Mountain Project Logo

Most valuable ($$$) piece of equipment from historical context

Original Post
jaypg · · New England · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 10

Curious to know what some of the most valuable gear might be from a historical / collectors perspective. What rare collectors items might be out there collecting dust in some unsuspecting grandmothers attic? Are there first edition items that would warrant collectors prices?

JacksonLandFill Wood · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2013 · Points: 40
Joe M · · MA and NH · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 11,725

The most valuable piece of gear is the one that saves your life...

Tom-onator · · trollfreesociety · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 790

Toni Egger's camera

VRP · · Morrison, CO · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 45
Tom-onator wrote:Toni Egger's camera
I think the Compressor Route already says what it would(n't) tell us.
Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
jaypg · · New England · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 10

Joe M... meh!

Stove legs, interesting.

What about the earliest carabiner made specifically for mountaineering /climbing? What is it?

Allen Sanderson · · On the road to perdition · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 1,203

John Salathé iron works are probably the biggest sleeper item that someone might come across.

I believe there are two Harding stove legs still round and well as a few bolts from the headwall on the Nose.

Lee Ortenburger found a bunch of the iron works that Owen and Spalding stashed on the FA of the Grand Teton.

Pins hand made by Yvon are always a find. He has been known to fire up the forge in recent times.

Now the most interesting piece that I have seen is not equipment at all but ephemeral. Many have read about the leopard in Hemingway's Snows of Kilimanjaro. A friend found the leopard during a climb and saved off a tuff of fur and a vertebra. Amazingly she grew up in Ketchum, ID and knew the Hemginways quite well.

Tom Nyce · · Flagstaff, AZ · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 45

I have a bunch of biners that have only the "Alcoa" name (the aluminum company) printed on them. They were clearly made for climbers, and I have no idea how old that they might be.
I also have a signed (by Jeff Lowe) copy of "The Ice Experience."
I wouldn't think any of those are super valuable, but definitely cool to have.

Ross Hokett · · Great Falls, MT · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 266

The ladder pegs on devils tower are pretty cool

jonathan.lipkin · · Brooklyn, NY · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 70

John Irvine's ice ax

David Gibbs · · Ottawa, ON · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 2

Ice Axe sold at auction for 132,000 UK pounds (that's about $213,000 US).

Ice Axe - Guardian

M Sprague · · New England · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 5,090

How about the ice axe used to kill Trotsky? theguardian.com/world/2005/…



Looks like this guy forbes.com/pictures/mhj45lh… bought it, but I can't find how much he paid.
The Ex-Engineer · · UK · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 20

First edition books from the early period of Alpine mountaineering regularly go for $5000+. Orginal drawings, sketches and later photographs from Alpine expeditions in the 19th Century often go for even more.

Even early UK climbing guidebooks e.g. Abraham, Rock Climbing in Skye, 1908 - in fine condition will now set you back $500. Also the classic books about the early 1920s/30s Everest Expeditions can now set you back as much if not more.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Climbing Gear Discussion
Post a Reply to "Most valuable ($$$) piece of equipment from his…"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.