We know that the Andenmatten brothers started making ice axes in Saas Almagel in the Valais area of Switzerland around 1918 though we are not quite sure of the connection between the brothers Andenmatten and F. Andenmat whose name appears on this pair of crampons. Siders which also appears on the crampons is the Swiss/German name for Sierre which is just a few miles down the valley from Saas Almagel so there’s a fair chance that F Andenmat was one of the brothers or maybe a relation. The crampons appear to be of a 1920/30’s vintage which is the same era when the Andenmattens were making ice axes. That era also ties in with the previous owner since Dick Gowers was out and about on the hills in the 1930’s which is when he probably acquired these crampons. Climbers used nailed boots in those days which often negated the use of crampons and accounts for this pair being pretty much in mint condition once we’d removed 80 years of rust! They were kindly donated by Dick’s grandson, Stephen Gibson.