The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
943.2011.1
Edelrid rope
28/10/2011
Hermione Cooper
28/10/2011
Length of green and red rope.
kernmantle
50m x 11mm
1
green and red
Edelrid
Germany
A bit like the change from hemp to nylon in the 1950's and 60's the change from twisted or hawser laid nylon ropes to kernmantle was a gradual process which began in 1953 when Edelrid produced the first one, but didn't really catch on in the UK until the 1970's and 80's.Kernmantle comes from the German Kern or core and mantle or sheath, the rope having an inner core protected by the outer sheath. The climbing versions were 'dynamic' which means they had elasticity to absorb the shock of a fall, and a common factor in all of these new style ropes was that the nylon fibres ran the full length of the rope. Most of the early ropes were 11mm in diameter whilst in subsequent years thay got thinner without becoming weaker.
We are not too sure , but we think this is an early Edelrid rope from around 1980. We do know it is 11mm and was used by Mick Tighe for many years before being retired.
Donated by Mick Tighe
28/10/2011
28/10/2011
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
28/10/2011