ice skates - The virtual ice Skates museum - West Friesland speed skates

West Friesland speed skates

Fig.1: West Friesland speed skates, 4th quarter 19th century
Though these ice skates were made in Germany they represent the family of West Friesland skates well. The platform have a much sought decoration in that they have black smother marks. At the bottom of the platforms the initials J.K. have been painted in gold. These skates belonged to Jan Koning, painter at Hoorn, West Friesland.
Manufacturer: J.G. Walter, Remscheid
Mark:

Technical data:
total length: 37 cm;
platform: length x width x height: 24 x 6 x 3.5 cm
blade: height x thickness: 15 x 4 mm;
weight: 310 g.

Fig.2: West-Friesland speed skates, 1st quarter 20the century
Simple model from an industrial production line. They are distinguished from Friesland speed skates by the lightly back turning wood in the prow.
Manufacturer: unknown
Mark: none
Technical data:
total length: 38 cm;
platform: length x width x height: 28 x 5 x 2.9 cm;
blade: height x thickness: 14 x 3 mm;
weight: 210 g.

West Friesland
Holland is just a part of the Netherlands. It lies in the west and consists of two provinces: North and South Holland. In the northeast of North Holland is a region called West Friesland. It is separated from the province of Friesland by the Ysselmeer, the former Southern Sea. West Friesland is a region with much water and of course there have been West Friesland blacksmiths that had their own thoughts about what would be a good ice skate. Hence a separate family of ice skates can be identified. These skates are sturdy, have large wooden curls and the red or yellow lacquered platforms.