Skating Palaces in the 19th century
Most people may think that skating on roller skate is a recent invention even when they remember that in the past people skated on quads, the roller skates with 2 pairs of skates. However, the first skates were inline skates developed by a Dutchman, Maximilian Lodewijk van Lede. This was a logical development from the known skates for ice skating. He substituted the iron skate by wheels. Several alternatives were developed through time as can be read in the book Rollermania by Sam Nieswizski. A well known video of the first efforts to go skating in the streets is presented to the side.
The break through came in 1963
Real popular became skating when Plimpton developed his quad type skate. He did not sell his skates to individual persons but only to owners of skating halls. . It seems that this was a good strategy because within a short time skating palaces appeared in all big towns like New York, London and Paris. How popular this activity was at the end of the 19th century we see in the picture below of one of the skating halls in Paris
It is interesting to mention that the popularity of skating in the high society did also lead to skating activities on ice around the same time in the Winter resort Davos. This ice rink became later one of the most famous speed skating rinks.
Real popular became skating when Plimpton developed his quad type skate. He did not sell his skates to individual persons but only to owners of skating halls. . It seems that this was a good strategy because within a short time skating palaces appeared in all big towns like New York, London and Paris. How popular this activity was at the end of the 19th century we see in the picture below of one of the skating halls in Paris
It is interesting to mention that the popularity of skating in the high society did also lead to skating activities on ice around the same time in the Winter resort Davos. This ice rink became later one of the most famous speed skating rinks.