What is it? - Old JR Clancy Equipment

I was reorganizing the shop the other day, and came across these guys buried in a corner behind lumber storage. Any idea what they are? They're labeled JR Clancy, and appear to be from a production of "Harvey" in 1969. I haven't the slightest:


[Post moved here from another location. Students-only for one week please. Extra credit for citing CB links.]

Ooh, I know, I know! I don't want to answer this quickly after the posting, though...

Aw they can't be THAT old, the have philips head fasteners!!!

Another question: When was the last time you used, or saw these used (for their intended purpose, not for changing gels)?

Me, 1981, I think.

(Everyone is welcome to answer this part.)

I was planning on using a few of them in a show I have coming up in a couple of months at my church, but the box full of the hardware has disappeared as of last week, along with all of our spare clamps and a couple of side booms. I need to embark on a scavenger hunt soon.

derekleffew said:

Another question: When was the last time you used, or saw these used (for their intended purpose, not for changing gels)?

Me, 1981, I think.

(Everyone is welcome to answer this part.)

Click to expand...

Never. Not once.

When extended, they're great for breasting back cable swags.

derekleffew said:

Another question: When was the last time you used, or saw these used (for their intended purpose, not for changing gels)?

Me, 1981, I think.

(Everyone is welcome to answer this part.)

Click to expand...

Last year, after I explained to some of our younger techs what they are and their purpose. At the last minute, we couldn't find, nor did we have time to assemble one of the more modern ones. There was one of these guys standing against the wall, and it got pressed into service.

Tom Johnson

I used a set of those just last year. We had a tall and thin set piece that was moved around and used both sides. These made great movable supports to the back wall. The set piece was not stable enough to have people on it with out support. I had not used them in years but they proved useful once again.

Probably ten/fifteen years.

It has been at least 15 or more years since I have seen them used...

Sean....

Used one of these last season for a small backing flat, mainly because it was there - and I kinda wanted to be able to say that I had used one.

derekleffew said:

Another question: When was the last time you used, or saw these used (for their intended purpose, not for changing gels)?

Me, 1981, I think.

(Everyone is welcome to answer this part.)

Click to expand...

We used them all the time in high school and we used them with the old style xxxxx xxxxx (with little damage to the floor)


yet a third question may be: How do you use an old style xxxxx xxxxx without excessive damage to the floor.

2004, my semester of high school. We were just in there recently doing a ballet and I was sad to see they were all gone. I was told they were thrown away because the current tech teacher said there was no use for them and they just wasted space.

venuetech said:

We used them all the time in high school and we used them with the old style xxxxx xxxxx (with little damage to the floor)

yet a third question may be: How do you use an old style xxxxx xxxxx without excessive damage to the floor.

Click to expand...

Looks like an old school stage screw, or a brace cleat (see the stage brace link) I would imagine that the original question's gear is Stage Braces

MaxS said:

Extra credit for citing CB links.

Click to expand...

See this post by Van from 2009.
It's used to hold Broadway flats in a vertical position I think. As for when I've used them: never. (Except to "focus" an instrument once )

Haven't used them in the last five years, but a venue I worked at in England had a big stock of them and we used them regularly. I also remember being slightly scared when working with the Bolshoi - and instead of hooking them into the correct hardware, they'd just hook them into a loop of sash cord and twist it until the sash was tight, then attach it to the deck....just a little bit dodgy....

Last time I used it for what it is designed for...1980. Often used for pulling back masking legs or grab/nudge anything out of reach when I am too lazy to grab a genie or ladder.

We were cleaning out the shop at The Permian Playhouse of Odessa , a comunity theater were I doing lighting designs for alot shows. We found these and I was going to ask the same question, What Are They? They look like some sort of support beam.

I think I know this one. These are called stage braces, and they are used as quick jacks for flats. They have become antique now, and are used for breasting battens and cables and such.

Last time I used one? 1977. Last time I saw one for sale. At our local supply house last week. Brand new. They told me they would make a deal on the pair for me. These were converted to be held down by saddle bags though. I still have some cleats and lashing cleats, but no stage braces.