Pole climbing irons, 1900-1960

Pole climbing irons for single pole Pole climbing irons for single pole Pole climbing irons for single pole Pole climbing irons for single pole Pole climbing irons for single pole Pole climbing irons for single pole

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Pole climbing irons for single pole
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pole climbing irons for single pole
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pole climbing irons for single pole
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pole climbing irons for single pole
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pole climbing irons for single pole
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pole climbing irons for single pole
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pole climbing irons for single pole, probably made by the General Post Office, British, 1900-1960.

Climbing irons were used by linemen maintaining open wire telephone pole routes. These poles were used in long-distance telephony, and were technically challenging, as heavy-duty solid copper wires had to be suspended, often requiring pairs of poles to support them. These poles were susceptible to weather extremes such as strong winds or heavy snow. Ladder rungs were not fitted to the poles so the linemen wore such irons around their calves and scrambled up the poles, pointed prongs on the irons providing the grip.

Details

Category:
Telecommunications
Object Number:
2004-121
Materials:
leather and metal (unknown)
Measurements:
overall: 440 mm x 140 mm x 90 mm, 1.67kg
type:
leg irons
credit:
Donated by BT Heritage and Archives