Hi John, I really enjoyed this trip down memory lane. I hope you get some funding to expand the D4 production process and continue your product development journey. I bought a few A5 tools back in the 90s... wall hammer from Mountain Tools, CA / software from Outside, Hathersage, UK. Still have it. We met once... at a Big Wall Symposium in North Wales around 1999. You were drinking scotch and did not seen very keen to talk to a person wearing a TNF fleece! (Not an employee - a customer!) Best, Michael
Thanks Michael. It is not money (as working as a teacher pays very well in Tasmania,) but more time and effort. At the peak of our recent Tasmania production (still very part time), my role became mostly ensuring supply and keeping machines running. Takes young blood to do it right I reckon. For example, I plan to make more prototypes of a new design I have in mind (a mini Delta2p) but in the same time I could make 5 production models, but I would rather prototype. Sorry if I was off put in Wales, that was a difficult time. Best!
ps. The interesting thing is that back in 80s and 90s, I got annoyed when other companies reverse-engineered my stuff--Tim Maloney, who sewed for A5, told me he saw a fully disassembled A5 ledge in Bend during a climbing trip in the 90s. Unique ideas like the rope bucket almost immediately saw competitor versions, not to mention things like new haulbag features. But now I hope the new ideas percolate.
Still got a rope bucket and the H2O alpine chalk bag too. One of your new D4 ledges passed by down the street from me here in New Delhi last month - I read online. Small world right.
Hi John, I really enjoyed this trip down memory lane. I hope you get some funding to expand the D4 production process and continue your product development journey. I bought a few A5 tools back in the 90s... wall hammer from Mountain Tools, CA / software from Outside, Hathersage, UK. Still have it. We met once... at a Big Wall Symposium in North Wales around 1999. You were drinking scotch and did not seen very keen to talk to a person wearing a TNF fleece! (Not an employee - a customer!) Best, Michael
Thanks Michael. It is not money (as working as a teacher pays very well in Tasmania,) but more time and effort. At the peak of our recent Tasmania production (still very part time), my role became mostly ensuring supply and keeping machines running. Takes young blood to do it right I reckon. For example, I plan to make more prototypes of a new design I have in mind (a mini Delta2p) but in the same time I could make 5 production models, but I would rather prototype. Sorry if I was off put in Wales, that was a difficult time. Best!
ps. The interesting thing is that back in 80s and 90s, I got annoyed when other companies reverse-engineered my stuff--Tim Maloney, who sewed for A5, told me he saw a fully disassembled A5 ledge in Bend during a climbing trip in the 90s. Unique ideas like the rope bucket almost immediately saw competitor versions, not to mention things like new haulbag features. But now I hope the new ideas percolate.
Still got a rope bucket and the H2O alpine chalk bag too. One of your new D4 ledges passed by down the street from me here in New Delhi last month - I read online. Small world right.