Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2013 - 02:06pm PT
|
Ah, the beautiful Dolt pins!
|
|
Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2013 - 02:07pm PT
|
Dolt as a USAF recruit.
|
|
Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2013 - 02:10pm PT
|
Dolt on the Traitor Horn at Tahquitz.
|
|
Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2013 - 02:12pm PT
|
Dolt photo of Gallwas on the first ascent of the Totem Pole. Still has that damn hat.
|
|
BuzzyK
Trad climber
|
|
|
Dec 23, 2013 - 02:42pm PT
|
This is hands down the best trad climbing pack I've ever used. So functional with the pockets the right size in the right place. I had no idea about the maker or potential significance until learning a bit about Yosemite history. It was bought for $5 at a San Jose op shop. I would be really happy to send this to a museum or similar. No good gathering dust in NZ. Does anyone know the year of manufacture? The logo seems modernised from other photos on this post.
|
|
Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 23, 2013 - 04:00pm PT
|
That pack was made after Dolt's death by Tom Limp. Limp had his own pack company called Westridge Manufacturing and later purchased the Dolt corporate name from me and began producing Dolt packs. The label on this one is a very early version of his logo which evolved into the more common Dolt logo shown below.
|
|
McHale's Navy
Trad climber
From Panorama City, CA
|
|
|
Dec 23, 2013 - 04:06pm PT
|
Thanks Clint. That's an awesome shot of Dolt pins Don. Somebody wanted to see a Cobra. Would make my day to see a gold plated Dolt Pin! Just a photo that is.
|
|
Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
|
|
|
Dec 23, 2013 - 06:28pm PT
|
Cool, Dan - I haven't noticed that "vertical" Dolt piton before, but I suppose Marty has one or several! :-)
|
|
Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
Dec 23, 2013 - 08:18pm PT
|
Nice Dolt pieces Dan!
I am also curious about the blade piton. Do you recall when you might have bought that one as I have never seen it advertized.
I wonder what Bill called that design.
Cheers
|
|
LilaBiene
Trad climber
Technically...the spawning grounds of Yosemite
|
|
|
Dec 23, 2013 - 11:54pm PT
|
Don, those pictures are about the best Christmas presents ever, ever, ever....thank you.
|
|
karabin museum
Trad climber
phoenix, az
|
|
|
May 17, 2014 - 08:19pm PT
|
SMC Rappel Ring and RINGDOLT.
Thanks to Eric a few RINGDOLTS have surfaced!
Summit Magazine March 1969 is the first listing I can find for the RINGDOLT rappel ring. What is cool about this RINGDOLT is that it is colored gold. I am guessing that when Dolt colored the Trunuts and Spidernuts around March 1971, he colored the rappel rings as well. RINGDOLT holds 3500lbs and sold for 20 cents.
What is cool about the SMC rappel ring is that when you cut it in half you will discover that it is hollow inside. SMC rappel ring is rated to 2000lbs.
|
|
LilaBiene
Trad climber
Technically...the spawning grounds of Yosemite
|
|
|
May 18, 2014 - 12:02am PT
|
Awesome, Marty. TFPU & for sharing.
|
|
karabin museum
Trad climber
phoenix, az
|
|
Sorry about that, the Ringdolt sold for 1.40 each and the Dolt-O-ring sold for 20 cents in 1967. The Dolt-O-Ring is a better gasket he sold for fuel bottles.
|
|
McHale's Navy
Trad climber
From Panorama City, CA
|
|
|
Jun 24, 2014 - 08:08pm PT
|
Steve, that flat Dolt pin was on my rack in the late 60s. I don't know what it was called.
|
|
Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
Jun 25, 2014 - 12:51pm PT
|
Dan- I bet that was one of his first commercial releases once he had stamps made and a real treasure at that!
There is no reasonable basis for any patent that I can see in that shape beyond being ringless but it is easy to say that one was pending. I wonder what Bill was thinking here?
Thanks for sharing it with us.
|
|
karabin museum
Trad climber
phoenix, az
|
|
|
Jun 27, 2014 - 12:59pm PT
|
I still continually ponder the question on why did William 'Dolt' Feuerer commit suicide. For years I figured it had to do with Chouinard and the amount of new gear being introduced at that 1966-1971 time. Besides Chouinard there was Forrest, Troll, Clog, Colorado Nuts, Moac, Peck, and many more. Maybe Dolt was not willing to compete with these new gear companies and worked himself into exhaustion, at the same time he did not want to show failure.
"I always hoped that the reason Dolt died was because he couldn't hold romance in his life, and he put the passion he sought for into his products." Quotes like this make great hollywood movies!
I believe Dolt looked up to Chouinard, because of Chouinard's climbing skills and his passion for creating climbing gear. They shared a common passion, which shows in Dolts 1960 catalog showing Chouinard products. Was Dolt a major climber? Did he climb every weekend and do expeditions and stuff? I know of a few climbs that Dolt was on, but not many. Chouinard was living the climbing and surfing lifestyle. Dolt was partying with Harding on the Nose, yo-yoing the lower half. The missing piece to my Dolt puzzle may be these Bongs used on the second ascent of the Nose.
I keep looking at these bongs made by Frost / Dolt for the Sept 1960 second ascent of the Nose (thanks Clint). I don't believe that the second hole is on the Bong for weight reduction, but is there for a second tie off option. The Bongs get used on the climb and then are sold afterwards to the public. So at this point Dolt is upset with Frost for selling off the Bongs and giving Chouinard ideas. Dolt still advertises Chouinard products in the Summit magazines until summer 1961. Then mid 1961 Chouinard introduces his line of 4 aluminum bongs for sale, which are similar to the Frost / Dolt bongs. Dolt announces he is out of business January 1962. No more orders accepted after January 31, 1962. Dolt is done with climbing gear.
Chouinard keeps the climbing lifestyle through the early 1960s, while creating a few new pitons and joins the Army in winter 1962 - July 1964. Chouinard hardly advertised his products and only single page price lists of his products were sent to climbing stores until 1965 (?). Dolt works for McDonnell Douglas as an engineer. Chouinard moves to Ventura CA in 1966 and teams up with Tom Frost creating the Great Pacific Iron Works. Many new products start to be created. Dolt announces that he is back in business July 1966. Many new products start to be created.
Now is this the start of Dolt getting back at Frost and getting back at Chouinard by challenging their craftsmanship? Both Dolt and Chouinard/Frost create amazing products. The best gear available at that time. Both at this time put the "USA" on their products. Dolts stardolt 5 super steel pitons are listed as indestructible. Dolt shows his ego through his quirky Dolt advertisements in the Summit magazines. Dolt is the "Master craftsman to mountaineers." Maybe Chouinard and Frost didn't care about Dolts (possible vendetta), and Dolt became frustrated not having the subconscious challenge being presented. Dolt would then find himself buried in orders to fill of his gear, the gear that he lost the reason to create.
This is just a Marty theory so don't take this story as history. Also Tom and Yvon, I love you guys and I am not saying that you killed the Dolt. Good grief! :) I am just saying that Dolt was a very passionate man and something on the inside of Dolts head was bugging him, and bugging him for a long time. I am copying this post to the Dolt Stories thread.
|
|
karabin museum
Trad climber
phoenix, az
|
|
|
Jul 13, 2014 - 02:17pm PT
|
Dolt Toolbox
Don Lauria donated this Toolbox to the Karabin Museum many years ago. This was the toolbox that Dolt carried back and forth to his engineering job at Mcdonnell Douglas in the late 1960s early 1970s. Maybe Don has more history on this toolbox. I like the toolbox since it became the storage place for my Dolt gear. Now every time I open it, it feels like the greatest birthday party is happening.
|
|
dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
|
|
|
Jul 13, 2014 - 05:12pm PT
|
^^^Way cool!^^^
|
|
Roots
Mountain climber
Tustin, CA
|
|
|
Jul 14, 2014 - 08:23am PT
|
Assuming these are Dolt Nutcrackers....why the different lengths?
|
|
karabin museum
Trad climber
phoenix, az
|
|
|
Jul 15, 2014 - 07:00am PT
|
The Nutcrackers were hand forged causing the different lengths. These Dolt nut tools were made after Dolt died so they are not a Dolt made product, but were made from Dolt piton blanks.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!