Mountain Technology Ice Hammer

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Our hammer here in the Jan/Feb 1984 Mountain magazine

Hugh McNicol charasmatic owner of Mountain Technology

Description

‘Mountain Technology’ ice hammer. Metal shaft with rubber grip. Serrated pick, square hammer head and ferrule with hole at top. Three holes in middle of head.

Inscription description

On side of pick, inscription reads “MOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGY” On side of rubber grip “GLENCOE SCOTLAND” and “MOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGY” Stuck on label reads “TECHNICAL HAMMER MOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGY”

Acquisition Method:

Donated by David ‘Spook’ Munro

Number of Objects:

Provenance:

We are not sure of the exact year, but we think it was in the late 1970s that Hugh McNicol set up his little manufacturing business down Glasgow way, and called it Mountain Engineering.

Mountain Engineering subsequently became Mountain Technology which made, and sold, thousands of ice-axes and hammers in the 1980s and 90s in the new factory in Balluchulish, Glencoe.

Mountain Technology got into financial difficulties in the late 1990s and soon went out of business. Having married an Australian girl about the same time, Hugh emigrated to Australia and Scotland lost the ‘all Scottish ice-axe’ and a great Scottish character in one go. NB There are more axes elsewhere in the collection.

Object Production

Production Place:

Glencoe, Scotland

Materials:

metal, rubber

Maker:

Mountain Technology

Colour:

silver, black

Dimensions:

Shaft & ferrule 53(l) x 10(cir)cm. Head 25(l) cm. Hammer head 3(w)cm.

Object Condition:

Condition Date Check:

28/04/2009

Administration

Accession Number:

597.2008.1

Creator:

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date:

03/12/2008

ID:

Category:

Snow & Ice Climbing

Location

Location:

Current Location

Bohuntin

Rules:

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007