The Chock Wrench
- May be the first Nut Tool offered to the public.
Shown in Summit Magazine June 1974
A while ago in the website forum of Supertopo.com a person came forward and was selling off a bunch of cool climbing gear relics. I was a week late to the sale and the most of the rare stuff had already been taken. I still was interested in a few items and I noticed a outline on the table that looked like a drafting template for drawing lines. The seller mentioned that the item was in with the gear and he didn't know anything about it. I wasn't sure what it was as well but I asked for him to throw it in to the sale and I will take it. As it turns out it is possibly the first nut tool that was created. So I was late to the gear sale, but still ended up with the most rare piece since the other sellers didn't see it since the nut tool is made of clear plastic. I am still blown away that somebody created a nut tool out of plastic and expected it to endure the punishment and pounding that nut tools go through.
- May be the first Nut Tool offered to the public.
Shown in Summit Magazine June 1974
A while ago in the website forum of Supertopo.com a person came forward and was selling off a bunch of cool climbing gear relics. I was a week late to the sale and the most of the rare stuff had already been taken. I still was interested in a few items and I noticed a outline on the table that looked like a drafting template for drawing lines. The seller mentioned that the item was in with the gear and he didn't know anything about it. I wasn't sure what it was as well but I asked for him to throw it in to the sale and I will take it. As it turns out it is possibly the first nut tool that was created. So I was late to the gear sale, but still ended up with the most rare piece since the other sellers didn't see it since the nut tool is made of clear plastic. I am still blown away that somebody created a nut tool out of plastic and expected it to endure the punishment and pounding that nut tools go through.
The Chock Wrench in the photos look like the item is made out of aluminum, but looking closer at the last photo it looks like it is made of white plastic. The article mentions that the Chock Wrench is made of 1/8" Lexan Polycarbonate, which is bullet proof and is weightless. So basically it is made of plastic. The Chock Wrench that is in the museum measures 1/8" thick, and is clear in color and almost in mint condition. I do not know what the letters "PAC" stands for, but they look more like a manufacturers mark than a end users initials. There are no details mentioned in the article of how a climber goes about purchasing one of these Chock Wrenches, but it does appear to be a item that was intended for sale.
