Ramy-Securus Cable Ski Binding — 1957
Complete Ramy-Securus binding, configured with heel lugs for fixed-heel downhill skiing. Click to enlarge.
Circa 1957 “alpine” ski bindings used cables that could be configured for either walking uphill with a free heel, or downhill skiing with the cable threaded through “lugs” and thus holding the heel of the boot down. Problem was that virtually none of these bindings had any sort of safety release in the case of a twisting fall. Ramy-Securus attempted to remedy this by providing “toe irons” that rode on a spring loaded pin and would open up with excessive force. It’s unknown if this binding really provided any additional protection from leg injury, but it has a place in history as an early attempt at a “safety” binding.
Detail of toe unit.
Ramy-Securus to in open position as it would be after a lateral (side) release.
The binding had ‘heel up’ release as well by virtue of the toe latch opening when enough tension was placed on the cable. As with the toe, ‘safety release’ of this is dubious though it perhaps worked on occasion.
Ramy-Securus newspaper advertisement 1957.
This binding was donated by Clyde Soles. They came originally from Stevie Sidener, well known ski industry man, who badly injured in fall from ladder in 2004 and eventually perished from his injuries in 2013.
http://www.snewsnet.com/news/stevie-sidener-attends-winter-market-months-after-near-deadly-fall/
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/coloradohometownweekly/obituary.aspx?n=steven-sidener&pid=166714208
Ramy-Securus thumbnail.
