Introduction
The patent application for the Nelsen Surf Coaster was filed on 24 April 1913, and granted on 21 July, 1914.
See:
US 1104441 A
https://www.google.com/patents/US1104441

In 1932, William L. Wheeler filed a patent for a surfboard attachment, to be affixed to a Nelsen surfboard, see:
Surf board attachment US 1865985 A
https://www.google.com/patents/US1865985

Also see:
1917 A. M. Nelsen : Surf Kayak.
and
1920 A. C. Davidson Co. : Nelsen Surf Coaster.
and
Steve Wilkings Photography
http://www.stevewilkings.com/default.php
Select: 1932 and Search.
An ACME News service photo of Margaret Olson holding a new type of surfboard designed by Bill Wheeler. Photo was taken May 10, 1932.
Note that the prone board has a white long based keel fin mounted with metal L-brackets.

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Page 706 Coasting the Combers (6) The Nelsen Coaster adds fun to surf bathing

SURF coasting is a product of Hawaii of the good things imported from our Island Territory along with pineapples, grass skirts, and cabaret singers.
In fact, it has a shade the advantage over these other attractions, for pineapples give some people a pain and so do G.S. and C.8., but surf coasting is pure sport with no after effects.
There are few things more exhilarating than to come rushing to the beach at express train speed atop a foam-crested breaker and the universal appeal of the game is attested by its tremendous popularity along our Pacific Coast.
The Nelsen surf-board is our American adaptation of the Hawaiian original.
It consists of a board from three to four feet long, canvas-covered and terminating at one end in a water-tight metal compartment.
The bather swims out to the surf line pushing the board before him, turns about facing the beach, gets a good grip, and stretches
himself along the length of the coaster.
The first big comber picks him up and delivers him high and dry with a speed that will make his head swim.
It’s great sport.

The Nelsen board comes from Long Beach,California and at this writing the supply of the Eastern agent is low.
Because of the present freight congestion it takes several weeks to make deliveries-therefore, if you want to get into the swim- do it now.
The coaster may be had either plain or canvas-covered and ranges in price from $2.25 to $7.50, according to length.

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Outing Magazine: Coasting the Breakers. Outing Editor: Albert Britt Outing Publishing Company, New York, Chicago Volume 70, August 1917. Hathi Trust https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b3420034

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