Objects Database

Francois Simond Ice Axe

Accession Number

1470.2018.1

Object Name

Francois Simond Ice Axe

Created

15/11/2018

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

15/11/2018

Brief Description

Long wooden shafted Francois Simond Ice Axe with serrated pick and sliding wrist loop.

Materials

wood, metal

Dimensions

94(L) x 24.5 (length of head) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

"FRANCOIS SIMOND 808 CHAMONIX MONT-BLANC"

Colour

brown

Maker

Francois Simond

Object Production Place

Chamonix, France

Provenance

Francois Simond started making ice axes in the Chamonix valley, below Mont Blanc, around 1860, and 100 years later the Simond brand is still going strong.
There were very few British ice axe manufacturers in the early days so continental imports were what most folk used; the Austrian Stubai being the most popular. Simond were not far behind in popularity and got a boost in 1953 when Sir Edmund Hilary took his Simond axe to the top of Mt. Everest.
Dating from the 1930’s, this particular ice axe originally belonged to Frank Barker who was pals with another Frank called Smythe ..... seems they both had a passion for Alpine flowers.
Barker’s widow, Ethel, passed on the axe to Michael Bracewell in 1964 and he toted it around the Scottish mountains for a decade or two before passing it on to us - thanks to all concerned.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Michael Bracewell

Acquisition Date

15/11/2018

Condition Check Date

15/11/2018

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

15/11/2018

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