The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
1172.2014.1
Joe Brown Harness
05/11/2014
Hermione Cooper
05/11/2014
Harness with four loops and plastic buckle
nylon webbing, plastic
110(l) x 5.5(w) cms
1
On label"JOE BROWN EQUIPMENT FOR MOUNTAINEERS LLANBERIS & CAPEL CURIG WALES"
cream, blue, red
Joe Brown Equipment
Wales
The arrival of nylon tape webbing in the 1960's caused a minor revolution in the way climbers attached themselves to their ropes. For over 100 years they had simply tied the rope around the waist which proved somewhat uncomfortable in the event of a fall - disastrous on a few occasions!
Troll were one of the first companies in the UK to make really good use of nylon tape, producing the legendary Whillans Harness in the early 1970's. Others quickly followed and the Joe Brown Harness we have here in the collection was one. This, and several other harnesses around at the time, were very similar to the Whillans which makes us wonder if Troll had a patent, or maybe Troll actually made the harness to Joe Brown specifications since they had the technology - we're not sure.
We haven't seen a Joe Brown Harness before, whereas we've seen hundreds of the Whillans variety, which makes this a bit of a rarity - thanks to Mountain Guide, Dave (Smiler) Cuthbertson for donating it.
Donated by Dave Cuthbertson
05/11/2014
05/11/2014
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
05/11/2014
Joe Brown Climbing Helmet
Joe Brown Waist Belt
Whillan's harness