The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
1115.2014.1
Littlejohn harness
04/02/2014
Hermione Cooper
04/02/2014
Wild Country Littlejohn harness
nylon, plastic
105(l) x 8(w) cms
1
On label "WILD COUNTRY" "MED"
pink,black
Wild Country
England
Wild Country are perhaps best known for their world famous camming devices 'Friends' which were born out of a collaboration between American inventor of the Friend, Ray Jardine, and British climber, Mark Vallance.
Mark set up his business in the small Peak District town of Tideswell back in 1977, specifically to manufacture friends since Jardine couldn't find a manufacturer in America, and with that side of the business going well the company started producing climbing harnesses in 1979 in collaboration with world renowned climber, Pat Littlejohn.
We are not 100% sure but we think the harness we have here is a fairly early 'Littlejohn' from around 1982/3. Interestingly, it has a cow's tail at the back. This was not part of the original harness, but a later addition which many climbers used as they wrestled with the transition from a body belay to the use of a sticht plate.
This particular harness once belonged to Dave Chalmers who owned the Clan Tent Company down in Greenock. It was kindly donated by his wife, Rhoda.
There's a lot more info on the Wild Country web site www.wildcountry.com
Donated by Rhoda Chalmers
04/02/2014
04/02/2014
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
04/02/2014