Objects Database

Peck Crackers on wire

Accession Number

543.2008.1

Object Name

Peck Crackers on wire

Created

27/11/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

27/11/2008

Brief Description

Two 'Peck' cylindrical wedges on looped wires. Knarled on sides.

Materials

aluminium, steel

Dimensions

Sizes A12 and A9

Number Of Objects

Inscription Description

"PECK" on one side and "A12" or "A9" on the other

Colour

silver

Maker

Peck

Provenance

Trevor Peck owned a hosiery factory in Leicester in the 1950's and was introduced to rock climbing by Pete and Barrie Biven in 1951, the three of them went on to form a formidable climbing team for many years. Chocks/nuts were fairly embryonic in the 1960's and Trevor dreamt up the idea of this one, which he called the Cracker, in the early 1960's. It was made from knarled round steel, or Duralumin bar cut to size. The larger versions were threaded with rope, whilst smaller ones used the innovative swaged wire system allowing for greater strength and easier placement. Peck also joined forces with Hamish MacInnes in the 1970's to produce the MacInnes-Peck ice-axe which you can find elsewhere in the collection. This particular Cracker came from the old rack belonging to Mick Tighe.