Splitkein (Nor)

Splitkein existed in both the USA and Norway, and was the name given to laminated wood skis that were produced based on innovations in ski construction in the 1930s.  Splitkein means "split cane" and refers to the fact that up until this point skis had been made from a solid piece of wood (hickory, ash etc) and planed and shaped into a ski.  Splitkein skis used multiple wood strips/laminations, which prevented warping and splitting, and made it easier to add camber and shape.

Peter Østbye financed and owned Bjørn Ullevolsæter's patent on the Norway-developed laminated wood ski design.  Østbye's company made skis under the Splitkein name, in a factory at Brugata 3C in Oslo (about 100m north of the current train station).  After the Second World War, Østbye was forced to sell the Splitkein brand and factory as reparations for his support of the Nasjonal Samling (Nazi-affiliated) government.  Gresvig acquired Splitkein and subsequent skis often bore both the Gresvig and Splitkein logos.