Without boot. The binding name is molded on the yellow AFD at the toe.
Emery of France had a significant run of plate based ski touring bindings throughout previous decades (see our Museum Index for most of them). They eventually shifted to making snowboard bindings, and were acquired by Rossignol in 1999.
This “A-LX” model was one of Emery’s later offerings. Quite nice. It includes a turntable heel unit sourced from Look that’s essentially an alpine binding. Toe cup is basic, with typical spring loaded side release yielding average travel. With care the A-LX could probably have been set up with chart “DIN” settings, though without a more sophisticated toe unit we suspect most skiers had to prevent accidental release by setting lateral release higher than what they’d use with a good quality alpine binding of the 1990s. Indeed, our museum piece arrived with the toe release adjustment screw bottomed out at maximum.
In the photos below, note how when the toe rotated to the side, it achieved spring loaded action by virtue of two small brass rollers moving against the steel “U” shaped bracket holding the toe height adjustment screw, an interesting solution. We assume the name is a combination of Emery’s “Altitude” nomer and the use of a Look “LX” heel, but the “LX” could stand for something else. Anyone have the definitive answer? Please leave comments here.
Emery A-LX with modern boot, in touring mode with heel lifter deployed.
Emery A-LX ski binding in touring mode (with modern boot).
Clearly, including a Look heel unit is excellent.
Heel lift is a simple flip-up wire frame.
Toe unit detail. Note small brass rollers in the space between plastic to wing and the galvanized steel frame, these are spring loaded and provide lateral release.
AFD is a simple plastic plate that comes off to the side.
Toe cup as viewed from rear, showing clean simple height adjustment.
Around the 1990s, Emery bindings used this configuration of heel latching to switch from touring to downhill mode. The lever to right slide the U shaped rod arrangement forward and back out of the black receiver to left.
In latched downhill mode, slot in upper plate mated with slot in receiver, held by the pins sliding into corresponding holes.
Another view of heel unit, perhaps we’re attempting to inspire current binding designers?
Emery A-LX thumbnail.
Thanks goes to Peter Stout for the binding donation.
