Objects Database

Nansen sledge

Accession Number

647.2008.1

Object Name

Nansen sledge

Created

11/12/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

11/12/2008

Brief Description

'Nansen' mountain rescue stretcher/sledge. Six wooden slats and curved wooden frame, anchored to wooden posts tied with string and nailed to two wooden runners. Slats tied to middle of three cross slats with leather thongs. Ends of frame wrapped in string.

Materials

wood, leather, string, metal

Dimensions

220(l) x 62(w) x 17.5(h) cms.

Number Of Objects

1

Colour

white

Provenance

Another relic from World War II. This one came from Glen Clova in the Angus glens where it was used by the Carn Dearg Mountaineering Club and Tayside Mountain Rescue Team; how they got it in the first place we are not sure.
This type of stretcher seems to be a variation, probably by the Military, of the sledge that Fridtjof Nansen developed for his Arctic explorations and may well be pre WWII.
The sledge has wooden runners and weighs 20lb. It is designed to be pulled by a man on skis or on foot. The normal load should not be greater than 200lb., otherwise there will be too much reduction in the rate of travel.
In emergency, the sledge is strong enough to carry a casualty. It is, however, very lightly constructed and must not be incorrectly used, otherwise, it will inevitably break. It is intended for light transport only.

Acquisition Date

11/12/2008

Condition

some slats broken

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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