Date This Chouinard Yosemite Hammer

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Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 18, 2012 - 12:32am PT
Okay hammerheads how early does anyone think this Yosemite came out? 1966 was the first year they became available according to the Chouinard timeline.


Gotta love the Tom Frost overhand slipknot sling attachment design!




1966 to 1967 would be my guess by the squared off details and roughness of the head forging.

thekidcormier

Gym climber
squamish, b.c.
Mar 18, 2012 - 12:36am PT
I just bought the same one for 25 bones
Delhi Dog

climber
Good Question...
Mar 18, 2012 - 12:40am PT
Knott sure when it came out, but I have one exactly like it- got mine in or around 1980

cheers
moacman

Trad climber
Montana
Mar 18, 2012 - 12:40am PT
Had a hammer like that in the late 60's. It even had the purple sling on it...

Stevo
renzo

Trad climber
Whitefish Mt
Mar 18, 2012 - 07:24am PT
wow, that pup is in mint shape! looks like a real keeper..I have one just like it that I bought in 1975
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2012 - 10:56am PT
If you fall in love with a hammer, it's your Mother that ends up paying the bill. LOL
Brian in SLC

Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
Mar 18, 2012 - 11:26am PT
I think the older ones have a standard slotted screw instead of a Phillips (sling attachment). Also, the slings seem to be white and have the old Chouinard label on them.

Know I have a photo of one somewheres...

Not sure if they ever changed the head (besides the current iteration with the hole on it). Maybe?

That hammer is minty! Post 60's I'll bet.

Edit to include a photo of what I think is the 66/67 vintage style:


I think the older/oldest Yosemite hammer models had a thinner, narrower pick and maybe straighter too. The handles were shorter a bit. The couple I have are 10 7/8" long versus the more common and later vintage that seem to be in the 11 1/2" to 11 5/8" length.

Oldest slings seem to be white. I've seen purple from maybe around 70 or so. Then blue. Guesses only.

Great hammer!
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2012 - 11:34am PT
Ebay ha been vedy gud to me!

Picked up the hammer and a lovely Doltster recently for less than a c note.

SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
Mar 18, 2012 - 11:35am PT
Steve, I have one that looks exactly like it--but I bought mine
in 1973.



Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2012 - 11:44am PT
I bought my first in 1970 and it had a purple sling like the one above.

Here's what my original hammer looks like these days along with a well-used A5 mallet above it.

Hardly a crisp edge left after four decades of use.
steelmnkey

climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
Mar 18, 2012 - 12:53pm PT
Your OP vintage looks about the same as the one I have...

Grampa

Trad climber
OC in So Cal
Mar 18, 2012 - 01:05pm PT
Steve,
I have the exact same hammer with the pretty purple sling. I bought it around 72.
Al
guido

Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
Mar 18, 2012 - 01:05pm PT
Fritz

Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
Mar 18, 2012 - 01:23pm PT
Steve: Thanks for the gear ID thread. I am away from my vintage 73 Yosemite hammer, but it has a green sling and the phillips-head screw.

Tami: I bought a complete rack of mid-70's Chouinard Hexes, stoppers, and some Chouinard Oval biners a few years back on E-Bay.

Original sticky price-tags on every-thing, even though the bigger nuts were slung with perlon. Nothing looked like it had ever been on a rock.

I suspect there is a lot of un-used climbing gear out there.

The enthusiast wanta-be, sobered up the next day and said wtf?
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2012 - 01:39pm PT
One man gathers what another man shelves...
Eric Beck

Sport climber
Bishop, California
Mar 18, 2012 - 01:40pm PT
Back in the early 60s, I had a part time job in a pruning shear factory. This was G. F. Hickock in Berkeley on 4th street. They no longer exist. Anyway, the handles for the pruning shears were from Hartwell Handles in Tennessee, made of hickory.
Somehow, I mentioned this to Chouinard. It turns out that he also used Hartwell handles on his hammers and was quite tickled at the coincidence.
When I left Hickock, Dick Erb got my job.
Brian in SLC

Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
Mar 18, 2012 - 01:53pm PT
Gather for the shelves, Steve? Bunch of frickin' hoarders...

Comparison of hammers from the under side:

Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 18, 2012 - 04:01pm PT
Thanks for the pick comparison Brian. Lots of variation...

Very cool story Maestro Beck!

A couple more old classics while we are having fun with this.

I dinged this one up a little so that Tami would feel more comfortable.

Charlet- Moser mallet supreme!

Unique head attachment with tapered ferrule makes this a real beauty!


Early CMI hammer.

steelmnkey

climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
Mar 18, 2012 - 04:53pm PT
I was wondering if perhaps some of B-SLC's pick differences were due to user mod? Seems like a few dewds back then liked to file 'em down a little to customize.

Might as well keep the train a rollin'...

Grivel

Stubai

Forrest

Charlet

Stubai (I think)
Brian in SLC

Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
Mar 18, 2012 - 05:23pm PT
Dumber than a box of hammers...






A few strange lookin' models up there. Idears?
Messages 1 - 20 of total 140 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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