Indian Head Skates

[HockeySavants 5]

Does anyone know much about these?

I found them an antique store with box and these are not like the rec skate but hockey outfit as the box itself says. I'm thinking these are 1960-1970?

btw sorry if pics are large, it's the only size I have them in

[DarkStar50 680]

Those skates are not from the 60s or 70s. There is no achilles tendon guard on the back of the boot. There is also no plastic tip protection on the end of the back of the blade. The skates are probably late 40s to early 50s. Does the box say "Made in Canada"?

[wrangler 157]

Blades and attachment are very similar to skates I saw in the 60s. Boots look a bit older, maybe the 50s, but maybe not. I remember some very cheap skates carried by dime stores, etc., with totally worthless boots. I started in such a pair, and played a lot on my knees, because the boots had absolutely no support. After a while I figured out the problem wasn't weak ankles, got a pair of entry-level Bauers, and could stay on my feet.

You guys who weren't around then would be amazed to see the off- brand junk skates sold at low price points at the time.

[HockeySavants 5]

Here are more pics for everyone's enjoyment:

[wrangler 157]

Some of the markings look like these may not have been bargain skates when they were sold, indicating that the lack of sophisication of the boot construction is due to age, rather than economy. These may be a bit older than I thought at first.

[carodz 17]

Google provided a few links to eBay auctions for skates made by them:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Indian-Head-Mens-Ice-Skates-Box-/110646810337

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Indian-Head-Mens-Size-10-Ice-Skates-New-box-/320708907186

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-LADIES-ICE-SKATES-8-INDIAN-HEAD-BOX-CANADA-/230599771785

Also, this may or may not be the same company, but it might be worth contacting them for more info: http://www.indianheadathletics.com/history.html

Some of the boxes shown in their picture gallery make me think they're the same, but their history makes no mention of Canada (although that I can tell, the only part of the skates made in Canada are the blades).

Edit: One of the above auctions has this: "They come with original box from Indian Head Shoes of Manchester, NH."

[HockeySavants 5]

Thanks for the info! I e-mailed them now for more info, I'm hoping to see if maybe they are interested in acquiring them for display.

[mnpucker 33]

Looking at buying a pair of these, does anyone have baking instructions?

Also what FBV edge would you use on these? Looks like I would probably want to add a couple modifications...thinking Of Step steel, LS2 and some Skate fenders.

[wrangler 157]

Looking at buying a pair of these, does anyone have baking instructions?

Also what FBV edge would you use on these? Looks like I would probably want to add a couple modifications...thinking Of Step steel, LS2 and some Skate fenders.

Once you've replaced the blades and holders, just replace the boots, then you can bake them, and you're set.

[HockeySavants 5]

E-Mail I got from the company:

"You are correct. These skates were made in the late 50's early 60's as a pond skate replicating hockey skates of that era by late my farther-in-laws company, Indian Head Shoe Co. which went out of business in the middle 80's.

I don't know of any company that reconditions this type of product.

Every now and then I get an emails from all over the country from people that find Indian Head skates and want to know their origin. The company even made ice skates for Peggy Flemming.

Thanks for the email and the journey down memory lane. Although I have no interest in the skates, I appreciate you taking the time to write.

Sincerely,

Don York"