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Version A
Version B
Version C
Version D
Version E
Version F
Version G
Version H
Version I
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| Version A | Version B | Version C |
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| Version D | Version E | Version F |
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| Version G | Version H | Version I |
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I acquired this R. C. Schroeder box box from On Rope 1 at the 2018 NSS Convention, but it dates from about 1992.
This box is 75 mm. wide, 36 mm. high, 57 mm. thick, and weighs 157 g. It is a single channel chest box made this chest box out of stainless steel sheet metal, a quick release pin, and a 34 mm. diameterr nylon roller. The roller has a 2.6 mm. deep curved V-groove. The box hinges at both sides. Pulling on the quick release pin allows the box to swing open. The hinge pins are stainlees steel rods that are threaded at each end and held by hex nuts welded in place. The box has a 25 mm. tall channel for attaching the box to a chest harness.
There are no markings on this box.
Like all narrow chest boxes, this one causes the harness to pull away from the chest, somewhat constricting my breathing. The roller is larger than necessary, but it turns freely. The guard on the quick release pin button provides secirity, but makes opening the box rather awkward, especially if one is wearing gloves.
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I acquired this R. C. Schroeder box from R. C. Schroeder t the 1992 NSS Convention. I acquired another in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection and a third from On Rope 1 at the 2018 NSS Convention.
This box is 37 mm. long, 85 mm. wide, 48 mm. high, and weighs 135 g. It is a single channel chest box made this chest box out of stainless steel sheet metal, a quick release pin, and a 25 mm. diameter nylon roller. The box hinges at both sides. Pulling on the quick release pin allows the box to swing open. The box has a 25 mm. tall channel for attaching the box to a chest harness. Two small rings welded to the bottom of the box provide attachment points for a bungy pulley.
There are no markings on this box.
Like all narrow chest boxes, this one causes the harness to pull away from the chest, somewhat constricting my breathing. The roller is smaller than the one on Version A, but is too long for the channel and binds at the sides. The mechanism is stiff, and it takes too much force to get it to open.
[ Top | Version D | Version F | Version G | Version H | Version I | Return to Chest Boxes ]
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I acquired this R. C. Schroeder box box from On Rope 1 at the 2018 NSS Convention, but it dates from about 1992.
This box is 81 mm. wide, 31 mm. high, 49 mm. thick, and weighs 128 g. It is a single channel chest box made this chest box out of stainless steel sheet metal, a quick release pin, and a 25 mm. diameter nylon roller. The box hinges at both sides. Pulling on the quick release pin allows the box to swing open. The box has a 25 mm. tall channel for attaching the box to a chest harness.
There are no markings on this box.
This boxis much like Version B, except the nuts on the end of the hinge pinss were eliminated, and the pins were welded directly to the frame. The action was also reversed, with the QR pin entering from the right where it is more easily operated by the right hand than the left.
[ Top | Version A | Version F | Version G | Version H | Version I | Return to Chest Boxes ]
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I acquired this box from On Rope 1 at the 2018 NSS Convention, but it dates from about 1992.
This box is 96 mm. wide, 63 mm. high, 56 mm. thick, and weighs 237 g. It is a single channel chest box made this chest box out of stainless steel sheet metal, a quick release pin, and a 34 mm. nylon roller. The box hinges at both sides. Pulling on the quick release pin allows the box to swing open. The back plate has 52 mm. tall vertical slots for attaching the box to a chest chest harness.
There are no markings on this box.
This version is similar to Version A but made for 50 mm. webbing.
[ Top | Version A | Version F | Version G | Version H | Version I | Return to Chest Boxes ]
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I acquired my R. C. Schroeder, Version D in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.
My R. C. Schroeder, Version D is 63 mm. long, 98 mm. wide, 48 mm. high, and weighs 211 g. It is a single channel chest box made this chest box out of stainless steel sheet metal, a quick release pin, and a nylon roller. The box hinges at both sides (note the ends on the hinge pins welded to the frame). Pulling on the quick release pin allows the box to swing open. The back plate has 51 mm. tall vertical slots for attaching the box to a chest harness.
There are no markings on this box.
Like all narrow chest boxes, this one causes the harness to pull away from the chest, somewhat constricting my breathing. The roller is too long for the channel, and binds at the sides. The mechanism is stiff, and it takes too much force to get it to open.
[ Top | Version A | Version D | Version G | Version H | Version I | Return to Chest Boxes ]
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I acquired my R. C. Schroeder, Version A box from R. C. Schroeder t the 1992 NSS Convention. I acquired another in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.
My R. C. Schroeder, Version F is 63 mm. long, 255 mm. wide, 74 mm. high, and weighs 485 g. It is a single channel chest box made this chest box out of stainless steel sheet metal, a quick release pin, and a nylon roller. The box hinges at both sides (note the ends on the hinge pins welded to the frame). Pulling on the quick release pin allows the box to swing open. The box has a 52 mm. tall channel for attaching the box to a chest harness.
There are no markings on this box.
This wide box has a curve that fits my chest nicely, making it more comfortable to wear between drops. Made from multiple layers of stainless steel welded together, it is certainly rugged, but also far too heavy for a single-roller box.
[ Top | Version A | Version D | Version F | Version H | Version I | Return to Chest Boxes ]
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I acquired my R. C. Schroeder, Version G from R. C. Schroeder at the 1995 Speleofest.
My R. C. Schroeder, Version G is 38 mm. long, 240 mm. wide, 51 mm. high, and weighs 167 g. It is a single channel chest box consisting of a skeletonized back plate and a single plastic roller with a side-entry gate. The gate that opens by pushing the button on the frame side of the roller, then pivoting the gate out of the way. The back plate has 26 mm. tall vertical slots for attaching the box to a chest strap and 25 mm. wide horizontal slots for attaching shoulder straps.
There are no markings on this box.
This box is nicely made, and the skeletonized design reduces its weight considerably. With only one roller, it is unsuitable for the Mitchell system, but works well for double-bungee rigs. The vertical slots are too short for the parachute webbing normally used for chest harnesses, so one would use 25 mm. webbing sewn to wider webbing if one wants the comfort of a wider chest strap.
[ Top | Version A | Version D | Version F | Version G | Version I | Return to Chest Boxes ]
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I acquired my R. C. Schroeder, Version F from R. C. Schroeder in 2002. I acquired another in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.
My R. C. Schroeder, Version F is 177 mm. tall, 45 mm. wide, 49 mm. thick, and weighs 191 g.
The back plate for this chest box is 4.8 mm. aluminum, and has six slots milled for attaching a chest harness. A 43.5 mm. long, 25 mm. high, 13 mm. thick aluminum block is bolted to the plate with two stainless steel countersunk Allen-head screws. A 7.5 mm. stainless steel axle pressed into the block 27.5 mm. from the back plate supports a rubberized plastic, ball-bearing mounted pulley and a pivoting side plate. The side plate has a push-button that unlocks when depressed, allowing the plate to open. An O-ring seal keeps dirt and mud out of the locking mechanism.
There are no markings on this box.
This is a very nicely made chest box, and is quite light for a full-plate box. The side piece turns easily, although one can feel the drag created by the O-ring - this isn't something that one can casually "flip" open. Overall, I like this box.
[ Top | Version A | Version D | Version F | Version G | Version H | Return to Chest Boxes ]
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The back plate for this chest box is aluminum, 215 mm. wide, 57 mm. high, and 6.5 mm. thick, and has four slots milled for attaching a chest harness and three holes for bungee pulleys. A 43.5 mm. long, 28 mm. high, 26 mm. thick aluminum block is bolted to the plate with two stainless steel countersunk Allen-head screws. A 7.5 mm. stainless steel axle pressed into the block 27.5 mm. from the back plate supports a rubberized plastic, ball-bearing mounted pulley and a pivoting side plate on each side. The side plates have push-buttons that unlock when depressed, allowing the associated plate to open. An O-ring seal keeps dirt and mud out of the locking mechanism.
There are no markings on this box.
Like Version H, this is a nicely made box. The back plate is heavier, and I think it could be lightened, as could the central block.
[ Top | Version A | Version D | Version F | Version G | Version H | Version I ]
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