HISTORIC CANADIAN SPEED SKATING LOT, 1935-1936

VINTAGE SPEED SKATING EQUIPMENT AND COMPETITION BIB, CIRCA 1935�1936
AN IMPORTANT ARCHIVAL LOT OF EARLY 20TH-CENTURY CANADIAN WOMEN’S SPORTS HISTORY, COMPRISING A PAIR OF VINTAGE SPEED SKATES AND A MATCHING HAND-SEWN COMPETITION BIB. THE RETRO SPEED SKATES FEATURE BLACK QUILTED LEATHER BOOTS RIVETED TO EXTENDED TUBULAR CHROME RACING BLADES WITH LEATHER BLADE GUARDS. THE ACCOMPANYING TWO-SIDED COMPETITION TABARD OR BIB IS CRAFTED FROM RED FELT, FEATURING A HAND-APPLIED WHITE FELT LETTER “G” ON THE FRONT AND THE RACING NUMBER “95” ON THE REVERSE.SHOWS EXPECTED SIGNS OF HISTORIC ATHLETIC WEAR, SCUFFING TO LEATHER, CORROSION TO BLADES, AND NATURAL AGING TO FELT COMPONENT PARTS.
THE FELT BIB MEASURES APPORTIONED TO AN EARLY TEEN RACER. THE RACING SKATES ARE EXECUTED BY CANADA CYCLE & MOTOR CO. LTD., BEARING THE PROMINENT “CCM SPEEDER” STAMP ON THE TUBULAR REINFORCEMENTS, AND THE FABRIC TONGUE TAG “CCM MADE IN CANADA”. THE METAL BLADE BASE IS MARKED “MADE BY CCM WESTON, CANADA” WITH A SIZE IMPRESSION OF “10 1/2”. THE INTERNAL LEATHER LINING CONTAINS HANDWRITTEN VINTAGE ID INK MARKS CORRESPONDING TO CLUB REGISTRATION.
THIS EQUIPMENT REFLECTS AN IMPORTANT ARCHIVAL RECORD FROM THE WINTER OF 1935�1936. THE PROVENANCE REVEALS IT WAS WORN BY A 14-YEAR-OLD FEMALE ATHLETIC MEMBER OF THE GALT SPEEDSKATING CLUB TO QUALIFY FOR THE ONTARIO SPEED SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD AT OAKWOOD STADIUM IN TORONTO, RACING IN THE 880-YARD HALF-MILE EVENT. THE COMPETITOR TRAINED UNDER PROMINENT REGIONAL COACH HARRIS LEGGE.
SKATES MEASURE 16.5 X 8 IN
BIB 18 X 13 IN