The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
1041.2013.1
Ever Ready headtorch in box
15/01/2013
Hermione Cooper
15/01/2013
A red headtorch with attached battery case in its original box
metal,plastic
15(l) x 10.5(h) x7.5(w) cms
1
On battery case "EVER READY" On box " EVER READY HEAD LAMP CATALOGUE NO. 4001 MADE IN BRITAIN"
silver, red
Ever Ready
Britain
We're not too sure when headlamps were first used in the mountains. There's a distinct lack of them in any photos that we've seen from the 1950's and 60's and one time leader of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, Ian Sutherland, has a rather harrowing tale of finishing the North East Buttress of Ben Nevis with a torch firmly clenched in his teeth.
Early 1970's equipment catalogues started to show headlamps, so they proabably arrived on the mountain scene in the late 1960's.
Ever Ready started life in America in 1899 with the British version following soon after in 1901; though it seems the two companies led separate lives pretty much from the outset.
Batteries were their main concern and there were lots of radios and bicycle lamps that needed power. They started making their own lamps in the 1930's and we suspect the headlamp we have here in the collection dates from the 1970's. In mint condition, it's an excellent example of technology at the time. Mick Tighe bought it for £8.00 in 2012.
Donated by Mick Tighe
15/01/2013
15/01/2013
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
15/01/2013