Skating boot
John Wilson
Category
Costume
Date
circa 1900 - circa 1930
Materials
Steel and leather
Place of origin
Sheffield
Order this imageCollection
Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire
NT 82656.1
Summary
Gents skating boots, left. Brown leather boots with steel blade fixed to underside. Marked 'John Wilson, Marsden Bros & Co, Sheffield', 'Puckmaster'. John Wilson was the 17th-century royal toolmaker who designed skates for the Royal Court. In 1841, Queen Victoria requested ‘John Wilson’ skates for herself and her husband. In 1896 John Wilson purchased the business of Marsden Brothers, edge and tool makers, based at Bridge Street Works, Sheffield. In 1898 H.J. and R. Haynes bought the combined businesses of John Wilson and Marsden Brothers and Co of Trafalgar Street, Sheffield and by 1914 they were making skates, edge tools and saws. Still today (2015) John Wilson blades are the choice of Olympic and World Champion skaters.
Provenance
Anonymous donation to the furnishing of Fen Cottage in the 2000's.
Makers and roles
John Wilson , skate manufacturer