# Keys and rollerskates **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265 "2008-06-08T21:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/1 "2008-06-08T21:14:20Z")
In the old 70s song the woman sings: I’ve got a brand new pair of rollerskates you’ve got a brand new key. What does one use a key for on a rollerskate? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/2 "2008-06-08T21:15:45Z")
The key would loosen the front and back parts. You’d adjust the skate, then use the key to tighten it again. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/3 "2008-06-08T21:18:24Z")
OK help out a non-skater. Adjust it how? Make the wheels closer to each other side to side? Front to back? How did this impact the skating? ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/4 "2008-06-08T21:25:13Z")
There are two ends to a metal roller skate. One fits over your toe. The other fits around your heel. They slide together like two rails fitting one over the other. [Link](http://www.quadskating.com/skates/roller-skate-types.htm). ETA: The adjustment helps it fit tightly on your foot. ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/5 "2008-06-08T21:25:21Z")
We had all-metal roller skates that you strapped on to the bottoms of your shoes. The front and rear sections had a sliding attachment that allowed you to adjust the length of the skates. There was a leather strap/buckle that went around your ankle to hold the rear of the skate to your foot. There was a pair of ‘wing’ clamps that were adjusted with the skate key to hold the front of the skate to the sole of your shoe. Obviously, this worked best with hard-soled shoes, but those dominated our footwear at the time (late 50’s, early 60’s for me). Anyway, the key went over the end of a screw-gear that moved the clamps in and out, to tighten the front attachment. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/6 "2008-06-08T21:25:59Z")
The key was to adjust the length of the skate. Skates were one size fits all so you had to adjust them to fit. There were also clamps over the toe that had to be tightened so the skate wouldn’t fall off. The skates were worn with your shoes. “Shoe-skates” had rollers attached to a boot, and you bought those to fit. They cost more and only serious skaters had them. You could rent them at skating rinks, like you do with bowling shoes at bowling alleyes. I can’t remember if shoe-skates required a key for anything. Now I have Happy Organ playing in my head. Thanks a lot. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/7 "2008-06-08T21:27:06Z")
Looks like us oldtimers got us a simul-post! ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/8 "2008-06-08T21:30:32Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] Looks like us oldtimers got us a simul-post! [/QUOTE] I’d say you’ve done all right, for a girl. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/9 "2008-06-08T21:33:28Z")
[QUOTE=3acresandatruck] I’d say you’ve done all right, for a girl. [/QUOTE] Hey! MY post included a link to a _photo_ ! (Don’t think I’m going to ask you to skate during Girls’ Choice _now_, 3acres! Even if you do have a truck!) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/10 "2008-06-08T21:40:05Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] Hey! MY post included a link to a _photo_ ! (Don’t think I’m going to ask you to skate during Girls’ Choice _now_, 3acres! Even if you do have a truck!) 😛 [/QUOTE] Oops! I’ve totally blown it. No point in looking for my skates now. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/11 "2008-06-08T21:42:20Z")
I had the kind of skates that go on over your shoes, but I don’t remember a key. We just tightened 'em back up with the wingnut. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/12 "2008-06-08T21:46:09Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] The key would loosen the front and back parts. You’d adjust the skate, then use the key to tighten it again. [/QUOTE] But it’s the girl has the skates and the boy has the key. Why does he need a key, when he hasn’t got any skates of his own? Have you ever noticed the stalker-ish nature of the song? He is avoiding her and is in his room with someone else when she comes calling. I think that “new key” means that the boy’s family has had all their locks changed. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/13 "2008-06-08T21:59:09Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] But it’s the girl has the skates and the boy has the key. Why does he need a key, when he hasn’t got any skates of his own? [/quote] Sigh. So little imagination out there. Anyway, maybe he lost his skates but held on to the key in case he found them again, or maybe he realizes it’s a great way to hook up with a keyless roller-skating girl. > [@](#): > > I think that “new key” means that the boy’s family has had all their locks changed. No, you’ve got to read between the lines. The can’t-say-it-on-the-radio lyrics are “I’ve got a **(newly) functional female sexual organ** and you’ve got a **(newly) functional male sexual organ**.” ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/14 "2008-06-08T22:04:21Z")
[QUOTE=TroubleAgain] I had the kind of skates that go on over your shoes, but I don’t remember a key. We just tightened 'em back up with the wingnut. 😕 [/QUOTE] You’re probably just not old enough to have run across the ones that required a key. The key was actually a wrench with a square hole that turned a square-tipped adjusting screw. It was shaped like a wingnut so as to be easily used with thumb and fingers. I imagine wingnuts (more accurately wingbolt, I bet) were an innovation to get around the problem of kids always misplacing their keys. ETA: Roller skates needing keys were common in the 50’s and somewhat into the 60’s. ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/15 "2008-06-08T22:05:38Z")
[QUOTE=TroubleAgain] I had the kind of skates that go on over your shoes, but I don’t remember a key. We just tightened 'em back up with the wingnut. 😕 [/QUOTE] The skates in **NinetyWt’s** link would tighten with a key. You can see the key mount just forward and above the front wheels in the side view. [Here](http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn106/3aaat/misc/skates.jpg) I’ve marked a copy of that photo to point out the key mount. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/16 "2008-06-08T22:10:30Z")
Looks like us oldtimers got us a simul-post! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/17 "2008-06-08T22:29:53Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] Looks like us oldtimers got us a simul-post! [/QUOTE] And one of 'em has Alzheimer’s. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/18 "2008-06-08T22:35:31Z")
Now it makes more sense. I have only seen the kind that were attached to a the shoe, I had not seen the ones that you attach to your shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/19 "2008-06-08T22:42:42Z")
Those skates were good for ripping the sole off a shoe and incurring Mom’s wrath. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265/20 "2008-06-08T22:51:47Z")
[QUOTE=3acresandatruck] I’d say you’ve done all right, for a girl. [/QUOTE] :: preens:: :dubious: Hey > [@Q.E.D.](#): > > And one of 'em has Alzheimer’s. ! Double hey! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-and-rollerskates/452265.md?page=2)