I acquired my Trango Pyramid from Exkursion in 1994.
The Trango Pyramid is a square tuber. It is It is machined from 2024-T4 aluminum and has a plastic covered cable keeper. Mine is 51 mm. long, 84 mm. wide, 92 mm. high, and weighs 66 g.
The four sides of the Trango Pyramid are stamped "Trango," "READ," "MADE IN KOREA," and "INSTRUCTIONS," in that order.
The Trango Pyramid is much like the Lowe and Latok Tubers, but has been "squared off" so the rope channels are more rectangular than semicircular.
The Trango Pyramid has a small and large end. When rigged with the small end is next to the carabiner, there is more friction than when rigged with the large end there. I used the pyramid regularly until the Trango Jaws came out. Normally I used two HMS carabiners with the pyramid to get just a bit more friction.
Trango provided the following advice on their web site:
You can rig the Pyramid two ways, with the narrow end against your locking carabiner, or the wide end against the locking 'biner. Over the past six years, we've found that in almost all cases, and with almost any rope or rope combination, the Pyramid will run smoother and stop falls faster when you rig it with the wide end against the locking carabiner. This is because the device tends to travel along the rope in the direction that the taper points (away from the locking 'biner-the retaining cable keeps it close enough) and the stopping power is determined by the angle that the rope makes around the 'biner.
If you are using a really stiff or fat rope, or if your ropes are iced up, it is easier to rig the Pyramid with the narrow end against your locker. In this case the stopping power is not compromised.
My experience supports this advice.
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©2007, Gary D. Storrick