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Anthron, Version A
Anthron, Version B
Anthron, Version C
Anthron, Version D
Anthron, Version E
Anthron, Version F
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| Anthron, Version A | Anthron, Version B | Anthron, Version C |
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| Anthron, Version D | Anthron, Version E | Anthron, Version F |
Anthron was a family-owned company in Slovenia founded in 1989. They produced various handleless, handled, and chest eccentric cam ascenders, descenders, pulleys, and similar devices. I do not know when they developed this line of ascenders, but it was well before 2001.
Albrecht von Dewitz founded VuaDe in 1974, naming the company after his initials "V.D." (pronounced fau'de). VauDe sold Anthron ascenders under the VauDe brand. I have handleless, handled, and chest eccentric cam ascenders with VauDe markings that match Anthron handleless, handled, and chest eccentric cam ascenders respectively. They use the same model numbers that Anthron used. Four of the handled ascenders came in Anthron boxes.
The Spanish company Lucky sold Anthron ascenders under their brand name. My Lucky handleless ascenders have "lucKY" stamped onto the rear and Anthron's triangle and double arrow logo stamped onto the front. My Lucky handled ascenders have "lucKY" stamped onto the front strap and Anthron's triangle and double arrow logo stamped onto the front of the rope channel.
Mine Safety Appliances (Now MSA Safety) in the U.S.A. was founded in 1914 in response to the 1912 Jed Mine explosion that claimed 80 lives. Working with Thomas Edison, they introduced the first electric cap lamp for mining, reducing mine explosions by 75% over the next 25 years. They later expanded into other workplace safety markets, including rescue and fall protection.
Bob Thrun´s files had a DMM advertisement that offered essentially the same handled eccentric cam ascender under the DMM brand; however, I do not have their version in my collection. I have an Anthron handleless ascender that was sold as a DMM model AB20 ascender, but it has only Anthron markings.
Skylotec bought Anthron in 2016. I have a pair of their handled ascenders with Skylotec markings.
Here is a quick summary of the handled ascender versions in my collection:
| Ascender | Hand Grips |
# Carabiner Holes @ top |
# Holes @ base |
Cam Stop | Cam Style |
Cam Teeth | Cam Finish |
Cam Safety |
Thumb Pin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VauDe Version A (#1992) |
Hard Plastic | 2 | 1 | No | Old, 2 round holes |
(2.3)(4.3)^2(2.3.2.1.2 | Plated | Anodized | Plain |
| VauDe Version B (#1993) |
Softer, more "rubbery" compound |
Plain | |||||||
| VauDe Version C (#133/134. 2190/2191) |
New, bar | (3.2)^2(1.2)^2(B) | Bare | Anodized | Anodized | ||||
| Anthron Version A (#2187) |
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| Anthron Version B (#155) |
2 | ||||||||
| Anthron Version C (#2188) |
Stainless Steel | ||||||||
| Anthron Version D (#156/2189) |
Plated | Anodized | |||||||
| Lucky Pern (#162/165)) |
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| Anthron Version E (#2113/2114) |
Hard Plastic | Plain | Plain | ||||||
| Anthron Version F (#194/195) |
Bare | ||||||||
| MSA Safety, Version A (#3650) |
Softer, more "rubbery" compound |
Plated | |||||||
| MSA Safety, Version B (#3651) |
1 | Yes | |||||||
| Skylotec (#3620/3621) |
Cork |
[ Top | Version B | Version C | Version D | Version E | Version F | Return to H.E.C. Ascenders ]
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| Front View: Closed | Rear View: Closed |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Rear View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired an Anthron AD-10, Version A in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.
The Anthron AD-10, Version A is 197 mm. tall, 94 mm. wide, 28 mm. thick, and weighs 214 g. The rope channel is 15 mm. wide. The cam radius increases from 38 to 52 mm. over an angle of 39°, giving a 24° cam angle. The tooth pattern is (3.2)^2(1.2)^2(B). The handle material has been changed from a hard plastic to a softer, more "rubbery" compound.
The front of the ascender has "AD-10," the Anthron triangle and double arrow logo, "ROPES" and "ø8-13mm" stamped on the rope channel. The rear is stamped with"CE0123," "Anthron" and the Anthron triangle and double arrow logo. "2699-D" is stamped behind the cam.
The new handles feel "stickier"
so in that sense they are an improvement, but not a significant
one.
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[ Top | Version A | Version C | Version D | Version E | Version F | Return to H.E.C. Ascenders ]
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| Front View: Closed | Rear View: Closed |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Rear View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired a pair of ascenders from Inner Mountain Outfitters
at the 2001 NSS Convention. This is the left-handed AL-15, the right-handed AD-10 is Anthron Version D.
My Anthron AL-15, Version B is 200 mm. tall, 92 mm. wide, 32 mm. thick, and weighs 217 g. The rope channel is 15 mm. wide. The cam radius increases from 38 to 52 mm. over an angle of 39°, giving a 24° cam angle. The tooth pattern is (3.2)^2(1.2)^2(B).
This ascender has a second hole at the bottom. This hole is 10.9 mm. in diameter while the main hole is 16 mm.
The front of the ascender has "AL-15," the Anthron triangle and double arrow logo, "ROPES" and "ø8-13mm" stamped on the rope channel. The rear is stamped with"CE0123," "Anthron" and the Anthron triangle and double arrow logo. "1900-C" is stamped behind the cam.
I'm not sure the extra holes are needed at the base. Except for the Petzl Pompe, I've never found a real need for a second hole. Some people like them, and I might find them more appealing if they were large enough for a standard carabiner to fit through.
The following instruction sheet came with these ascenders, but it was written for and pictures an earlier version. The instructions also apply to this version.
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[ Top | Version A | Version B | Version D | Version E | Version F | Return to H.E.C. Ascenders ]
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| Front View: Closed | Rear View: Closed |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Rear View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Anthron AD-10, Version C in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.
My Anthron AD-10, Version C is 200 mm. tall, 92 mm. wide, 32 mm. thick, and weighs 217 g. The rope channel is 15 mm. wide. The cam radius increases from 38 to 52 mm. over an angle of 39°, giving a 24° cam angle. The tooth pattern is (3.2)^2(1.2)^2(B).
The front of the ascender has "AL-15," the Anthron triangle and double arrow logo, "ROPES" and "ø8-13mm" stamped on the rope channel. The rear is stamped with"CE0123," "Anthron" and the Anthron triangle and double arrow logo. "1900-C" is stamped behind the cam.
The pin on the cam safety is stainless steel instead of anodized aluminum.
The following instruction sheet came with these ascenders, but it was written for and pictures an earlier version. The instructions also apply to this version.
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[ Top | Version A | Version B | Version C | Version E | Version F | Return to H.E.C. Ascenders ]
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| Front View: Closed | Rear View: Closed |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Rear View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired my right-hand Anthron AD-10, Version D from Inner Mountain Outfitters at the 2001 NSS Convention The left-handed AL-15 acquired at that time was a diffrent version, but I was able to acquire a matching Version D in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.
My Anthron Version D ascenders are 200 mm. tall, 92 mm. wide, 32 mm. thick, and weighs 217 g. The rope channels are 15 mm. wide. The cam radius increases from 38 to 52 mm. over an angle of 39°, giving a 24° cam angle. The tooth pattern is (3.2)^2(1.2)^2(B).
The front of the left ascender has "AL-15," the Anthron triangle and double arrow logo, "ROPES" and "ø8-13mm" stamped on the rope channel. The markings on the right-hand ascender are the same except "AD-10" replaces "AL-15." The rear of each ascender is stamped with"CE0123," "Anthron" and the Anthron triangle and double arrow logo. Both ascenders have "2101-E" stamped behind the cam.
This version has plated cams.
I like the color change on the right ascender. It is a minor point, but sometimes helps me grab the one I want on the first try.
The following instruction sheet came with these ascenders, but it was written for and pictures an earlier version. The instructions also apply to this version.
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[ Top | Version A | Version B | Version C | Version D | Version F | Return to H.E.C. Ascenders ]
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| Front View: Closed | Rear View: Closed |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Rear View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired this pair in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.
My Anthron Version E ascenders are 202 mm. tall, 92 mm. wide, 28 mm. thick, and weighs 205 g. The rope channels are15 mm. wide. The cam radius increases from 38 to 52 mm. over an angle of 39°, giving a 24° cam angle. The tooth pattern is (3.2)^2(1.2)^2(B).
The front of the left ascender has "AL-15," the Anthron triangle and double arrow logo, "ROPES," "ø8 - 13mm," the Reading-Is-Dangerous icon, and "1609-B" printed on the rope channel. The markings on the right-hand ascender are the same except "AD-10" replaces "AL-15" and "0410-E" replaces "1609-B." The rear of each ascender is printed with"CE0123," "EN 567," "Anthron" and the Anthron triangle and double arrow logo. Both ascenders have "2101-E" stamped behind the cam.
This pair has plain cam safeties and printed markings instead of stampings. Neither change affects field performance.
I did not find instruction sheets for these ascenders. I presume that they were lost, but originally the same as those for Version D and Version F.
[ Top | Version A | Version B | Version C | Version D | Version E | Return to H.E.C. Ascenders ]
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| Front View: Closed | Rear View: Closed |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Rear View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired this pair of ascenders from Inner Mountain Outfitters
at the 2005 NSS Convention.
These Anthron ascenders are functionally identical to the VauDe Version B except that the handle material is changed back to the VauDe Version A material. Anthron chose a new color scheme as well: the left-hand AD-10 is blue and the right-hand AL-15 is black.
Each ascender has a triangle and double arrow logo, "ROPES" and "ø8-13mm" printed on the rope channel. "VauDe" and a three-leaf logo are stamped onto the front strap. The rear of the left ascender is printed with "CE0123," "02-12-A98234," "Anthron," the triangle and double arrow logo, and "AL-15." The rear of the right ascender is printed with "CE0123," "Anthron," the triangle and double arrow logo, "AD-10," and "B-0156260."
I can't find any compelling advantage or disadvantage of this version over the earlier versions. I prefer the contrasting color schemes on Version D or Version E, since both Version F Anthrons look dark in a cave.
The following instruction sheet came with these ascenders, but it was written for and pictures an earlier version. The instructions also apply to this version.
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[ Top | Version A | Version B | Version C | Version D | Version E | Version F ]
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