Objects Database

Troll Wedges (early 1960's versions)

Accession Number

1673.2022.1(a-e)

Object Name

Troll Wedges (early 1960's versions)

Created

05/08/2022

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

05/08/2022

Brief Description

Five Troll Wedges on tape, rope and wire

Materials

aluminium alloy

Dimensions

a-2(D) b-1.8(D) c-1.9(D) d-1.7(D) e-2.3(D) cms

Number Of Objects

5

Inscription Description

"TROLL" on each one and "5" on one and "6" on three others

Colour

silver

Maker

Troll

Object Production Place

England

Provenance

The story goes that rock climbers found nuts(as in nuts and bolts) lying beside the Snowdon railway track when they were off climbing and they proved to be much better than the pebbles and chockstones in use at the time. They would be jammed in a crack with the rope threaded around it to make an anchor. Several nuts could be threaded on one rope sling to fit a variety of cracks and fissures….it was the 1950’s and the age of the nut had arrived giving life to the generic term ‘nuts’ a collective term for all forms of rock protection for decades to come.
Blacksmith and Mountain Guide, John Brailsford, was the first to develop a commercial nut back in 1961. He called it an Acorn and early versions incorporated an actual nut as well.
He went on to create what some folk think is the greatest nut of all time,the MOAC, though this was wedge shaped and set the scene for others to emulate.
Companies such as Troll and Clog were quick to follow and we’ve a fine variety of Troll wedges from the 1960’s here in the collection.
These early versions were pretty crude and the production line rather erratic. Three of the ones here are stamped with a 6 even though they are different sizes, the two the same size are stamped 5&6 respectively.
Thanks to Jon Jones, sixties climber, for donating this fine little snapshot of nuts history.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Jon Jones

Acquisition Date

05/08/2022

Condition Check Date

05/08/2022

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

05/08/2022

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