The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
586.2008.1
Ron Fawcett Rock Boots
03/12/2008
Hermione Cooper
03/12/2008
Pair of 'RON FAWCETT' rock climbing boots called 'Masters'. Metal eyeholes. Suede uppers and smooth rubber soles. Laces missing. Made in late 60's.
rubber, suede, metal
25(l) x 9.5(w)cms
1 pair
"RON FAWCETT" label attached to each boot
yellow, blue, black
Clog
Wales
Frenchman,Pierre Allain, was the first man to come up with the idea of smooth soled rubber boots for rock climbing in 1947 and he got a fellow Frenchman, Edouard Bourdonneau, to make them for him. Bourdonneau made his own later on, and rock boots in the early days were collectively known by one or the other Frenchman's initials P.A's or E.B's.
Various other companies entered the market in the 1980's, in particular the Spanish firm 'Fire' and as we write in 2011 there are dozens of different companies claiming that their boots are best.
This is a far cry from the days when climbers used rope soled shoes called espadrilles on the continent ,or 'Baffeez' in the UK. Woolworths plimsoles were popular too. How times have changed!
Ron Fawcett was a top british climber in the 1980's and had his own brand boots made.
Donated by Smiler Cuthbertson
03/12/2008
Smiler Cuthbertson is an International Mountain Guide
28/04/2009
Bohuntin
Bohuntin
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
28/04/2009