Vintage 1940s Union Hardware Leather Hockey Skates. Decorative Purposes.

Vintage leather ice skates are an older style of ice skate, often used for decorative purposes today. The skates in the image have a two-tone black and brown leather boot, which is a common characteristic of vintage hockey skates from the mid-20th century.. • Materials: Early skates were made from animal bones, but later models featured wooden platforms with iron blades. By the 20th century, leather boots with steel blades became the standard. The boots were often handmade from layers of leather and were taller and thinner than modern skates. • Blades: The first all-metal blade that clamped to a boot was invented in 1848, allowing for sharper turns and jumps. In 1933, the Bauer company introduced the first skate with a permanently attached blade. • Brands: Canadian companies like CCM and Bauer were among the prominent manufacturers of ice skates in the early to mid-20th century.