The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
1144.2014.1
Moac sit harness
16/07/2014
Hermione Cooper
16/07/2014
Sit harness with metal buckles and blue sewn loop at the back.
nylon webbing
120(l) x 5(w) cms
1
On label "MOAC MADE IN ENGLAND" and mountain logo
On other label "MANUFACTURED BY ANCRAM INTERNATIONAL LTD FELTHAM ENGLAND
blue, grey
Ancram
Feltham, England
MOAC is the shortened version of Mountain Activities which was part of the Ellis Brigham empire back in the old days and is known world wide for production of one of the world's first die cast nuts-the MOAC.
Brighams were always looking for new and innovative ideas which they would put into production via their marketing and export company, MOAC. This harness would appear to be one of these items, made by a UK firm called Ancram and marketed and distributed by MOAC.
Looking remarkably similar to a Troll Whillan's harness , one wonders how the patent laws were working back then since Troll were the first to produce a sewn harness with big loops attached back in the early 1970's. We have to assume this one post dates the Whillans, so we are guessing it's mid to late 70's as we have some early 70's Brigham's catalogues and there's no sign of a harness like this in them. The little blue sewn loop at the back was known as a cow's tail and was used for belaying.
Not sure where this one appeared from, but we think it's a bit of a rarity therefore a fine addition to our collection.
16/07/2014
16/07/2014
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
16/07/2014