Objects Database

EB rock climbing boots

Accession Number

817.2010.1

Object Name

EB rock climbing boots

Created

19/01/2010

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

19/01/2010

Brief Description

Pair of EB rock climbing boots. Blue suede uppers with yellow stitching and black rubber soles. 18 plastic covered metal eyelets and white cotton laces.

Materials

suede, rubber, cotton, metal

Dimensions

26(l) x 8(w) cms

Number Of Objects

1 pair

Inscription Description

On inside sole inscription reads " MADE IN FRANCE" and "5" surrounded by " MARQUE & MODELE DEPOSES". On outside a suede circle with "EB" surrounded by " SUPER **TTON"

Colour

blue, grey, black, white

Object Production Place

France

Provenance

Early pioneer rock climbers used a variety of footwear and there are tales of rope soled sandals called espadrilles, felt bottomed shoes and for many years Woolworth's tennis shoes, or plimsoles being very popular in the UK. The first smooth soled boots were manufactured by the French, master boot-maker, Edourd Bourdonneau, in 1947, but as the idea came initially from another Frenchman, Pierre Allain, the boots became known collectively as P.A.'s . Bordonneau split with Allain in the fifties and marketed similar boots though this time using his own initials, EB. By coincidence, the Manchester boot maker, Ellis Brigham, was on the scene at the same time and sold EB's in his shops, leading many folk to think that they were made by him.
EB's were almost universal in the 60's and 70's but other brands began to appear in the 1980's such as the Spanish 'Fire' rendering these boots obsolete.
'Gratton' is a french slang term for a tiny edge on a rock face, hence the appellation 'Super Gratton'

Acquisition Method

Donated by Hermione Cooper

Acquisition Date

19/01/2010

Condition Check Date

19/01/2010

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

19/01/2010

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