FREE: Skate Key Necklace with Satin Cord and Beads

The listing, Skate Key Necklace with Satin Cord and Beads has ended.

This is a necklace using a vintage skate key that was used back in the 1880's through the 1980's. For those who are not familiar with a skate key, here is a description of their use:
"The old roller skates that fit over a shoe had an adjustable foot and an adjustable toe clamp. A leather strap in the back came across the front of the ankle and buckled to the outside of the foot. The foot length was adjustable by means of two sliding pieces secured by a bolt and nut. To length or shorten the foot, the nut was loosened and tightened with the nut wrench end of the skate key, The other end of the key had a square fitting that fit over the worm gear end of the toe clamps and loosened or tightened the clamps. The entire skate could be taken apart by means of the one skate key." I used to love to skate when I was a child and maybe you remember those times as well..

I found one of these (not hard to find) and decided it would make a fun and unusual necklace set. The elements are simple enough. I attached the skate key to lavender satin cord with which I added sterling silver scrolled barrel beads with disk amethysts between each set. The earrings are simple with lavender ceramic beads with sterling silver spacers between and dropping from sterling silver ear wires.

Skate Keys were worn around the neck with a string or similar cord, so they had to be long enough to slip over the head. The length of this necklace is 30 1/2" including clasp and add 1 1/2" for the skate key.

Whimsical and memorable, I loved creating this rendition of the skate key in the form of a necklace. Hope you enjoy it as well.