The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-03-22
THE HISTORY OF ROLLER SKATING
The Pr-seat 10 the laird Craze or the kind
IN this CountrY-CostIy Litigation.


Roller skating is by no means modern
amusement 4 patent for "a roller skate WAS
issued in France in 1919. From tina, time to
the year 1853 thsrs were nine patents issued
Tor rosr skates. Tires of these wsrs French
three In. sh ard three American. In all OF
them IN. wheels were act in NXed sockets. and
run only in adirecton parallel with the length
u; tho skate. There was some variation in the
size Of the wheels. aud their number varied
from two TO five. There was un attempt to
a!apt them 20 tbs capabilities OF leo skates by
varying the position and si2s OF the wheels.
but it va, not until 1853 that any success was
secured in making roller skates with which
tho skater could make nll the motions that can
lbs performed ON lea skates. In the year 1868
James l.. Pmpton Of Nav York patented tho
Eu!dab.e roller skats. Tais Was u radical i'm
provement in attaching the runners or rolf
ers to tho stock or foot stand OF the
skats. whereby the rollers or runners
are made to turn or cant by the rocking OF the
stock or foot stand 90 as to facilitate the turn
ing OF the skate on the Ices or floor and admit OF
the skaters performing with ease gyratiuns or
revolutions without tesIinEunIuy the muse es
provomen,s on his own Invention. which were
patented in 1863 aud 1868. and sincs that time
,ner. haNe 6.sn no sss HAN st5 pa"n's for
England and America, But the practical roller
invention. There arc thousands OF persons
engaged In their manufacture. and they have
been introduced about all over the globe.
means the first. 1t IL. III fact the third. There
WAS very extern i've roller skating craze il
skating Kinks and many thousand skaters in
various parts OF the country. and in some
there il now. Rollsr:skalinY halls were esiab-
lishel IN This city by Mr., = impton a. long ago
a Dc we ps
church members, and on ono OCCASION the good
folks astonished their friends. and. in Tact.
Lent They did not awake to the enormity u
tho offence until soma Of the newspapers began
sivoly Introduced in schools and continued In
private social circles for many wears without
sort Of prom iscuous assemhlaGos.
In 1860 roller Skating was startod at NSwrort
was raironizsd by the best society. The Large
dining room Of the Atlantic was used for skat-
ing. and eerGymen. LAWYERS. doctors. and the
most exemplary citizens joined n tho sport.
In lS16 ! conssderabIe number Of isadnG;
melnbers OF New York society were Interested
were promlnsnt,in 1t. Among those who par
wy5s }s%es ~ NJ aSs
Jay, NJ. NJ. Livingston. aud Others equally we'll
known Thsy frst snInTaEed Lyric Hal and
was very select. The public was not admitted.
The first absolutely public roller,skailnc rink
1857 VA aud uu the M MnS took rm hold
there. They had newspaper devoted 70 the
interests NJ roller Skating. published IN Cincln-
matt in 1877. called tho >fnie LoH. At that time
the Kinks were rigidiy conducted; so rs to in
terest the most conservative and orderiy per-
sons. The rules and regulations OF the floor
also were such rs would ohviate many OF the
objections to tho modern skating Kinks.
England, and about ten years ago there was =
roller skating craze in that country similar to
that which prevails hero now with the excep-
ton that 1t WAS started with the deliberate pur.
pose Of interesting the most conservative and
orderly people, and to make 1t reputable
amuSHmRnt. There wer6 A. one time about 400
places for roller skating in England. Mr..
Plimpton invested considerable capital In the
enterprise. ana ~ soon rs h. became success
ful found himself confronted with AN army OF
infringers in the law courts and won ri his
suits. Roller skating in England was conduct
ed Mt first under very high social auspices.
There WAS ono club known as the Prince Club.
and their ch, dren. The suits to Restrain the
infringars Of the American patents attracted
widespread attention. and tho Fri ais were
attended by great crowds The American
pntrntee was denounced az II mcnOpoiist
His law expenses we're enormous. Fabulous
eddy made u great deal OF money from his in
v"ntOn. lie turtsaW the OBJECTIONS that might
lie raised, AMI antIcphai III" strongest argu-
nents now brought to bear against the skating
ulated by stringent contracts. 80 as to lnrostall
and prevent these objections. This he did from
the convict on that, ns u matter OF enlightened
self-intercst, 1t would be most prontatable 10
make roller SKATING respectable.
Mr., Pimrton has had considerable litigation
in this country TO protect his invention. His
patents expired in juno. 1883. He has not
however. lost his interest In roller SKATING. but
deprecates the surroundipgs that have now
eeen connected With IT.