UKH

Can anyone explain this contraption on the old Grivel Top Machine?

My guesses are its either for cranking in ice screws without a handle, or prying out pegs.

Either way, I’ve not seen anything like it before so its caught my interest.

edit: according to this Slovakian(?) page its for hanging on the harness… https://james.sk/jclshow.asp?Id=367

That would have been my first guess too 

I remember them - doesn't even seem that long ago! Yep, harness clip, I seem to remember pics of Haston doing some alpine mixed routes with no gloves, so he could hold dry holds with hands instead of tools. Probably that sort of logic.