The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
1156.2014.1
Chouinard Stoppers
12/08/2014
Hermione Cooper
12/08/2014
Four Chouinard stoppers. One on rope and three on wires.
aluminium
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
4
"USA 8,7,6" and a diamond with a C in the centre."STOPPER" on the other side
silver
Chouinard
USA
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.
Donated by Art McCarthy
12/08/2014
12/08/2014
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
12/08/2014