UKH

I've just been offered a load of climbing equipment from a friend's dad who sadly passed away. There isn't anything in the collection that I really need however one thing that really caught my eye were the pictured nuts. I've never seen anything like them before and whilst I certainly aren't about to use them I was wondering if anybody else had seen them before and could provide some information about them? 

I've seen them before, or maybe another version of the same idea. Struggling to remember where or when but I think France & maybe some 20 years ago ?

I remember them from more like 40 years ago in the UK, though they potentially could have been French. Never caught on.

Edit: The plascicised cable would suggest these ones were made more recently than 40 years ago, so perhaps a similar idea was tried again.

Laprade nesting chocks from 1979. 

https://verticalarchaeology.com/2014/07/22/laprade-nesting-chock/

If you keep scrolling down on here you'll get to them:

https://www.karabinclimbingmuseum.com/mixed-nuts-display.html

LaPrade Gigogne. The label says '1979', which sound about right.

Edit: Touché, Duncan!

So right country but a bit out on the date,  I spent a few months in France in 1980 so maybe that's when I saw them. Possibly the same visit I saw some nuts made from what looked like blue plastic. Anyone remember those ?

Interesting. I assume the V-shaped pieces slide down the wire to allow the nut to fit in placements of varying sizes?

You can see one or two other 'plastic' nuts on that Karabin page; I think the ones that most people remember are the Mammut Bicoins - although I only ever saw them in red, as shown.

I thinks that's the idea. You get a whole rack of sizes but only one nut. 

Thanks for the info everyone 

Would anyone happen to know if they are worth anything? Obviously for historical interest only and not for usr? My friend ( non climber) is trying to sell off his dad's old rack

The Nut Museum guy might be interested in them ?

I remember reading an article about the worst bits of climbing gear which said that these were a nightmare to remove if they got loaded as they deformed in cracks. 

Phah.. sounds like the sort of guy that had no friends

Just kidding, very interesting idea and link!

I have a feeling they might deform and stick together as well. Only one way to find out I guess.

I had one of those, got it the late 70s I think. Never used it until it got abandoned on an Alpine abseil descent in 2001.