John Joseph Merlin
Roller Skates
John Joseph
Merlin was born on September 17, 1735 in Huys, Belgium. He had always been considered a genius throughout his life.
When he was young, he worked in Paris as a mathematical instrument maker and made things like clocks, watches and other
fine machinery. He was considered a “mechanical prodigy” of his time where important people such as the
“Spanish Ambassador to England knew of him (Lienhard, John H).” As a matter of fact, that ambassador took
Merlin to London in 1760. In a matter of time, Merlin began working with people such as Johann Bach, Thomas Gainsborough,
Samuel Johnson, and Horace Walpole.
He then produced
a huge collection of quality clocks and watches that were put into a museum. He also built a perpetual motion machine
that ran on atmospheric pressure changes. Merlin built other things like wheelchairs, weighing machines and even robots.
Then in1760, Merlin invented roller skates. These skates weren’t like the roller skates that we are used to. The
first roller skates were actually a metal wheeled boots.
Even though
Merlin was considered a genius, he did have a great sense of humor and liked being the center of attention. When he
invented these roller skates he decided to make a grand entrance at an expensive masquerade party in London. He put
on his skates and rolled in while he was playing his violin. Even though, he was a good inventor, he did not put a break
on his roller skates and he also couldn’t ride them very well. Instead of looking gracefully with his violin,
he couldn’t stop and crashed into a very expensive mirrored wall. After that experience, Merlin didn’t want to
work on his skates anymore.
Instead, he
looked more into his musical interest. Merlin already was a violinist and harpsichordist but he made other musical instrument
inventions such as a barrel organ, “harpsichord with pianoforte action,” and better stringed instruments (Lienhard,
John H).
In 1800, John Joseph Merlin made his own museum called Merlin’s Mechanical Museum to display his
machines and inventions. The museum was popular for a number of years. Here,
he displayed some of his inventions and designs like the automata, clocks, different gadgets and furniture. Even though he didn’t invent all of the things he displayed, he always tried to improve things so
he displayed what things he made better. The museum stayed open until he died
in 1803.
John Joseph Merlin’s Life
·
1735- John Joseph Merlin is born on September 17 in Huys,
Belgium.
·
1760- Merlin moves to London, England.
·
1760- Invents roller skates in London.
·
1780s-Merlin’s Mechanical Museum is founded by Merlin
to display his inventions and technology.
·
1784- Merlin makes the baroque cello
·
1803-John Joseph Merlin dies on May 4th.
Ø Most of John
Joseph Merlin’s life was not recorded because lived about 200 years ago.
History of Roller Skates
·
1700- An unknown Dutch man in Holland
nails wooden spools on a strip of wood and attaches it to his shoes, calls them Steelers.
·
1760- John Joseph Merlin invents
roller skates, makes metal ones.
·
1819- In France, Monsieur Petibledin
makes skates out of a wooden
sole, attached to a boot with rollers.
·
1857-Roller rinks opened in London.
·
1902-A roller rink is opened in Chicago.
·
1908-Madison Square Garden becomes
a roller rink and hundreds begin to open up across the U.S.
·
1960’s-Plastic roller skates
are made with different designs.
·
1970’s-1980’s- Big skating
craze
·
1979-First parallel design (roller
blades) is made, becomes popular until our time.
