These guys are listed as ‘Verticals’ in the George Fisher catalogue above, though they are sometimes called ‘blades’. They are fairly classic Stubai, roughly made but very strong. Dating from the 1950s they were the standard form of protection for climbers back then. There was a vast variety of different types around, these ones were made of soft steel, the idea being that they would give, and bend, a little when driven into a thin crack, and the rock would bite in. This made them very difficult to retrieve and many were left ‘in situ’, hopefully on the crux of a climb just when needed!
We rooted around in our piton graveyard to find these ones, so not really sure where they originally came from.
Object Production
Production Place:
Austria
Materials:
mild steel
Maker:
Stubai
Colour:
silver, largest one with flecks of red paint
Dimensions:
a)15(l) x 1.2(w) x 3.5(d)cm b)13.2(l) x 2.4(w) x 3.7(d)cm c) 9.2(l) x 1.1(w) x 3.7(d) d) 8(l) x 1.1(w) x 3.8(d)
