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Vintage Bousquet's Ski Tow Gripper Unused on Ebay

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pile
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Location:Swain NY

Posted: Jul 08, 2012 - 4:20 PM GMT

Edited: Jul 08, 2012 - 4:20 PM GMT

Vintage Bousquet's Ski Tow Gripper Unused in Box.
Ebay

When were these in use?

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newman
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Location:The mighty SKI WARD Shrewsbury MA

Posted: Jul 08, 2012 - 9:42 PM GMT

Edited: Jul 08, 2012 - 9:50 PM GMT

Clarence Bousquet invented them in Pittsfield. They were then sold around to ski shops and clubs. You still see tow grips in use at Mt Greylock Ski Club. Fast ropetow, like 900FPM.

These are some pictures of the grip. it goes around you. You hook it to the rope and unhook at the top. the second pic isnt the best, but its the only one I could find of one on the rope.
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bousquet19
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Posted: Jul 09, 2012 - 1:35 AM GMT

More details about the Bousquet gripper. See pics.

Woody

(BTW, I have a few of these grippers but haven't yet acquired the paper insert pictured with this ebay lot. That's my dad, Russ, in the photo.)
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jedk
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Posted: Jul 09, 2012 - 3:55 AM GMT

Woody, did the gripper open easily at the end of your ride when you release your grip?

bousquet19
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Posted: Jul 09, 2012 - 12:30 PM GMT

Quote:

Woody, did the gripper open easily at the end of your ride when you release your grip?

Yes, jedk, you just let go and it fell open and came off the rope.

As joshuasegal has pointed out, the rope tow gripper was really the first detachable (surface) lift.

Woody

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joshua segal
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Posted: Jul 09, 2012 - 4:21 PM GMT

Quote:

As joshuasegal has pointed out, the rope tow gripper was really the first detachable (surface) lift.

Woody

Well, the first mechanical one although hands and gloves were really the first

Who owned a pair of glove protectors in the days of Rope Tows or did you just go thru a lot of gloves every year?

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Jimme
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Posted: Jul 09, 2012 - 8:38 PM GMT

I vaguely remember going though a few pairs of 'mittens'. Never heard of a rope grip until a few years ago.

In the photo I noticed the technique of one hand in front, one hand in back. As a kid when I finally mastered not having both hands in front I thought it was cool that I could ride the rope like a 'grown-up'.

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jedk
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Posted: Jul 10, 2012 - 4:21 AM GMT

Edited: Jul 10, 2012 - 4:44 AM GMT

Heavy leather mittens(we called them Choppers-like the lumberjacks used) worked pretty well and when they had an extra layer over the palm and thumb they lasted a bit longer. The faster the rope, the shorter the life of the leather. I'd often put a patch over the palm after it got a hole worn through to save a bit of money. Another trick was to turn them inside out or wear them backwards!

ski_it
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Posted: Jul 10, 2012 - 4:59 AM GMT

Edited: Jul 10, 2012 - 5:05 AM GMT

Link to more details:
Tow Gripper Post

Also, according to That NYguy, "I will add Bousquets was first to promote the "rope tow gripper" after being presented with the idea by Ed Bunkoff of the now long defunct Snowy Acres near Cobleskill, NY."

And a pic of a fairly recent gripper ready for action.
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kevinthomas
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Posted: Jul 11, 2012 - 1:29 AM GMT

It's a recent picture of an old gripper. Mt Greylock is only permitted to use the original style Bousquette grippers, which havent been made since...? anyone know? I'd guess in the 1950's.
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jedk
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Posted: Jul 11, 2012 - 4:59 AM GMT

Edited: Jul 11, 2012 - 5:13 AM GMT

Skiers in New Zealand use yet another type of tow gripper that is styled after a nut cracker. They seem to be able to ride over the tow rope pulleys as well!
VintageSkiWorld.Com advertises the Bousquet gripper for $75. The ad indicates "Tested by Thousands since 1939".
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kevinthomas
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Posted: Jul 12, 2012 - 12:12 PM GMT

The NZ grippers work teh same was as the Bosquette grippers except they are made with newer lighter materials. The Bosquette grippers weithing more are also nicknamed nut cracker... for 2 reasons.

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