Vintage Mystery Gear

A friend gave me some vintage climbing gear he had laying around. The two small stoppers and the biner are old school Chouinard. The other stuff is like nothing i’ve ever seen before. Even after pretty extensive research, I can’t find any info about pyramid shaped chocks (?). Does anyone know anything?

Wow! Cool piece. It does have the look of a passive type of rock protection, but the walls look rather thin for that. I'll be curious what it turns out to be. It might be helpful for people here if you can tell if there are any markings on it.

Maybe early aid gear? Can you fit your foot in it?

I don't know anyone who would knot their Stopper cords that way. Those parallel Fig 8 knots could capsize so easily. That big piece? I would bet it's homemade.

Rika J. wrote:

This odd looking hex/nut was also in the mix.

Note the obvious machining marks. Looks custom/hand made. Perhaps the first Hex ever made? Who, exactly, gave you this stuff? Are there any stories to go with it?

Post them up here:

Old Mystery Pro

Good luck!

My friend claims he got them at a swap meet in Moriarty. He used to be a tower climber and they came in a lot with some locking carabiners that he used for that purpose. He’s had them sitting in his basement for a long time.

That thing is awesome! My biggest concern is the webbing pulling against those holes in the direction of a knife. Looks like a joy to rack...

Rika, 

Contact Stephane @  pennequin.nutstory@wanadoo.fr  . 

He probably has the world's largest collection of traditional climbing equipment and the knowledge that goes along with it.

He loves this stuff!

https://www.needlesports.com/content/nuts-museum.aspx

-Tim

Two pieces are home made gear. The first is a piece of sheet metal that was cut, drilled, bent, and then welded. Obviously something someone though would work for wide cracks. The other piece appears to be cut from aluminum bar stock then drilled. Post up a picture of the top. Looks like some one was trying to make their own stoppers.

I like the coffin shaped stopper. I’d be pondering the connection to the afterlife as I placed it...

Allen Sanderson wrote:

Two pieces are home made gear. The first is a piece of sheet metal that was cut, drilled, bent, and then welded. Obviously something someone though would work for wide cracks. The other piece appears to be cut from aluminum bar stock then drilled. Post up a picture of the top. Looks like some one was trying to make their own stoppers.

Rika J. wrote:

Here’s the top.

As I thought, drilled with a bit of a counter sink so not to have a sharp edge. Looks to be about the same size as Chouinard #12 which was the largest stopper made.

BITD there was a fair amount of homemade gear. The sheet metal piece is the most interesting. Take it out to the crag and see how hard/easy it is to place.