Objects Database

Troll MK5 Sit Harness

Accession Number

372.2008.1

Object Name

Troll MK5 Sit Harness

Created

17/11/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

17/11/2008

Brief Description

Red 'Troll' MK5 sit harness. Red and cream climbing sit harness. Large black metal buckle. Four nylon equipment loops hanging from six metal rings and a straight one with clip on the end. Two large blue nylon backed loops.

Materials

nylon, plastic, metal,

Dimensions

84 ( l ) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

"TROLL MADE IN ENGLAND" written in blue lettering on two black labels.

Colour

red, blue, cream

Maker

Troll

Object Production Place

England

Provenance

Rope,leather and webbing from parachute harnesses were just some of the materials used for early climbing harnesses until nylon tape came along in the 1960's. The Americans wrapped the tape around their bodies in various configurations and called it a Swami belt, and a few 'cool' Brits did the same.
In 1970, not long after his successful climb of the Troll Wall in Norway, Tony Howard set up his manufacturing equipment company, Troll. The company were one of the first to embrace the new tape technology and produce rock climbing harnesses made from it. The Troll Whillans was by far the best known harness to come out of the Troll stable, though they had several others, one of which we have here in our collection. There was a Troll MK5 and MK6 at least and we are not quite sure which one this is but we do know that it once belonged to Mountain Guide, Bill Newton.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Bill Newton

Acquisition Date

17/11/2008

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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