Objects Database

MacInnes Ice Hammer(early version)

Accession Number

1508.2019.1

Object Name

MacInnes Ice Hammer(early version)

Created

24/10/2019

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

24/10/2019

Brief Description

MacInnes Ice Hammer with red rubber shaft,serrated pick and rope leash. Red rubber cover on ferrule.

Materials

Metal, rubber, rope

Dimensions

Hammerhead 3.5x3.5 cms. Shaft 49(L)cms Head 23(L) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Colour

Silver, red

Maker

MacInnes

Object Production Place

Scotland

Provenance

4th April- Fatality. Dennis Norman (44) Bucks.,Steven Turney(30) and John Turney(12), both of London, climbing Centre Post, Coire Ardair, Creag Meaghaidh. Thought that steps gave way, belays came out and all three fell to foot of gully. Weather warm and overcast. Alarm raised. Norman killed by fall, Steven Turney very serious injuries and John Turney slight injuries. Large team out on all night rescue effort.
A rather stark entry extracted from the 1971 Scottish Mountain Rescue Statistics, and it got worse since Steven Turney died from his injuries three months later.
Fast forward 48 years and Steven’s brother John, who survived the fall, kindly donated the ice hammer that Steven was holding when he fell. He’d bought it from Hamish MacInnes just a short time before his fall and still has the ‘trademark’ wrist loop made from no 2 Viking Nylon Rope - rare indeed. Interestingly, and rather sadly, MacInnes started making metal shafted ice axes as a result of another fatal accident on Ben Nevis ... check out the MacInnes Massey Ice Axe elsewhere in the collection for details.
Meanwhile, we are pleased to accept Steven’s hammer into our care and his brother John has asked us to include this little epitaph.
”Donated in memory of Stephen (Steve) Turney,
Dec 1942 - June 1971, Died as a result of injuries sustained in fall from the Centre Post route on Creag Meaghaidh on 4th April 1971. Recovered by Lochaber MRT, greatly appreciated”

Acquisition Method

Donated by John Turney

Acquisition Date

24/10/2019

Condition Check Date

24/10/2019

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

24/10/2019

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MacInnes Massey Ice Axe
MacInnes Massey Ice hammer