Fig.1:
Saw skates, Friesland skates
with extended blades
Saw skates are characterized by the two nicks in each of the runner
blades
(detail 1). The Dutch word 'zaag' means 'saw' in English. The nicks were
thought to act like saw teeth and thus providing for a better grip when
'clawing' in short track racing and in the turns of 400 meter rinks.
This indeed turned out to be so but a bigger advantage came together.
When braking by scraping the ice sideways the nicks bitted the ice too
and quite often caused the rider to have a bad fall. Therefore the sale
of the skates, that were introduced in 1954, was ceased in 1955
after just one season.
As to make them distinguishably from common skates the bottom of the
platforms were painted white. From paint rests on the blades it is
assumed painting was done after the blades were assembled which is
considered as a bit curious.
Manufacturer: E. Vonk, Oudeschoot;
mark: detail 2
Technical data: total length: 42
cm; height over ice: 3 cm; platforms: 30 cm long, 5 cm wide; runner
blades: 17 mm tall,
1.3 mm thick;
weight: 315 g
Fig.2:
Saw skates, Friesland speed skates
Saw skates
have been made in three models: Friesland skates with short blades,
Friesland skates with extended blades and Friesland speed skates. Here
the speed skates are shown. The museum is still on hunting for a pair of
the common model.
Manufacturer: E. Vonk, Oudeschoot;
mark: detail 2
Technical data:
total length: 43 cm; height over ice: 3.5
cm;
platforms: 30 cm long,
6 cm wide;
runner blades:18 mm tall, 1.8
mm thick;
weight: 260 g
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detail 1
detail 2
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