have economic advantages at their production. This photo shows that the first designs were close to classic model of the wooden club skates. On the runner blades two platforms were bolted on which boots could be mounted. As to reduce their weight as much as possible the foot plates often were made from aluminium, as is the case with these skates. The runner blades of these skates are carved, i.e. they are made a fraction thinner in the middle than at the ends. This was an improvement thought out by a Captain Charles Dowler who obtained a patent for it. The shown ice skates have been made using this patent as there is an inscription in the blades saying 'The Mount Charles' (detail 1b). Manufacturer: Francis Wood & Son, Sheffield (GB) Mark: detail 1c Technical data: total length: 29 cm, height over ice: 3.5 cm; platforms: 21 cm long, 5.5 cm wide; runner blades: 25 mm tall, 6 mm thick, carved; weight 280 g |
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Fig.2:
English club skates,
around 1900 Rather simple ice skates with enforced runner surface. In the top of the foot plates 'London made' is stamped (detail 2a). This is an interesting detail, suggesting that it would sell better than the ordinary British or Sheffield made. Manufacturer: Hill & Son, London (GB) Mark: detail 2b Technical data: total length: 29 cm, height over ice: 4 cm; platforms: 22 cm long, 5.5 cm wide; runner blades: 21 mm tall, 5 mm thick, carved; weight 340 g |
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Fig.3:
English club skates, around 1900 Luxurious execution with chrome plates runner blades and platforms. Both on the carton and the runner blades is stated 'The Monier-Williams Skate' (details 3a and 3b). This concerns Sir Montagnu S.F. Monier-Williams around 1885 a leading author on the subject of figure skating. Whether he designed skates as well is not known. Manufacturer: John Wilson, Sheffield (GB) Mark: details 3c and 3d Technical data: total length: 30 cm, height over ice: 4 cm; platforms: 22 cm long, 6 cm wide; runner blades: 22 mm tall, 5 mm thick, carved; weight 340 g |
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Fig.4:
English club skates, around 1910 These club skates have not been made for the British market. They come from a German factory (detail 4a) and were sold by a Swiss retailer (detail 4b). The English club skates of around 1900 apparently represented a popular model elsewhere too. It seems a bit strange that the runner blades mention that they have been made from English steel (detail 4c). Manufacturer: Eduard Engels, Remscheid (D) Mark: detail 4a Technical data: total length: 32 cm, height over ice: 3.5 cm; platforms: 26 cm long, 6 cm wide; runner blades: 20 mm tall, 5 mm thick, carved; weight 410 g |
 detail 1a
 detail 1c
 detail 2b
 detail 3b
 detail 3d
 detail 4b
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