"Elektron" Ladders ??

SamT

SamT

Moderator
Received this email recently

I was a caver as a kid - my Dad was Hugh Kidd - DCRO Dr of the 60's-70's. One
of my own kids was asking the other day about caving ladders (those were the
days!) - and I referred to it as "Elektron". As she is a scientist, and knew
a fair bit about metallurgy, she took me to task about it. I had no idea
what "Elektron" was - I has just assumed the name from my childhood. I
gather it is/was a specialist magnesium alloy that was notably lighter than
aluminium.

My question is - did we really use it for caving ladders? Or did we just
assume the name? Does anyone know. My Dad's old mate Tony Huntington (AKA
"Wingnut") might; he is an ex-member of Eldon.
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Now - I didn't realise this - but Elektron is indeed a brand name for a magnesium alloy . 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elektron_%28alloy%29

But  - were caving ladders ever made from it, sounds like its probably expensive stuff, which doesn't fit well with the caving ethos of the 60s and 70s (and 80s/90s/00s/10s!!)
 
paul

paul

Moderator
I know Robert de Joly first designed what we now call "electron" ladders for caving.

From WikiPedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_de_Joly)

De Joly is credited with the invention of the lightweight, portable steel-cable ('electron') ladder, a tool that expanded the possibilities of cave explorations and became standard caving equipment for the next fifty years
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I recall de Joly referring to "electron" ladder in his book(s) - maybt it was a play on words as his design was so light? I don't know what material he used for the rungs though - probably what ever was easiest to get hold of at the time. It's possible he had access to magnesium alloy?
 
graham

graham

New member
I'm sure Paul is right and de Joly used that term, but I cannot find my copy of Memoirs of a Speleologist  :mad:
 
SamT

SamT

Moderator
why did he coin the phrase Electron I wonder, or should it indeed be Elektron.

It sounds quite plausible, that since it was used to make incendiary bombs in WWII, that it may well have been readily available around the time Joly invented the ladder (presumably post WWII) and that this is where the ladders came by the name, the k subsequently being replaced with a c in common language.

 
Bob Smith

Bob Smith

Member
I'm sure I stumbled across the term "elektron ladder" in "Ten years under the earth"  the other day so maybe it was Casteret?

Edit,

just found

Page 181 "The tackle and ladders were made
of rope and elektron, extremely light and thin; my friend R. de
Joly, president of the Speleo-Club de France..."

Illustration on page 183 "de Joly Elektron ladder."
 
Subpopulus Hibernia

Subpopulus Hibernia

Active member
From Caves and Cave Diving, by Guy de Lavaur. published in the early 50's

To [de Joly] we owe the pliable metal ladders used universally to-day, and these ladders have revolutionized exploration technique. With other speleologists, he abandoned the type of ladder used by Martel (weight about two pounds per yard) for ladders used by Martel (weight about two pounds per yard) for ladders, still of rope and wood, weighing only twelve and a half ounces or even nine ounces per yard according to the type. With this type of ladder using steel cable for the sides  and "Elektron" rungs he arrived at weights per yard of four ounces, three ounces and even two ounces for special use. If we take into consideration the fact that the material it-self does not gain weight on immersion in the water in the caves, we realise the real progress made from the point of view of the handling and ease of transport.
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No mention of an exact date of the first ladder though...
 
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