Objects Database

Bashie/Mashie (Copperhead)

Accession Number

1216.2015.1

Object Name

Bashie/Mashie (Copperhead)

Created

31/03/2015

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

31/03/2015

Brief Description

Homemade Copperhead on wire

Materials

aluminium

Dimensions

2(l) x 3.5(circumference) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Colour

silver

Provenance

Unusual names for an unusual item of rock and/or artificial climbing gear, even more unusual in this case since we think it is homemade.
These bits of aluminium swaged onto the end of wire were 'bashed' into a crack in the rock with a piton hammer and often got 'mashed' up in the process. Being slightly softer than aluminium copper was often used for the same purpose - these rather logically became known as copperheads.
As both metals are fairly soft the idea was that they would conform to the size of the rock they were being bashed into and make it a safe anchor, though one had to be rather brave to trust their holding powers.
We are fairly sure this one is homemade as it once belonged to pioneer Scottish climber, Bill Skidmore, who was a prolific maker of gear. His widow, Mary, kindly donated a lot of his gear to the collection when Bill headed off to the big mountain in the sky in 2015 - thanks Mary.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Mary Henery

Acquisition Date

31/03/2015

Condition Check Date

31/03/2015

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

31/03/2015

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