The first patented roller skate (1760) was by Belgian, John Joseph Merlin. His skates replaced the ice skate blade with tiny wheels, the predecessor to today's roller blades. James Plimpton's 1863 4-wheel style went mainstream, the basis for today's roller skates. Patin Bicyclette Road Skates, invented by Richard-Choubersky in 1896, used small, spoked wheels (above). Vertical extensions could be strapped to one's calves or shoes slipped into a large boot.
More detail can be found here.
No comments:
Post a Comment