Objects Database

Tobo skis and poles

Accession Number

1139.2014.1(a-b)

Object Name

Tobo skis and poles

Created

08/07/2014

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

08/07/2014

Brief Description

Pair of Tobo combined skis and poles.Skis have Tyrolia bindings. Poles have leather grips and handles with leather and metal baskets.

Materials

wood and plastic

Dimensions

skis - 200(l) x 8(w) cms poles - 140(l) cms

Number Of Objects

2 pairs

Inscription Description

On skis "TOBO A-B TOBO BRUK TOBO"
A logo/crest with "KUNGL HOVLEVERANTOR"
"COMBINED"
"OLLE WANLUND SPORT AB STOCKHOLM 414333-42248"
"30085" on side of skis
On rubber heel plates "TYROLIA"

On bindings " TYROLIA SKIMEISTER"

Colour

blue with red and white stripes round edge of skis

Maker

Tobo

Object Production Place

Sweden

Provenance

A guy called Rolf Bergstrom started making skis in his home town of Tobo in Sweden back in 1937. We don't know much more about the ski factory, but we do know that this lovely set of skis and poles came from our good pals down at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. They have a museum down there and came across these skis when having a clear out.
We reckon the skis date from the late 1960's at a time when wood was being replaced by glass fibre and various forms of plastic in ski manufacture - this is reflected in the make up of these skis which have a wooden sole with metal edges and a plastic top. They are fitted with an early Tyrolia quick release binding which implies the skis were aimed at the downhill market which was just beginning to blossom at that time. The cable part of the binding still allowed for cross country use if you had the right boots which led this kind of ski/binding combination to be called crossover or combined skis as they were trying to cover both disciplines. Within a few years skis would become very much downhill or cross country with very different construction and bindings. It would be a few more decades on that ski mountaineering, skis, boots and bindings were perfected for operating away from the piste.
Great pair of skis and a lovely pair of 'posh' poles to go with them.
The Tobo ski poster opposite dates from the 1940's - artist unknown. What claims to be an original is for sale on the internet in 2014 for £500 - nobody seems to be buying!

Acquisition Method

Donated by Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh

Acquisition Date

08/07/2014

Condition Check Date

08/07/2014

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

08/07/2014

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