There wasn’t a specific time when the change occurred, but it would be around 1976 when body belays finally gave way to belay plates. For over a century climbers had been looping the rope over their shoulders or wrapping it around their bodies to get some friction, which would stop the rope sliding should the leader, or second, fall. A variety of gadgets hit the market around this time, all with the same idea, which was to let a piece of metal or aluminium create the friction rather than the body. This wee ‘plate’ was one of the early versions though we are not sure who made it – the small ‘o’ on the side is probably a manufacturing mark. This one came from Mick Tighe’s personal gear, though we don’t think he ever used it.