The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
1211.2015.1
'Gerry' Piton
15/01/2015
Hermione Cooper
15/01/2015
'P'shaped channel piton
steel
12(l) x3(w) cms
1
silver
Gerry Mountaineering Equipment Company
USA
According to our American pal, Art McCarthy in California, who gave us this piton, it's a 'Gerry' and in the absence of any markings to tell us different, we'd better believe him.
'Gerry' is the shortened version of Gerry Mountaineering Equipment Company which began life back in 1946 under the ownership of Gerry Cunningham who was a pretty handy mountaineer and rock climber based over in Colorado. Seems that he made and sold all kinds of gear including backpacks, tents, cordlocks and pitons.
Not sure how old this piton is - we'd call it a 'channel' in the UK - but Gerry sold out to another company in 1967 so we wonder if it pre-dates that. It's in mint, unused condition, so hard to tell. A nice little piece of American mountain heritage whatever.
Donated by Art McCarthy
15/01/2015
15/01/2015
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
15/01/2015