The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
125.2008.1
Marwa (Stubai) karabiners
28/04/2008
Hermione Cooper
14/10/2008
Two Kidney shaped karabiners with snap links.
metal
10.5(l) x 6(w) x 1(d) cms
2
Inscription reads "M" over "W" "PAT" "AUSTRIA"
rusty silver
Stubai
Austria
Wastl Mariner was an Austrian Alpiniste with many early Alpine climbs to his name, though he is better known for his work in mountain rescue techniques, sometimes being referred to as the Father of Alpine Rescue.
He rose to stardom in the 1950’s with an array of innovative ideas and inventions. The Mariner mountain rescue stretcher became almost universal in Alpine countries in the 1950/60’s complimented by cable ways, winches and pulleys to go with it. You will find excellent examples in our mountain rescue section.
It seems that Wastl also invented/ created the karabiners we have here in the collection in the 1950’s, a time when karabiners were embryonic and folk were looking for the best design ….. the idea with these ones is they can be opened, even when loaded.
We are taking a guess that MARWA is a word play on WASTLMARINER, though we do know for sure that Stubai of Austria made the karabiners for Wastl.
Some of them made their way across the channel in the 1950/60’s but were soon overtaken by better designed and stronger versions.
14/10/2008
28/04/2009
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
08/12/2019