Henley's Manual of Roller Skating

Including a brief history of roller skates and detailed instructions on how to perform advanced tricks and figures, Henley's Manual of Roller Skating features over 200 illustrations. The first patented roller skates were introduced in 1760 by inventor John Joseph Merlin of Belgium. Improvements to the design came in 1863 with Joseph Plimpton's "rocking skates," which made it easier for skaters to turn corners. With these changes, the masses were able to enjoy skating more readily. In the early 1900s, Edvard Petrini invented the now-iconic pedaled roller skate, which resembled a small bicycle pedaling system on each foot. Today, roller skating remains one of the most popular hobbies around the world.