Chapter
The Origins of Roller Skates
05:00 - 09:05 (04:05)
In 1735, a man named Mielschott in the Netherlands created a primitive version of a roller skate, lacking toe stops and trucks. The first real roller skate was invented in 1760 by Belgian John Joseph Merlin, who debuted it at a masquerade ball while playing the violin.
Clips
Roller skates have been around since at least the 1700s, with the Dutch being the first to put wooden spools into a line and the English being the first to have documented use of roller skates.
05:00 - 06:07 (01:06)
Summary
Roller skates have been around since at least the 1700s, with the Dutch being the first to put wooden spools into a line and the English being the first to have documented use of roller skates. An inventor from Belgium named John Joseph Merlin also debuted his roller skates in 1760 at a masquerade ball while playing the violin.
ChapterThe Origins of Roller Skates
EpisodeRoller Skating: Fun and Cool
PodcastStuff You Should Know
This podcast episode talks about the history of roller skates, including the first inventor James L. Plimpton and the evolution of the design over time.
06:07 - 07:08 (01:01)
Summary
This podcast episode talks about the history of roller skates, including the first inventor James L. Plimpton and the evolution of the design over time. It also includes a fun anecdote about how a violinist skater crashed into a mirror.
ChapterThe Origins of Roller Skates
EpisodeRoller Skating: Fun and Cool
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The roller skate has come a long way since the fixed wooden shoe design in Amsterdam, with modern skates sporting trucks like those found on a skateboard, allowing for greater control and maneuverability.
07:08 - 09:05 (01:56)
Summary
The roller skate has come a long way since the fixed wooden shoe design in Amsterdam, with modern skates sporting trucks like those found on a skateboard, allowing for greater control and maneuverability.