The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
111.2008.1
Millet Rucksack - Sherpa Rene Desmaison 165
13/10/2008
Hermione Cooper
13/10/2008
Blue canvas and suede rucksack. Drawstring, zipped pockets inside and outside top flap. Canvas straps metal buckles, nylon covered foam back straps. Canvas loop for ice axe.
foam, suede, leather, canvas, metal
54(l) x 42(w) x 15(d) cms.
1
Label on back reads"MILLET ORIGINAL LE SHERPA MARQUE DESPOSEE MODELE RENE DESMAISON"
On other label "ELLIS BRIGHAM SPECIALISTS IN SKI-ING MOUNTAINEERING ROCK CLIMBING & CAMPING EQUIPMENT"
blue, brown
MIllet
France
" "The world's most desired sac. It balances on the back comfortably no matter what the load. Internal wood lat frame. Zipped pocket under lid. Blue cotton duck cloth, grey chrome leather base. All nylon fittings and padded tubular straps""
The description of our rucksack in the 1974 Ellis Brigham catalogue.
However, despite being the "world's most desired sac" Brighams struggled to sell them. One reason was the expensive price, the other was the rather curious fact that a firm called Millets in the UK ( Millet - pronounced meelay - are French) had army and navy stores throughout the UK at the time and most folk thought Millet - the French version - was the same outfit trying to sell over priced ex- army rucksacks!
Sacs Millet, as they were, and still are called in France, were one of the world's largest producers of rucksacks at the time, catering primarily for the huge continental market and the sacs were as good as Ellis Brigham tells us.
The fine example we have here came from our good friend, Reg Popham, who for many years was an instructor at the National Outdoor Centre, Glenmore Lodge.
It was, and still is, very important that instructors look cool when teaching in the great outdoors, so what better way than to be carrying" the world's most desirable sac"
Rene Desmaison was a famous French Alpinist who designed the rucksack for Millet.
Donated by Reg Popham
13/10/2008
28/04/2009
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
28/04/2009