Gerry Mountaineering Equipment Co.
From the Gerry website:
Gerry has been synonymous with American outdoor excellence, having produced high-performance and high-quality outdoor apparel and equipment since 1946. Gerry was started in the mountains of Colorado and the brands innovative products paved the way for the active performance fashions on the streets and the slopes today.
Gerry was founded by Gerry Cunningham, an avid skier and outdoorsman, with an innate passion. He was serving in WWII and immediately became aware of the need for sophisticated backpacking equipment. He long had a penchant for designing and building better hiking and climbing gear. He started inventing things out of his own necessity and as a solution to peoples outdoor needs. Gerry's rich history put the brand on the map as one of the true original outdoor brands.
The passion and drive of Gerry Cunningham's legacy will progress the brand into the future. Gerry will continue to provide cutting edge style and elite quality, while staying true to the brands heritage as an outdoor innovator and leader.
From the Gerry website:
Gerry has been synonymous with American outdoor excellence, having produced high-performance and high-quality outdoor apparel and equipment since 1946. Gerry was started in the mountains of Colorado and the brands innovative products paved the way for the active performance fashions on the streets and the slopes today.
Gerry was founded by Gerry Cunningham, an avid skier and outdoorsman, with an innate passion. He was serving in WWII and immediately became aware of the need for sophisticated backpacking equipment. He long had a penchant for designing and building better hiking and climbing gear. He started inventing things out of his own necessity and as a solution to peoples outdoor needs. Gerry's rich history put the brand on the map as one of the true original outdoor brands.
The passion and drive of Gerry Cunningham's legacy will progress the brand into the future. Gerry will continue to provide cutting edge style and elite quality, while staying true to the brands heritage as an outdoor innovator and leader.
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Gerry 1947 catalog
(Piton Supplement January 1947) 
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Gerry Horizontal Blade - c. 1947 
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Gerry Wafer piton - Many of the early Wafer pitons were created with teardrop shape rings - c.1947 - Donated by Roy Tore Fallaas through Steve Grossman 
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These three pitons were in a auction with many 1940s Gerry pitons. No markings are on the pitons. The piton ends are pointed where most Gerry Wafer pitons have a flat tip blade. Pitons are possibly Gerry or 1930s Sporthaus Schuster. 
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Gerry Wafer piton with rounded tip
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Unmarked Wafer ring pitons. Possibly Gerry or US Army
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Gerry Angle piton - Showing two different Angle pitons. One has a square hammer end and a large ring. The other Angle has a angled hammer end and a small ring. - The 1947 Gerry catalog lists this Angle piton in two sizes. - The 1960 Gerry catalog lists the ring Angle piton as U.S. Army Issue. 
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Gerry Ice piton c. 1940s/1950s 
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Listed in the 1953 REI catalog is a American made angle piton made without a ring. The only American company I could think of is Gerry. In the 1958 REI catalog the angle is listed as a Gerry product. Norton Smithe is shown as being the first person to make and sell a ringless angle piton circa 1950/1951. But that item was being sold to friends from a individual. This listing of a ringless angle piton may show that Gerry is the first "company" to make and sell ringless angle pitons. The Gerry CM3 is a 1 1/4" angle, so not considered a "Bong" piton.
-- THE WEIRDNESS:
- It is interesting that the 1953 - 3 oz. American angle listing sells for .50 cents, and the 1958 - 3 oz Gerry angle sells for .40 cents.
- In the Gerry 1960 catalog there is no mention that the Gerry CM3 angle exists.
- The Gerry 1963 catalog names the CM3 angle the "Cowbell" which the weight listing is 5 1/2 oz and it is 4 3/4" long.
- The Gerry 1964 catalog lists the CM3 as 5 1/2 oz and it is 6" long.
- In the Gerry products listing there is a Stubby angle, a CM1 angle, and a CM3 angle, but no CM2 angle?
-- THE WEIRDNESS:
- It is interesting that the 1953 - 3 oz. American angle listing sells for .50 cents, and the 1958 - 3 oz Gerry angle sells for .40 cents.
- In the Gerry 1960 catalog there is no mention that the Gerry CM3 angle exists.
- The Gerry 1963 catalog names the CM3 angle the "Cowbell" which the weight listing is 5 1/2 oz and it is 4 3/4" long.
- The Gerry 1964 catalog lists the CM3 as 5 1/2 oz and it is 6" long.
- In the Gerry products listing there is a Stubby angle, a CM1 angle, and a CM3 angle, but no CM2 angle?
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1953 REI catalog
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1958 REI catalog
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Gerry 1963 catalog
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Gerry 1964 catalog
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Gerry CM3 Angle cowbell pitons
- In the American Alpine Club Museum |
Gerry Cowbell pitons
- Photo by: Edward Henry |
Gerry Cowbell
- Donated by Tom Taber
- Donated by Tom Taber
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Gerry 1955 catalog
Shows the Vertical Piton Stubby Angle piton Horizontal pitons The Horizontal piton design changes for the 1960 catalog |
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Gerry Vertical piton
- c.1955 or earlier 
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Gerry Horizontal piton - Chouinard collection - What caught my eye with this piton is the Gerry manufacturer mark showing the full logo. I have never seen this before where Gerry products were usually marked with a single capital "G." - Shows in the Gerry 1955 catalog. In the catalog illustration the mark is shown. 
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Gerry Stubby Angle piton - Piton eye together or apart - c.1955 or earlier 
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Gerry 1960 catalog 
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Gerry Horizontal piton - c.1960 (late 1950's ?) 
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Gerry advertisement in Summit magazine June 1961.
""Showing"" Gerry Support piton Gerry Knife Blade CM1 Angle CM3 Angle (1 1/4") (I wonder if there ever was a CM2 Angle?) (The Gerry Support piton was made in a two hole version as well). 
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Gerry ad - Summit Magazine June 1961
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The Gerry 1963 catalog The CM3 Angle piton is still listed But the CM1 Angle is discontinued The Knife Blade is discontinued The Support piton is discontinued 
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Gerry 1963 catalog
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Gerry 1964 catalog
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Gerry channel piton
c.1950s - In American Alpine Club Museum |
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After a few hours my friend Rich and I were able to remove the three bong pitons, and replace the second pitch belay station of 5.6 ZIN, in Queen Creek Canyon AZ. We used the "car jack and a three foot long crowbar method" ..... and we lived!!!! But once the pitons were out I was confused on the manufacturer since two of the three were not Chouinard or LONGware. Many years past then I was told that the bongs were made by Jerry Gallwas. But that was not correct. Thinner steel overall, and on the open side: the hammer end is a sharp 90 degree in shape, the front end is rounded.
After further research the bong pitons are made by Gerry in the 1950s. Gerry CM3 Angle Cowbell pitons.
I apologize for the Gallwas misspelling on the display info tag. However the info on the info tag is incorrect.
After further research the bong pitons are made by Gerry in the 1950s. Gerry CM3 Angle Cowbell pitons.
I apologize for the Gallwas misspelling on the display info tag. However the info on the info tag is incorrect.
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