Early Mechanical Ascenders

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Re: Early Mechanical Ascenders

Postby GroundquestMSA » Dec 12, 2013 4:10 pm

I couldn't copy the original images from the '65 and '66 issues of the News, but here are some rough sketches showing the Brenot "monkey" and a similar device, the "climbing cam".

It was suggested that the 1965 cam be used with one tied to each foot. For drops of over 20' a third cam on a seat sling was suggested. A template for building your own climbing cam was provided, and they were offered for sale for $4. I don't know the history of Gibbs ascenders, but it seems that the same basic idea has been used for almost 80 years.

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Re: Early Mechanical Ascenders

Postby NZcaver » Dec 12, 2013 7:19 pm

Very interesting. If this assertion is accurate, it seems the ground-breaking Gibbs ascender design was a slightly modified copy of the old Brenot design. Or perhaps just a "curious international coincidence."

Here's a screenshot of that little gem in the October 1966 NSS News.

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Re: Early Mechanical Ascenders

Postby GroundquestMSA » Dec 12, 2013 10:36 pm

Why couldn't you have done that before I spent all that time drawing and scanning? :big grin:

I also sent an email to Dr. Storrick and mentioned this thread, he may have something to add.
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Re: Early Mechanical Ascenders

Postby NZcaver » Dec 13, 2013 7:03 am

GroundquestMSA wrote:Why couldn't you have done that before I spent all that time drawing and scanning? :big grin:

Now where would the fun be in that? :waving: And more to the point, why didn't you just post a screenshot yourself? :shrug:
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Re: Early Mechanical Ascenders

Postby tamarmole » Dec 13, 2013 12:16 pm

Do we know what the Brenot's were made of - Aluminium or steel?
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Re: Early Mechanical Ascenders

Postby GroundquestMSA » Dec 13, 2013 12:43 pm

NZcaver wrote:And more to the point, why didn't you just post a screenshot yourself


I had to use my wife's phone to see the pdf. My internet connection is too slow.
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Re: Early Mechanical Ascenders

Postby NZcaver » Dec 13, 2013 6:59 pm

GroundquestMSA wrote:
NZcaver wrote:And more to the point, why didn't you just post a screenshot yourself


I had to use my wife's phone to see the pdf. My internet connection is too slow.

Slower than redrawing the sketch yourself? (Clearly, yes.)
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Re: Early Mechanical Ascenders

Postby GroundquestMSA » Dec 13, 2013 8:23 pm

tamarmole wrote:Do we know what the Brenot's were made of - Aluminium or steel?

I'll try to find someone who owns Traité De Spéléologie, or a library. I would guess (wildly) that aluminum would be most likely, since it would be easier to work with.

NZcaver wrote:Slower than redrawing the sketch yourself? (Clearly, yes.)

Clearly. I get 40 Kbps on a good day. I usually lose connection altogether in the time it takes to open a pdf of more than one or two pages.
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