Objects Database

Stubai Instep Crampons

Accession Number

335.2008.1

Object Name

Stubai Instep Crampons

Created

12/11/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

12/11/2008

Brief Description

Stubai Instep Crampons. Four points. Webbing straps.

Materials

metal, webbing

Dimensions

10.5(l) x 8(w) cms

Number Of Objects

1 pair

Inscription Description

Inscription reads "STUBAI AUSTRIA"

Colour

silver

Maker

Stubai

Object Production Place

Austria

Provenance

We are not sure if they actually mined the ore there, but we do know that the good folk of Fulpmes in the Stubai area of Austria have been working with iron since the Middle Ages. In 1897 a group of local blacksmiths got together to form a co-operative to market their products which, at this time were mainly tools and implements for farming. The co-operative, which became known as Stubai, soon branched out into mountaineering products to cater for the boom in the sport during what has become known as the Golden Age - 1860..ish to the outbreak of World War 1. Crampons, ice axes and later, karabiners, were their staple products in the early days and remain pretty much so over a hundred years later since Stubai is still going strong in 2013.
Instep crampons were developed mainly for glacier walking as there was a big market for tourists in the Alps who didn't necessarily want to climb but did want to go on the glacier. There was the added use of wearing them on icy pavements and out in the country for agricultural purposes. Interestingly, some 60 years after these little pair of 'insteps' were first produced - circa 1950 - we have lots of modern versions on the market, the most common being Yak Traks which are basically a mixture of rubber and spring like metal that stretch under the boot. Mick Tighe collected the pair of ' insteps' opposite, though he's not sure where!

Acquisition Method

Donated by Mick Tighe

Acquisition Date

12/11/2008

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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