The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
356.2008.1
Compton Climbing Helmet
14/11/2008
Hermione Cooper
14/11/2008
Red climbing helmet. Black and pink canvas chinstraps and plastic moulded chin guard. Black waterproof inner lining with drawstring. Criss cross canvas straps inside. Four stud holes on end of one strap and two studs on other. White plastic torch loop.
plastic, nylon, fibre glass
70 ( circumference) cms
1
Label on canvas inside reads "THE COMPTON CLIMBER MARK II J.COMPTON, SONS & WEBB LTD. 404/422 OLD FORD ROAD, LONDON E.3." "APPROVED TO BRITISH STANDARD NO.4423" written under kite mark. "IAN SUTHERLAND LMRT" handwritten in ink.
red, black
J.COMPTON, SONS & WEBB LTD.
England
J.Compton, Sons & Webb Ltd. were clothing manufacturers based down in Old Ford Road, London. Though they now seem to have been gobbled up by some conglomerate or other they go back to at least the 1930's from what we have gleaned. At some point they started making motorcycle helmets - which interestingly have now become collectors items - and a logical progression from there was climbing helmets as in those days (circa 1960) there was little difference in construction and manufacture of the two types of helmets. Climbers had been wearing woolly hats and flat caps until the arrival of the Compton which was the first ever climbing helmet. This one belonged to Ian Sutherland who, for many years, was leader of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and director of mountain equipment retailers, Nevisport.
Donated by Ian Sutherland
14/11/2008
28/04/2009
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
28/04/2009