PAIR 18TH CENTURY COLONIAL AMERICAN CRAMPONS (ICE CREEPERS)

See Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, Neumann, p.162. where the author points out that, water ways, when frozen in winter, provided convenient means of travel in otherwise rugged terrain and illustrates several examples. Crampons, lashed to the boots, assured a sound grip to the ice. This pair chiseled from iron stock as imported from England, is 3 1/2” width. See Bangor Daily News for information on the use of crampons back to the Vikings. This pair likely served in the French and Indian War as well as the Revolution and was part of a traveling exhibit which toured New England in the1960’s. With collection acquisition number in white ink. Pairs rarely survive as most survivors were lost during their working life.