Objects Database

Splitkein Mountain Skis

Accession Number

703.2009.1

Object Name

Splitkein Mountain Skis

Created

20/01/2009

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

20/01/2009

Brief Description

Pair of Splitkein Norwegian wooden skis metal edges and remains of Kandahar bindings. Metal heel protectors.

Materials

wood, metal

Dimensions

220(l) cms At widest part 8(w) cms

Number Of Objects

1 pair

Inscription Description

On binding plate "KANDAHAR PATENT MADE IN NORWAY RESVI" Circle at tip with Viking soldier and
"SPLITKEIN ØSTBYE PATENT" On ski picture of Viking's head. Further down two snowflakes and two hills with "SPLITKEIN FJELL - SKI" in between.

Colour

light/dark brown

Maker

Splitkein

Object Production Place

Norway

Provenance

If Rolls Royce had been making skis back in the 1960's they would probably have looked like these lovely Splitkein Mountain Skis.
Splitkein(literally split cane) was a Norwegian company who took out one of the first patents on laminated skis in 1932. For centuries skis had been made from a single piece of wood, but when chemists produced a strong enough glue in the 1930's the ski manufacturers were able to glue strips of wood together and produce a laminated ski which was much stronger, more versatile and more responsive to ski on.
Splitkein had got laminated skis to near perfection by the 1950's/60's and we have a fabulous example here in the collection.
Sadly, the perfection was short lived as glass fibre skis were starting to appear on the market and by the 1970's wooden skis and Splitkein were history.

Acquisition Method

Part of collection passed on from Scottish Ski Club

Acquisition Date

01/12/2008

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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