Elastrator - The cringe factor

What will bring tears to the eyes of grown men - Follow on with what this tool will do. I recommend the video clip.

The elastrator -  a device for the castration and docking of livestock.

The whole device has a surgical look to it, bright chrome finish, enough to make you shiver.
Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastration for a description of the process.

Here it is though
The elastrator - with rubber rings

Ring applied to the prongs


Ring pulled open by the four prongs. The 2 bottom one are pulled down by the centre post

The centre post is marked Elastrator and on the reverse side Made in New Zealand

Now for the real gem The video clip: enjoy

Chouinard Frost - Ice axe and Chouinard - Alpine Hammer

 Chouinard Frost - Chouinard Piolet ice axe and Chouinard Alpine Hammer

Chouinard Frost Ice Axe

The Chouinard Piolet ice axe was first made in 1969 (1972 Catalogue)

Blade markings.

Riveting detail on the handle

End spike

Alpine hammer

By 1972 Chouinard had produced 3 hammers, the Yosemite, Alpine and Crag

Chouinard first produced the Yosemite hammer in 1966. This hammer had a big blunt pick for removing pitons from rock cracks.  The Alpine hammer (below) was first produced in 1967. Its special design feature was the long, narrow dropped pick with notches at the tip. This was for use as an ice dagger on hard water ice. The Crag hammer was produced in 1972. It was lighter than the Yosemite hammer and had a long thin blunt pick. It was designed strictly for free climbing. (1972 Catalogue)

This hammer pictured would be an Alpine hammer. There were many versions of the hammer. The notch and the 4 teeth are indicative of the 1973 version. There is a good message (#80 CHOUINARD ALPINE HAMMER HISTORY - WOOD HANDLES) at http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=762638&tn=80 which details the various styles and dates the hammers were made. 

The hammer was marked on the handle with the C in the diamond symbol then "Chouinard over Made in USA" to the right. The markings on this hammer have been worn down from use but can still just be made out.

The head of the hammer is held on by two metal plates riveted through the handle.

(The hole in the handle is not original.)

A metal wedge is also driven into the handle as well as the hooks for the metal plates.

Reference

http://www.climbaz.com/chouinard72/chouinard.html This catalogue has a history of Chouinard gear. It also has articles on the introduction of free climbing techniques.

 

I have also found a podcast Yvon Chouinard: A Reluctant Businessman where Yvon Chouinard recounts his young life, including his start as an innovator and an entrepreneur in the climbing business. This was part of the "Yvon Chouinard Winter 2011 Oppenheim Lecture" at UCLA in February 2011

 

Also found this article The Craftsman, Four routes, four lessons from Yvon Chouinard which gives some Yvon history and 4 climbs

 

Also see my other blog for - Ice axe - Himalya-Pickel, Modell, Kuno Rainer

Record Imp Vice, No 80

This is the Record Imp Vice, No 80

 

First reference "The "IMP" table vice first listed in Catalogue No. 12, 1933. Last listed in 1982." from http://www.recordhandplanes.com/rare.html

Second reference from http://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/post266429.html

1959 edition of 'Planecraft' states

"The #80 "Imp" Vice is really a minature #74 vice, having 2 1/4" jaws and opening 2 1/2", and in no way must it be confused with either toys or cheap and unsatisfactory vices. It is sturdily and compactly made; the screw is accurately made with machine cut square thread, and there is a parallel grip which is free from any suggestion of looseness. The steel jaws are hardened and of high quality; there is a hardened anvil as in the #74 vice, but of smaller dimensions of course. The slide is of steel. Small tubes and rods can be gripped in the specially designed jaws, and can be bent in the tube bender. It is fastened to the bench with an exceptionally well designed and well-made clamp which is incorporated, which has a grip that is almost unbelievable until it is experienced. The vice weighs 4 1/4 lbs."

I have 2 versions of the Imp vice the maroon one on top and the red one on the bottom. The red one matches the 1959 planecraft description. The maroon one I think is an earlier model

Close up of the maroon (early model) name

Close up of the red (late; at least 1959+) model

The first difference is the screw thread, square thread in the late model, fine thread in the early model

 

Next is the anvil knob, the early model has a groove around it, the late model is straight sided

The  handles are also different the late model having a distinct ball shape

 The colour schemes are also different, maroon for the early and red for the late model.

The clamp washer is oval shaped on the early model. The late model washer was not original as it had been replaced at some stage so it couldn't be compared.

Other features are the same, the pipe bender 

Anvil present on both

Number the same

Both with "Made in England"

Conclusion

The maroon vice is most likely the early version with later improvments in design which were at least incorporated by 1959 but probably earlier than that.

Welcome

I've been buying and selling tools for 16 years and have come across a range of interesting tools. This blog is to share some of the items I've come across and what I've been able to find out.

Come share the journey

Cheers
Barry

PS Where did Barold come from?
My work mate Carmen: "What is Barry short for?" Me: "Nothing", Carmen: "But Harry is short for Harold ... Barry must be short for BAROLD!!!" Thanks for the great name Carmen