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andrewj
Jul 1, 2006, 12:21 AM
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320002559206&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D320002559206%26fvi%3D1
So does anyone know if BD's patent has expired on the Camalot? Looks to me as if some Ukranians are trying (but not too hard) to slip by under BD's radar.
I especially like the fact that there are machine nuts on the ends of the axles and they give you the lengths of the different sizes of cams, not their range of camming.
classy.
not to mention safe.
-now edited for your viewing satisfaction-
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veganboyjosh
Jul 1, 2006, 12:38 AM
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word.
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billcoe_
Jul 1, 2006, 2:19 AM
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I had seen that earlier. Type "Camalot", in E-Bay you'll see these things show up. Clearly they are in violation of US law in calling them "Camalots" .....twice. I did buy a nut tool from them and it is a great tool which arrived quickly, but BD should contact ebay and shut that use of their trademark down IMO. Copied verbatium:
"Set of 4 Camalot Camalots cam Climbing Protection NR !!"
Set of 4 KROK Camalot Camalots cam Climbing Protection NR !!"
"http://www.porcelain.com.ua/...ds2axis/2N1234-3.JPG
"#4 KROK
Brand New
MADE IN UKRAINE
Device Weight 297 g.
Dimensions is: 215 mm. long
------------------------------------------------
We are representatives of the KROK manufactures trade mark at ebay.
We are searching a wholesale buyers and ready to cooperation.
We have a whole range of climbing equipment.
All climbing equipment we sell is tested and have appropriate documents from the Ukrainian government and testing organizations.
------------------------------------------------
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK US ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
------------------------------------------------
Worldwide shipping $21 takes 7-14 days by Air.
Payment by Visa/MasterCard - fastest way.
Money Orders, Cheques - need some time to be cleared by our bank."
Link (which may not work later)
http://cgi.ebay.com/...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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zakr
Jul 1, 2006, 2:42 AM
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Wow. Im not even mad, im impressed... The nylock nuts on the end of the axles is the second best part, the fact that the silver peice of metal behind the nuts on the blue cam on wrong is the best part.
How do patents work in different countries????
Zak
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scrapedape
Jul 1, 2006, 2:43 AM
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In reply to: All climbing equipment we sell is tested and have appropriate documents from the Ukrainian government and testing organizations. |
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redlegrangerone
Jul 1, 2006, 2:56 AM
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The sad thing is people are bidding on these.
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scrapedape
Jul 1, 2006, 3:01 AM
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In reply to: The sad thing is people are bidding on these.
Actually, as of now, no one is. I find that reassuring.
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redlegrangerone
Jul 1, 2006, 3:07 AM
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There was a bid of $100 a couple of days ago.
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angry
Jul 1, 2006, 4:00 AM
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Look at the curve of the cams. Now it might just be a photo distortion but I don't think so. Those babies don't have the same cam angle as a camalot. It's my guess that the BD cam angle is pretty much optimum for 2 axles, therefore, these things either won't hold as well or have crap for range.
I'm not worried at the machine nuts. I know of a machinist who built a larger than average replica of a camalot. It had machine nuts for axles too. I'm not going to say what it pull tested at, but lets just say your rope would liquefy before his cam would fail.
Of course are these jokers half as good at this sort of thing as the guy I just mentioned? Looking at the finish of these cams, not even close.
The part that I find odd is that this company could have ripped anything metal off in the world and sold it on ebay, why do you suppose they chose such a low demand item as climbing gear?
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csgambill
Jul 1, 2006, 4:21 AM
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I've seen these before too. I call them the Krok of Shit. Despite the functionality of machine nuts those things look scary, all spraypainted and hammered together. Maybe they're even made out of steel plate some dude had in his basement, or better yet from landmines the guy found in his backyard.
edit:
These other cams he's selling are even better:
http://www.porcelain.com.ua/...dsRope/RN12345-1.JPG
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angry
Jul 1, 2006, 4:49 AM
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Look at the cam angles. I'm no mathemetician but he's got that shit wrong. And look where he drilled the axle.
I really do like the shrink wrap over the swages, I wish everyone would do that (seriously, it would kick ass).
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corpse
Jul 1, 2006, 5:29 AM
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In reply to: I really do like the shrink wrap over the swages, I wish everyone would do that (seriously, it would kick ass).
They probably do it to hide the rusting paper clip that's holding the wire together :-P
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renohandjams
Jul 1, 2006, 6:52 AM
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Wow, and I thought Pika cams were scary. I usually trust most cams, but I want to see strength test, etc.. It would be interesting if someone actually bought a set of some of those homemade cams and tested them. I wonder where they would fail, do they even have ratings?
I'm sure Ray Jardine's very first cams were probably just as scary too.
+I'm pretty sure the camalot patent expired, I heard that's why Trango waited to released the max cam because eventhough it was their unique design it did come close to the BD idea so they waited until the patent expired so they wouldn't have any legal problems releasing the new line, that's what I heard from the Trango booth during the OR show 2 years ago.
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billy
Jul 1, 2006, 8:48 AM
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I like the notches in the cams, they look like a hacksaw was used to make them.
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sausalito
Jul 1, 2006, 12:40 PM
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the metal plate on the blue cam being upside down is shady as hell. That pretty much means their QC is sh1t. If I had to put money on it though I would bet they would hold a whipper. If I had to put my life on it there is no way in hell......
I may see if I cant get some cheap and test them out. I am also interested in taking one apart to see whats up. For all the shadiness in off market cams, cams simply are not rocket science so mabey these guys are on to something.... for crying out loud though make sure the cams in the photo are properly put together.
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tattooed_climber
Jul 1, 2006, 7:50 PM
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i love how the wire is swagged around the axle on those other cch-like cams
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weasel
Jul 2, 2006, 2:34 AM
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I'd like to see the faces of the climbers who some gumby shows his new set of "camalots" to.
"They were really cheap on ebay! Black Diamond is a Ukrainian company right?"
*snicker* I think I'm going to buy one of these things and test it. They can't be too much money.
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musicman
Jul 2, 2006, 5:04 AM
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In reply to: the metal plate on the blue cam being upside down is shady as hell.
my thoughts exactly, that's just plain scary that they (manufacturer) didn't notice
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majid_sabet
Jul 2, 2006, 6:23 AM
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Give it few more years, China will kill every climbing Mfg here just watch.
Here, at least I trust Russian Cams but making cams out of recycling metal made in CHINA ..!
Patent is good for 17 years, you may renew it again but after that, it becomes public, in fact it was public long time ago, you are lucky that ASIANs are not in too climbing otherwise, they dump the GEAR in WAL MART for $6.99 and then buy the rope in HOME DEPOT for $14 on a 60 meter.
EUROPEAN and AMERICAN made their money for long long time, its time for others to get in to this business and bring the price down so the dirt BAG could buy more gears for less money.
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spydrmnrlz
Aug 11, 2006, 2:17 AM
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I found a site that actually sells them retail, so maybe they're not made in someones basement. http://www.magic-lamp.com.md/trades_eng.html
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spydrmnrlz
Aug 11, 2006, 2:18 AM
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I found a site that actually sells them retail, so maybe they're not made in someone's basement. http://www.magic-lamp.com.md/trades_eng.html
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redlegrangerone
Aug 11, 2006, 3:06 PM
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I think I will wait until the spiderman above tests them for me.
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dbrayack
Aug 11, 2006, 3:16 PM
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I wonder if they have a web site where they're selling them :lol:
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