Objects Database

Troll waist belt

Accession Number

376.2008.1

Object Name

Troll waist belt

Created

17/11/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

17/11/2008

Brief Description

Blue 'Troll' waist belt. Large black buckle. Black plastic rectangular equipment loop .

Materials

nylon, canvas

Dimensions

110 ( l ) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

"TROLL MADE IN ENGLAND" written in white lettering on black label on outside. Inscription on white label with Union Jack reads "TROLL MADE IN ENGLAND IMPORTANT EACH TIME THE BUCKLE IS FASTENED CHECK THAT YOU HAVE DONE SO CORRECTLY" Another label reads "U.I.A.A. APPROVED IN (AUGUST 1980) FOR USE IN CORRECT COMBINATION WITH OTHER PARTS. INCLUDING CHEST HARNESS CLIMBER'S BELT TROLL UPPERMILL, OLDHAM, ENGLAND." Also circle with mountain logo. and "UIAA" "MEDIUM" on size label. "TROLL" stamped on plastic loop.

Colour

blue, cream

Maker

Troll

Object Production Place

England

Provenance

Early mountaineers simply tied themselves onto the end of the rope, which was fine until they had a fall - then the single strand of rope around the waist was at best uncomfortable and at worst -terminal!
To try and spread the load a bit ,climbers started wrapping a hemp line around their waist half a dozen times and attaching the rope to that by way of a karabiner as can be seen in the photo opposite.This was almost universal practice until the 1960's when various companies started producing waist belts which were quickly followed by harnesses incorporating leg loops.
The Troll waist belt we have here in the collection was one of the first and dates roughly from the early 1970's. It was salvaged from the Joint Services Mountain Training Centre at Fort George.

Acquisition Date

17/11/2008

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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