The History of the Rollerblade

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The History of the Rollerblade

• By Ryan Kordana

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Timeline of Rollerblades

• Early 1700s, a Dutchman nailed wooden spools to
  wood strips and attached them to shoes
• In 1760 Joseph Merlin invented his version of the
  rollerblade
• In 1863 James Plimptons rollerblades had two
  parallel sets of boxwood wheels which were
  mounted on rubber springs
• In 1983 Scott Olson founded Rollerblade, Inc.
• In 1989 Rollerblade, Inc. produced the Macro and
  Aeroblades models, fastened with three buckles
• In 1997 Lovitt and Winslow incorporated a new
  company, LandRoller
• In 2005, LandRoller made more new designs of
  rollerblades

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Joseph Merlin

• of Huy, Belgium was the inventor of rollerblades
  in 1760
• had the design of metal-wheeled boots
• wore his blades to a party and crashed because he
  did not know how to stop

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Modern Rollerblades

• everyone uses them
• brakes, comfortable cushions, and newer designs
  are some of the improvements
• different wheels
• more complex

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People Who Made It Happen

• ?James L. Plimpton
• Bert Lovitt
• ?Warren Winslow

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Resources

• http//inventors.about.com/od/rstartinventions/a/R
  oller_Blades.htm
• http//www.landroller.com/history-of-roller-skates
  .htm
• http//www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/R
  ollerblade-Inc-Company-History.html