Objects Database

Eckenstein Crampons

Accession Number

674.2008.1

Object Name

Eckenstein Crampons

Created

17/12/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

17/12/2008

Brief Description

Eckenstein Crampons. Ten points. Front and back joined by hook. Six metal rings on each. Metal loops at the heel

Materials

metal

Dimensions

33(l) x 13(w) x 7.5(d) cms.

Number Of Objects

1 pair

Inscription Description

"ECKENSTEIN" stamped on each one and "44"

Colour

brown

Maker

Eckenstein

Provenance

These crampons came with a whole pile of skis and other paraphernalia from the Scottish Ski Club so we don't know who they belonged to - we do know a bit about Oscar Eckenstein though whose name is on the crampons.
Eckenstein (1854-1921) was a railway engineer and mountaineer of some repute and a well educated English gentleman who climbed extensively at home and abroad. Various types of spikes, claws and rudimentary crampons had been around for centuries, but when Eckenstein took his ice claw drawings to Courmayeur blacksmith, Henry Grivel, in the early 1900's the result was the first real crampon designed specifically for the mountaineer, a basic design that continues to this day. Initially, with no front points(they came in 1929), they were an immediate success, and Oscar even organized a competition for 'cramponeurs' on the Brenva Glacier above Courmayeur in June 1912. Although crampons were embraced in many mountain circles it was to be a long time before Scotland accepted this new 'technology'. Not until the 1960's did the front pointers finally take over from the step cutters in their nailed boots.
As late as 1958 Godfrey Francis, writing in his book; 'Teach Yourself Mountain Climbing' suggests that;
"Crampons (ice claws) should be part of the equipment of every climber in the Alps from his first expedition, but they are not needed in Britain"
Henry Grivel's heirs went on to expand the humble blacksmith's shop into one of the world's leading mountaineering suppliers and we are fairly sure that they made these crampons somewhere along the way. As Oscar Eckenstein died in 1921 we can only surmise that there was some kind of patent or deal that kept his name on the crampons as they were most likely made after his death. Not sure if the 44 stamped on them is a boot size or date.

Acquisition Method

Part of collection passed on from Scottish Ski Club

Acquisition Date

01/12/2008

Condition

very rusty

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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