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Version A
Version B
Version C
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| Version A | Version B | Version C |
According to Pit Schubert (Bergunsteigen 3/06), the plain figure eight was invented by Dr. Max Pfrimmer, a physician who worked with the mountain troopers medical corps in St. Johann, Tirol, Austria, during WWII. Pfrimmer documented his idea for a lowering device in his diary on October 1, 1943.Only in the latter 1950s did Pfrimmer consider using his eight for rappelling. Pfrimmer offered his idea to Schuster's sports equipment store in Munich, which commercialized their eight in the early 1960s. (The Famau is earlier, with the patent applied for in January 1941. I view the Famau as a Figure Eight with Ears, which would give its inventor Jean Briod priority).
The three versions are just normal manufacturing variations, not design differences.
These eights have no markings. I originally identified them using the photo of a Shuster’s eight in the Bergunsteigen article and the 1964 date Matthias Höfle provided for Version A. When he sold me Version C, he confirmed it was an ASMü (August Schuster, Münich) eight. He also provided a photo of a page from the 1964 Sporthaus Shuster catalog, confirming its identity. Meanwhile, I acquired a Summer 1968 Sporthaus Shuster catalog, showing that it was still available at that time. Both catalogs list this as an "ASMü Abseilachter." "ASMü" stands for "August Schuster, Münich" and of course "Abseilachter" means "figure eight," or more literally, "abseil eight."
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| 1964 ASMü catalog | 1968 ASMü catalog |
[ Top | Version B | Version C | Return to Figure Eights ]
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I acquired my Schuster eight on eBay from Matthias Höfle in 2019. He dates it to 1964.
This eight is made from a length of 7 mm. steel rod bent into shape and welded. It is 141 mm. tall, 62 mm. wide, and 7 mm. thick. The rope hole is 59 mm. high and 49 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 7 mm. The shaft length and width are 22 mm. and 14 mm., respectively. The eye measures 45 mm. by 35 mm. This eight weighs 107 g.
There are no markings on this eight.
The Schuster eight is a welded steel rod figure eight, and is probably the first commercial eight put into production.
[ Top | Version A | Version C | Return to Figure Eights ]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this Schuster eight on eBay from Aaron Joella in 2020.
This eight is made from a length of 7 mm. steel rod bent into shape and welded. It is 141 mm. tall, 62 mm. wide, and 7 mm. thick. The rope hole is 57 mm. high and 48 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 7 mm. The shaft length and width are 26 mm. and 14 mm., respectively. The eye measures 44 mm. by 38 mm. This eight weighs 107 g.
One side is stamped with "B C."
The Schuster eight is a welded steel rod figure eight.
The letters "B C" are hand-stamped, and may be a former owner’s initials.
[ Top | Version A | Version B | Return to Figure Eights ]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this Schuster eight on eBay from Matthias Höfle in 2021.
This eight is made from a length of 7 mm. steel rod bent into shape and welded. It is 141 mm. tall, 62 mm. wide, and 7 mm. thick. The rope hole is 62 mm. high and 49 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 7 mm. The shaft length and width are 20 mm. and 15 mm., respectively. The eye measures 45 mm. by 35 mm. This eight weighs 107 g.
There are no markings on this eight.
The Schuster eight is a welded steel rod figure eight.
[ Top | Version A | Version B | Version C ]
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