Old climbing gear archives?

I’d climbed with an Eastern European guy years (and years) ago and he belayed me with some mechanical device he’d brought to the States. I’d know it if I saw it but can’t find it in searches for historical, vintage, mechanical belay, etc, etc..

Anybody have any ideas on whacky devices it could have been or archives that might? Searches show a lot of bias towards trying to sell new belay gear.

I’ve seen a few collections online (Karabin’s, summitpost, etc., but no luck yet).

You're almost certain to find it here:

http://www.verticalmuseum.com/  

Colonel Mustardwrote:

I’d climbed with an Eastern European guy years (and years) ago and he belayed me with some mechanical device he’d brought to the States. I’d know it if I saw it but can’t find it in searches for historical, vintage, mechanical belay, etc, etc..

Anybody have any ideas on whacky devices it could have been or archives that might? Searches show a lot of bias towards trying to sell new belay gear.

I’ve seen a few collections online (Karabin’s, summitpost, etc., but no luck yet).

Maybe start by describing said device?

I think it was the first belay device in 1970

Figure 8’s were used occasionally before that

Marc801 Cwrote:

Maybe start by describing said device?

It was fucking weird. Like an extending, triangular pointing thing? Lol! Like I said, I’d have to see it. Definitely mechanical, like in the gri gri realm but…different.

Kevin Worrallwrote:

Sticht Plate?

I think it was the first belay device in 1970

Figure 8’s were used occasionally before that

We used a link of chain prior to the Sticht and the 8's.

BTW, that Sticht is the new improved version with the spring. The original gen 1 was just the plate.

ClimbBajawrote:

You're almost certain to find it here:

http://www.verticalmuseum.com/  

Wow! What a resource. Sorta thinking it could have been the tre Sirius but not quite sure.

edit: pretty sure it’s not the Tre, but poring over the vertical museum is worth it even if nobody knows what the hell I’m talking about. It must have been some obscure kit not to make the museum.