Objects Database

Chouinard Stoppers

Accession Number

1156.2014.1

Object Name

Chouinard Stoppers

Created

12/08/2014

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

12/08/2014

Brief Description

Four Chouinard stoppers. One on rope and three on wires.

Materials

aluminium

Dimensions

a-4(l)x3.5(h) x2.5(w) b&c - 3(l)x3(h)x2(w) d- 2.5(l).x 2.5(h)x1.5(w) cms

Number Of Objects

4

Inscription Description

"USA 8,7,6" and a diamond with a C in the centre."STOPPER" on the other side

Colour

silver

Maker

Chouinard

Object Production Place

USA

Provenance

Until the early 1960's climbers had used a variety of things to make belays/anchors when they were out climbing. They would jam pebbles in cracks and thread a rope around, then someone thought that nuts- as in nuts and bolts- would work if threaded on a piece of rope, and they did. Pitons were much used as well with a selection of pitons along with a hammer being part of most climber's essential equipment back in the 1950/60's.
A blacksmith/climber called John Brailsford, created the first commercially manufactured 'nut' in 1961, calling it an Acorn. He quickly followed up with an aluminium wedge called a M.O.A.C.- named after the company who produced them.
Other UK companies such as Clog and Troll started producing similar wedge shaped things a few years later whilst in America a guy called Yvon Chouinard was doing similar things in his Californian factory which at that time was called the Great Pacific Iron Works, though it wasn't until 1972 that he started producing his Chouinard Stoppers, a fine selection of which we have here in the collection. Chouinard claimed various reasons why Stoppers were so good, but it's plain to see that they were little more than a variation of a M.O.A.C.
Founder of the Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection, Mick Tighe, got a wee trade deal going with fellow collector,Art McCarthy, over in California in 2013. They agreed to swap any excess gear and these Stoppers were part of the deal - thanks Art.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Art McCarthy

Acquisition Date

12/08/2014

Condition Check Date

12/08/2014

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

12/08/2014

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Related Items

Acorn wedges on wire
M.O.A.C. original chock on sling
Nuts

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