The New York herald., 1868-12-25
S X AT E S
What They Have Been and What They Are
The Styles In Vogue.


Among the branches OF trade which receive
decided impetus during the holiday season
the skate business certainly holds no insight
ncant place. The hardware shops toy shops,
sportsmen's equipment shops, ana even some sta
tionery and book shops, have large assortnenls OF
shining runners gittering in the show windows ana
cases or hanging against the walls and shelves
handsome, serviceabe pair OF skates Is very neat
present and since Skating has become 80 popular
the present can appreciated and put to service by
old and young, males and females. Speaking OF
skates 1t may not be out OF place to mention
something OF the
SKATES OF THE REMOTE PAST,
which something can be said in very short space
Where or by whom skating was originated history
doth not tell. some traditionists assert that there
were specimens of the art or skate building and OF
skating anterior to Noah's famous embarkaon; but,
although one might not wish to doubt the state
ments OF these erudte individuals 1t Is very hard TO
believe the story The first reliable information In
regard to skates Is that they made their appearance
In England some two hundred years ago, and that 1t
was believed that they were brought from Germany
by the cavaliers The natural conclusion, therefore,
is that they must have been used in Germany De
fore their introduction into England, but how long
cannot be determined. The account or their
use in England is recorded In quaint
In which ii is said that followers OF the Duke
"followed him into the Park, where though the Ice
was broken he would go slide upon his skates
which l did not like; but he slides very WELL"
historian Of London records the beginning OF skating
IN that town in the following style:-"Wnen the
great fem or (which watereth the walls OF the
cite on the north slde) is frozen many young men
play upon the ice; some stryding as wide as they
may do slide swiftly; some tye bones to their feete
AMI under their heeles, and showing themselves by
little piked stare doe slide as swiftly as bride
nyeth In The air or an arrow out OF cross boW."
From this 1t appears that the earlier styles OF Eng
sh skates were bones, which it is very easy to be-
lieve; but from the statement that the young men
flying as swiftly as bird arrow out OF cross
bow 1t is very evident tnat the historian TO use
modern expression, made mo bones' about teihng
| Wien the improvements in skates were made Is
| also a subject of unsatisfactory explanation; but
many OF the young men OF to-day can call TO mlnd
SKATES OF THE RECENT PAST.
which consisted OF rough block Of wood set on an
iron steel runner the runner ending at the toe in
lengthy tall twisted and curled up over the toe and
| losing itself In knobby BRASS button. Then tnere
were less arst0cratic skates the runners OF hich
ended in rather abrupt spike pointing upwards.
straps passed through mortces in the wooden blocks
! and crossed over the toe and instep like sandal
straps. There was also q heel band or broader ana
stronger leather passing through mortice In the
| heel Of the block over the nstep and Duckled
the ankle In h1se days ana ds ae g
ters in the several streets when frozen
made to DO duty as practising grounds an tnds for
youths, whose feet were too small to nll The
strappings even at the 'last hole" might be
seen tightening the skate by inserting huge blocks
| Of kindiDg wood, like the bridge on banjo, under
the cross OF the foot straps and sliding along "on
onen as Independently as princes "The Fellow
what could 90 on twoH was an acknowledged artist
Those styles continued In vogue until few years
since when the Park pond gave gave, p1pnariy p'anGs y
style; the heels Of the runners were rounded on IKE
the toes, but for some time the individual who ven
ingly reckless. Year after year improvements were
introduced until they were brought very near per-
SKATES OF THE PRESENT
combine such unique and beautiful designs, such
strength and finish as would make the eyes OF tne
delight. There are still remaining few OF the old
styles, but they are 30 very lew as to be objects ol
in vogue are the New York Club, Acme, Empire,
Rink, |. X. L. ralent Clamp and a few others,
Hyatt Spencer's, In Beekman street. IL the spc-
ACME SKATE
which has bnt recently been introduced to the New
York market and is fast making Its way into pspu-
larty Ihe runner 10 very gracefully ana strongly s
mode OF fastening recommends It very strongly. Al
the back OF the heel are two strong, stationary
| clamps The toe Is formed by band Of iron which
is connected with the heel plate by means Of an oval
plate and jointed tongue passing under the instep
|
spring lever. This spring rests when the skate Il
fastened on the foot on the upper edge OF the run
In the oval plate referred to are two irregular open
ings In and by which the screw riyets holding the
sole camps are moved. by releasing the spring
from It's hold on the runner, and pulling 1t out to one
side OF the tongue, which IL slotted near the joint
IS permitted to slide along under the Joint screw.
At the end OF the tongue, near the heel Is clamp
which catches the front of the boot heel, and
when the tongue Is worked along by the movement
OF the lever the catch on the heel released. Al
the same time the oval plate Is drawn backward, and
the buttons OF the sole clamps, moving In the open
the boot. The distances between Tie clamps are to
be arranged at the beginning OF the season and the
skate 10 always ready for use. To adjust the skate
IL In only necessary TO release the spring lever pull
II 10 side, place the skate against the foot with
the heel firmly set against the back clamps, then
push the spring brack to Its resting place on the
runner, and the work OF fastening Is completed
Al the same establishment there b also on exhibit
ton new style Of skate. the iastenings OF which
worked by means OF a tnnmbscrew at the instep.
On the runner are secured the heel and too plates,
on each side OF which plates are two clamps. These
clamps are portions OF two strips OF steel, which
pass underneath the plates the entire length of the
skate, each strip forming what looks Ike an slon.
gated Roman II, with the centre bar oml' ~
Across these clamps, on The upper side 4 Ei-.'sa
the thumbscrcw.. by means Of which tie ci.np.
| ing process " performed.
Tar srw yoRK ctrp SKATE.
| which was introduced a season or two ayo, and
which became almost Immediately vsry popular ha.
been Improved ON IN a manner which wili tend "a
| add 70 iis popularity. One style ~ the improve.
ment h shown At Tilbals' oazasr Broadway. and ~
styled the American isInk skate. The mode OF fas-
tenlng ths skate IL the last years. The I'M
| proyement consists Of toe inc'inlna downward
| from tho fronf OF the runner. and con-
| struCted for the performance OF fancy toe
| movements. There Il also In addition an
edged upright clamp In the centre OF the toe plate,
winch catches IN the middle OF tho boot sole and
helps 10 keep the skate steady on the foot Another
. improvement on the tiuD skate IL Shown nc Posts
. skate emporium. on broadway. The Improvement
here exhibited consists ~ a method OF fastening the
heel button. Last year. 90 ADJUST the skate II was
necessary TO turn " M rignt angie 10 the foot,
then, inserting the heel button In the slot ol the
plato the heel OF the boot turn The skate until N
came 10 ia proper position under the foot and then
fasten tne clamps ON the sole Nv the new method
the sole clamps are adjusted 20 the OF the boot
aud remain stationary. aud tie button In the heel is
worked by q spring lever from underneath. The foot
~ placed securely tue toe plate, the spring IA
turned n o bring the neei button IN proper Do
siton under the slot IN the heel plale the button ~
inserted and the spring turned back il llace thus
f.114.la.r fha ha1iflr arlll aa.l ru A. IL. I.i