Value of an Original Salathe Piton

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Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 30, 2009 - 02:46am PT
What is something like that going for on the open market now a days?......I know there are some collector experts out there;...thanks
Chicken Skinner

Trad climber
Yosemite
Aug 30, 2009 - 02:58am PT
Got one Todd? I think they are worth a lot.

Ken
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 30, 2009 - 03:07am PT
Yeah;...I have one from Bridwell that we are planning to unload;...along with some other stuff;....I'm like you, Ken;...climbing gear, climbing books, guidebooks, history;...I am facinated by it all.....The Salathe pin is really cool....very, very cool....Jim don't need it....and some fat cat collector probably does!.....anyone help on an approx. value or price it should/could go for?...and it anyone is interested in the pin or other stuff;...I'll be posting any of the goods on supertopo with a link to ebay.......(It's a great opoportunity to buy cool stuff and help out The Bird....)...
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Aug 30, 2009 - 03:13am PT
Make up a certificate to go with it, stating when and where it was found, and by whom, and anything that can be said about the piton and its history - picture, description, etc. Get it signed by the seller. Should help.

If Ken's on-line, I hope that means he's safe at home.
Chicken Skinner

Trad climber
Yosemite
Aug 30, 2009 - 03:14am PT
Where did it come from? History please? How much money does YCA have? or how much money do I have?

How much to close the deal?

Ken

P.S. Anders, I am still in Hawaii and flying home day after tomorrow. I think the house is fine but will not be able to visit for a few days after I return. What a frigging hassle. Kids are all over the place and I would have never gone on vacation if I had known. I put a lot of people dealing with my responsibilities because of circumstances unforeseen. I think there is a reason I do not take vacations.
couchmaster

climber
pdx
Aug 30, 2009 - 11:48am PT

COME ON TODD! COMMMMEEEEE ONNNNNNN! PICTURRRRREEEESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

PICTURRRRREEEESSSS.....AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
Scared Silly

Trad climber
UT
Aug 30, 2009 - 11:52am PT
Rox, Salathe marked his gear with a P inside of a diamond. The P was for Peninsula Ornamental Ironworks. Chouinard copycated the diamond marking.
wack-N-dangle

Gym climber
the ground up
Aug 30, 2009 - 12:32pm PT
Not that I could afford it, but if I found a decent chunk of granite, wrapped a few loops of webbing around my waist, took off with a hammer and that pin, got to a logical point, then pounded it in as the anchor, would anyone be offended?

Also, good idea about provence, or whatever that history stuff is that makes things more valuable.

Maybe link the auction to a few European climbing sites too. It seemed like they were ahead of the U.S. in their support of climber/athletes.

Studly

Trad climber
WA
Aug 30, 2009 - 01:22pm PT
Seems to me that the value of a historic Salathe pin would be based allot on its history. Is it just one that was never used, and is in good shape out of the closet? Then it would not be worth as much. Is it one that Bridwell pulled off some historic climb by Salathe, that raises the bar allot, and makes it a piece of history and probably worth hundreds of dollars.
wack-N-dangle

Gym climber
the ground up
Aug 30, 2009 - 01:26pm PT
good pt. studly. a piece of history around the time of the clean climbing revolution would make a more worthwhile museum display.
Eric Beck

Sport climber
Bishop, California
Aug 30, 2009 - 01:44pm PT
On an ascent of the Salathe route on the SW face of Half Dome in the early 60s, on one of the upper pitches, climbing under a right curving arch, I noticed a piton way back up and in. It was so far back in that I didn't even clip it.

When we got back down, I happened to mention this to Glen Denny. He hiked up there with several ropes, rapped down and got it, a genuine Salathe.
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 31, 2009 - 03:09am PT
I'll post a pic and get the full scoop from Jim on the History of this pin.......thanks....
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Aug 31, 2009 - 03:40pm PT
A friend of mine has a John Salathe piton (diamond P) also.
I don't have a photo of it yet, but I am hoping to get a photo of it one of these days.
couchmaster

climber
pdx
Aug 31, 2009 - 04:05pm PT
I hope that the museums are the ultimate recipients of these handmade Salethe beauties so that or children can see them and touch history. I know that if left in basements, a sudden heart attack of the owner who prizes it so much could have the wife unknowingly tossing it or garage selling it to a non-climber for .50 cents and having the pin basically disappearing from the pin gene pool.

Side note: I get out occasionally with the guy taking care of the Mazamas archives, they'd love to have something like this -especially if it is found locally in the Pac NW: and Kens Yosemite museum is open for donations like a pin or if anyone is feeling sassy and wants to toss a few bucks to him so he can buy the next one that isn't donated.
jstan

climber
Aug 31, 2009 - 04:13pm PT
I was walking across the low desert near Cottonwood once and saw a small piece of native pottery. Very thin so I knew it had belonged to people who had had to carry it. One day I will take it back and put it where it belongs.

Its real value is realized only if it is left in place, I think.
Doug Robinson

Trad climber
Santa Cruz
Aug 31, 2009 - 05:10pm PT
Good example, John.

One day in the Palisades I came upon a bighorn sheep skull, nice horns.

A few years later it was gone. Only climbers would have found that spot, overlooking Temple Crag.

I've heard of a wall or two that might have a Salathe pin. It would be...what? -- interesting doesn't quite cover it -- to ring one back tight with the hammer, clip it and climb on in the footsteps.
Gene

climber
Aug 31, 2009 - 05:18pm PT
See page 161 of Roper's Camp 4 for an idea of value even BITD.
k-man

Gym climber
SCruz
Sep 1, 2009 - 01:37pm PT
My buddy from the UK was out about a year or so ago, and he stumbled upon a Salathe pin. He'd gotten off route on some classic. Funny...a real beauty, it's his key chain now.

Jealous?? Naw...
karabin museum

Trad climber
phoenix, az
Dec 6, 2009 - 02:19am PT
Todd, What ever happened to Jim's Salathe piton? Did it ever go up for auction? For years Jim kept telling me about his Salathe piton. I visited his house a few times but he had misplaced it for years so I never got to see it. I am totally glad that he found it!

Do you have a photo of it. Show us!!! Show us!!!

Below is my Salathe possibility. This thing is bombproof! Found by metal detector 10" underground at the base of the Dihedral Wall. This piton has no markings but is twice as heavy as a lost arrow of the same size. The end is beaten heavily but the blade shows no wear. I have asked 4 of the climbing gods so far and they all lean toward it being 99% Salathe. 1% no since Salathe didn't hand it to me personally. This piton has no info trail, no signed document.

This is a photo of the Salathe piton from the Curry Village climbing store in Yosemite, CA. I am not sure if Ken presently has it on the road or not.

Rock on!

Marty
wildone

climber
GHOST TOWN
Dec 6, 2009 - 10:52am PT
What a beauty!
Messages 1 - 20 of total 61 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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