Objects Database

Hiatt Pitons 1 and 2 (boxed)

Accession Number

1238.2015.1

Object Name

Hiatt Pitons 1 and 2 (boxed)

Created

08/05/2015

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

08/05/2015

Brief Description

Two 'P' shaped Hiatt pitons in original boxes

Materials

chrome steel

Dimensions

Boxes ...15(l) x3.5(w) x2.5(h) cms

Number Of Objects

2

Inscription Description

On boxes "THE HIATT PN1/2 FLAT PITON SPECIALLY DESIGNED BY METALLIC AND CLIMBING EXPERTS TO bmc REQUIREMENTS MADE OF e n 19 CHROME HARDENED STEEEL HARDENED AND TEMPERED TO 85 TONS TENSILE. ALL MATERIAL AND PITONS FULLY TESTED AND TRIED SOLE DISTRIBUTORS MESSRS BLACKS OF GREENOCK LTD 1-2 HARDWICK ST. LONDON E C 1"

Colour

piton....brown box...blue

Maker

Hiatt

Provenance

Though there is a little confusion about the spelling, it seems that a Mr Hiat(t) started producing prisoner's handcuffs, felon's leg irons, gang chains and Nigger collars in Birmingham around 1780. Fortunately, the leg irons, gang chains and collars were soon consigned to history, though Hiatt as a company survived for over 200 years as one of Britain's, and the world's, leading providers of handcuffs. The factory closed in 2008, though it seems 'Hiatt' still survives under new ownership since Hiatt products are still available in 2013.
Unsurprisingly, for a company that specialised in high quality steel restraint devices, they diversified a little at some point to produce pitons and karabiners. We don't have any direct information of when this came about, but the early karabiners seemed to have appeared in the late 1950's with the British Mountaineering Council approving the large 'D' shaped karabiner in 1963.
We suspect these two fabulous, boxed pitons come from the same era or maybe a little later. It's remarkable that they survived this long in near perfect condition.
Mick Tighe bought them for a few pounds on e-bay in 2015.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Mick Tighe

Acquisition Date

08/05/2015

Condition Check Date

08/05/2015

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

08/05/2015

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