Objects Database

Homemade skis and manufactured poles

Accession Number

1331.2016.1(a-b)

Object Name

Homemade skis and manufactured poles

Created

03/07/2016

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

03/07/2016

Brief Description

Pair of homemade wooden skis with metal tips and ends and lino covered soles. Ramy Wiki bindings with leather straps. Pair of metal ski poles with cane and leather baskets and leather wrist loops.

Materials

Metal,wood, leather,cane, linoleum

Dimensions

Skies - 216(L) X 9(W) cms. Poles - 134(L) cms

Number Of Objects

2 pairs

Inscription Description

On bindings "RAMY WIKI MADE IN FRANCE"

Colour

Red, silver

Provenance

Things of the homemade variety have always been our favourites, telling of a time long ago when money was short and even if you had some there were no equipment shops to spend it in anyway.
A firm called F H Ayres in London were the only major ski manufacturers in the UK and early exponents of the ski art often used expensive imports from Norway,Switzerland and Germany.The other alternative was to make your own as was the case with this fascinating pair.
Shaw Murray made the skis when he was a schoolboy back in the 1960's, hoping to use them in the Ochils up behind his house. They certainly bear a certain schoolboy charm coupled with amazing innovation since the soles are covered in strips of 'lino', the almost universal floor covering of the era - hope he didn't steal it off the kitchen floor! He's also managed to acquire a set of early quick release bindings, though it seems he hardly ever used them. Instead, they sat in his loft for 50 years before he decided to hand them on to us as a little bit of social history - excellent.
Looks as if the poles are bought rather than home made.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Shaw Murray

Acquisition Date

03/07/2016

Condition Check Date

03/07/2016

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

03/07/2016

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