Objects Database

Huitfeldt/Hoyer Ellefsen Binding on Swiss Skis.

Accession Number

689.2008.1

Object Name

Huitfeldt/Hoyer Ellefsen Binding on Swiss Skis.

Created

19/12/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

19/12/2008

Brief Description

Pair of Swiss wooden skis. Huitfeldt Binding with Hoyer Ellefsen heel strap. Binding fitted through slot in ski, leather heel strap and leather footplate. Early - circa 1920

Materials

wood, metal, leather

Dimensions

220(l) cms At widest part 7.8(w) cms

Number Of Objects

1 pair

Inscription Description

Initials "CNT" on both skis and "495" On sole below tip, a man carved into the wood and "IDR" TAG BERN SPORTS LTD. ( ) J BRUNER ADELBODEN"

Colour

dark brown

Maker

J Brunner

Object Production Place

Adelboden, Switzerland

Provenance

Lots of info on the tips of these skis which tell us they are Swiss, probably made by J Brunner of Adelboden, though we are not 100% sure of that. We are sure though, that the Huitfeldt/ Hoyer Ellefsen binding is the best example we’ve seen outside of a museum, albeit in need of a little TLC.
Fritz Huitfeldt invented his revolutionary binding back in 1894, the first one to give good stability to skis by clamping the toe either side and retaining it with a strapping system. His initial strapping was rather crude but another Norwegian, Hoyer-Ellefsen, created a much better version in 1904 with his toggle tensioning system. The two inventions combined were the basis for ski bindings for decades to come and we are delighted to have this pair of skis + bindings donated by the Scottish Ski Club. We have a good clue as to who the previous owner was with the initials CNT clearly carved on the skis. Unfortunately, we don’t know the full name.

Acquisition Method

Part of collection passed on from Scottish Ski Club

Acquisition Date

01/12/2008

Reference

SSC ref 3

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Normal Location

Bohuntin

Current Location

Bohuntin

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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