My Ten (more or less)
Most Wanted List
Please email
me if you can help me acquire any of these items for the collection.
Jumar Combi - limited
production around 1977. This ascender was far ahead of its time,
with features like replaceable teeth on a plastic cam. There
was also a pulley attachment. I ordered a Jumar Combi from Ian
Ellis of Speleoshoppe in 1978, but it hasn't arrived yet (this
has become a standing joke between us, since he has a pair and
constantly teases me with them).
- While I'm at it, there were some very early Jumars with "Z"-shaped
teeth instead of the conical teeth used on all later models except
the Combi. Does anyone have any of these that they'd be willing
to donate or trade?
- Peck Hook - this is an old rappelling
device used by climbers. I finally made a copy
using the photo as a guide, but I would much like to have an
original. Does any one in the UK or elsewhere have one that they
would be willing to part with?

The
classic movie "Godzilla versus Gigan" (Godzilla
versus Gigan, Toho Co., Ltd., available on New World Video)
shows a Jumar look-alike being used by the good guys in a successful
escape from the Godzilla tower where they were being held captive
by the cockroach space aliens. Their escape technique is shear
nonsense, but I was immediately intrigued by the ascender. It
appeared to be very similar to a Jumar, but the casting differs
in several respects. For many years I wondered if it really existed,
but in March 2008, Carlo Bellestrero sent me a page from an early
1970s Snell Sport Chamonix catalog that showed that this is a
Japanese copy of the Jumar. It is a perfect match to the one
shown in the movie. According to the catalog, the ascender weighs
310 g. (versus 250 g. for the Jumar). Can any of my
European friends find one for me?
- Pierre Allain decrocheur with pulley - I have the version without the pulley. I know that
I have a picture of one with the pulley somewhere in my files,
but although I've spent many hours searching, I cannot find it.
When I do, I'll post it here.
- Speaking of Pierre Allain, Stéphane Pennequin sent
me a photo of a 1947 design that I had never seen. I would love
to acquire one! Here it is:

- Radeberger Haken: A large German descender primarily used
in elevator rescue, since it is too large for sport use. There
are at least two versions, an older cast aluminum one and a more
recent steel one. The steel version is apparently still available
in Germany, I have not been able to find one (unfortunately,
I don't read German). Can someone help me find either or both
versions?

- VersAscender: Available a few years ago in Arizona but apparently
never put into wide production. I talked to the developer and
he wasn't able to provide one. In a misguided attempt at pseudo-science,
one of the local cavers here drop tested one to destruction,
a favor that I should be tempted to return....
Hobbs Hook - There are at least three variations
to the Hobbs Hook. I have the basic model, but would like to
get the other two - particularly the rope locking model. The
picture shows the rope locking model, which has a modified frame
and two springs that fit over the frame and force the brake bar
upwards. The fire-fighting model appears identical to the rope
locking model except that it has no springs.
- Old handled Clog ascenders: similar to my handled
version A, but with cams like my handleless
versions A & B.
- Coe descenders by Pentincton Engineering: Tom Martin shows
two versions in Rappelling (2nd ed., p. 6-83). These
are similar to my Sewickley
Descender. I can make copies, but would prefer to get some
originals.

- My Hugh Banner ascenders
have excellent safeties, but their web site shows a version with
Clog Expedition/CMI Expedition style
safeties.

This device sold
on the German eBay site in late 2005. Unfortunately, the auction
ended before I became aware of it, so I was not able to bid.
According to the seller, the device is 120 mm. high and
75 mm. wide, and weighs 0.7 kg. Apparently it is an
antique descender that appears to be made out of bronze.
- Although I have quite a few variations of the Salewa
Sticht Plate, I do not any of the three variations illustrated
on the instructions that came with the first one that I acquired.
Two of these also appear on a page from the early 1970s Snell
Sport Chamonix catalog that Carlo Bellestrero sent me, so I assume
that these are 1970-1972 vintage designs:


Thank you...
to the following for sending me items, most of which were previously
on this list:
To
John Sharples for arrainging a trade with the Newcastle Ramblers
Bushwalking Club for a Hopf
Device.
- To Daniel Veelik for sending me a gold-anodized original
pattern Russ
Anderson Figure Eight to replace the one that I lost while
caving.

- Stéphane Pennequin donated one of the early versions
of the Pierre Allain
hook that does not have the recessed lettered area on the
shank.For those who do not know Stéphane, he is the world's
premier collector of climbing nuts.
