Objects Database

Aschenbrenner ice axe

Accession Number

813.2009.1

Object Name

Aschenbrenner ice axe

Created

23/12/2009

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

23/12/2009

Brief Description

Stubai Aschenbrenner ice axe. Wooden shaft. Adze, serrated pick. Pointed spike on ferrule with four flat sides. Metal ring with canvas leash which slides up and down shaft. Rubber protector for spike.

Materials

wood, metal, nylon

Dimensions

Shaft & ferrule 80(l) x 10(cir)cms. Head 32(l) cms. Adze 6.5 (w)cms.

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

A diamond with "STUBAI" inside. Underneath
"MADE IN AUSTRIA" Beside that "ORIGINAL ASCHENBRENNER GES.GESCH." On leash "TISO SCOTLAND"

Colour

brown, leash - black with lime green letters

Maker

Stubai

Object Production Place

Austria

Provenance

We are not sure if they actually mined the ore there, but the good people of Fulpmes in the Stubai area of Austria have been working with iron ore since the Middle Ages. In 1897 a group of local blacksmiths got together to form a co-operative to market their products which, at this time, were mainly farming tools and implements for farming. The co-operative, which became known as Stubai, soon branched out into mountaineering products to cater for the boom in the sport during what has become known as the Golden Age - 1860-ish until the outbreak of World War One. Crampons, ice axes and later, karabiners were their staple products in the early days and remain pretty much so over a hundred years later since Stubai is still going strong in 2013.
The ice axe we have here in the collection is an Aschenbrenner, named after Austrian Mountain Guide, Peter Aschenbrenner, who developed this style of axe along with Stubai. These axes were by far the most prolific throughout Europe and the UK from their inception in the 1930's right through to the 1980's when metal shafted axes became the norm.
Irvine Butterfield was a hillwalker, photographer, author, conservationist and friend of The scottish Mountain Heritage Collection. He donated lots of nice things in his will when he passed away in May 2009 - this ice axe was one of them - thanks Irvine.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Roderick Manson executor of Irvine Butterfield's will.

Acquisition Date

23/12/2009

Condition Check Date

23/12/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

23/12/2009

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