Objects Database

Cassin North Wall Hammer

Accession Number

1560.2020.1

Object Name

Cassin North Wall Hammer

Created

21/08/2020

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

21/08/2020

Brief Description

Cassin wooden shafted North wall Hammer with serrated pick

Materials

wood, metal

Dimensions

Shaft 44(L)cms. Head 21(L) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

“CASSIN MADE IN ITALY”

Colour

silver, brown

Maker

Cassin

Object Production Place

Italy

Provenance

For a century or so since the creation of mountaineering as a sport, mountaineers relied on their long, wooden shafted ice axes to cut steps up and down their chosen mountain. The 1960’s began a wee revolution in ice climbing as the leading exponents ventured onto ever steeper ice. Better tools were required to hold in the ice, so some modified their old axes by shortening the shafts and drooping the picks....many fine examples of this can be found in our collection.
The equipment manufactureres were quick to get in on the act and the Cassin hammer we have here was one of many variations which appeared in the 1970’s. It’s basically a piton hammer with a drooped pick and a few reverse teeth to stop the pick popping back out of the ice.
This type of tool enjoyed a brief stardom until evolution overtook them, not least of which was the Hamish MacInnes Terrordactyl, a revolution more than an evolution!

Acquisition Date

21/08/2020

Condition Check Date

21/08/2020

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

21/08/2020

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